UNIVERSITY  OF 


f  ^fs    ^r?"    ^^^s\  ^r/-  ^r/  ^fs  i^r" 

ALBUM 


s*>-s>^ 


IJJJf 


,  ILLINOIS, 


CONTAINING 


1 


I 


Full  Page  Portraits  and  Biographical  Sketches  of  Prominent 
and  Representative  Citizens  of  the  County, 

TOGETHER    WITH 

PORTRAITS  AND  BIOGRAPHIES  OF  ALL  THE  GOVERNORS  OF  THE  STATE,  AND 
OF  THE  PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHICAGO: 

CHAPMAN   BROS. 
1889. 


UK  greatest  of  English  historians,  MACAULAY,  and  one  of  the  most  brilliant  writers  of 
the  present  century,  has  said:  "The  history  of  a  country  is  best  told  in  a  record  of  the 
lives  of  its  people."  In  conformity  with  this  idea  the  POKTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL 
ALBUM  uf  this  county  has  been  prepared.  Instead  of  going  to  must}1  records,  and 
taking  therefrom  dry  statistical  matter  that  can  be  appreciated  by  but  few,  our 
corps  of  writers  have  gone  to  the  people,  the  men  and  women  who  have,  by  their 
enterprise  and  industry,  brought  the  county  to  a  rank  second  to  none  among  those 
comprising  this  great  and  noble  State,  and  from  their  lips  have  the  story  of  their  life 
struggles.  No  more  interesting  or  instructive  matter  could  be  presented  to  an  intelli- 
gent public.  In  this  volume  will  be  found  a  record  of  many  whose  lives  are  worthy  the 
imitation  of  coming  generations.  It  tells  how  some,  commencing  life  in  poverty,  by 
industry  and  economy  have  accumulated  wealth.  It  tells  how  others,  with  limited 
advantages  for  securing  an  education,  have  become  learned  men  and  women,  with  an 
influence  extending  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land.  It  tells  of  men  who 
have  risen  from  the  lower  walks  of  life  to  eminence  as  statesmen,  and  whose  names  have 
become  famous.  It  tells  of  those  in  every  walk  in  life  who  have  striven  to  succeed,  and 
records  how  that  success  has  usually  crowned  their  efforts.  It  tells  also  of  many,  very 
mnnv,  who,  not  seeking  the  applause  of  the  world,  have  pursued  "the  even  tenor  of  their  way,''  content 
to  have  it  said  of  them  as  Christ  said  of  the  woman  performing  a  deed  of  mercy — "they  have  done  what 
they  could."  It  tells  how  that  many  in  the  pride  and  strength  of  young  manhood  left  the  plow  and  the 
anvil,  the  lawyer's  office  and  the  counting-room,  left  every  trade  and  profession,  and  at  their  country's 
call  went  forth  valiantly  *'to  do  or  die,"  and  how  through  their  efforts  the  Union  was  restored  and  pence 
once  more  reigned  in  the  land.  In  the  life  of  every  man  and  of  every  woman  is  a  lesson  that  should  not 
be  lost  upon  those  who  follow  after. 

Coming  generations  will  appreciate  this  volume  and  preserve  it  as  a  sacred  treasure,  from  the  fact 
that  it  contains  so  much  that  would  never  find  its  way  into  public  records,  and  which  would  otherwise  be 
inaccessible.  Great  care  has  been  taken  in  the  compilation  of  the  work  and  every  opportunity  possible 
given  to  those  represented  to  insure  correctness  in  what  has  been  written,  and  the  publishers  flatter  them- 
selves that  they  give  to  their  readers  a  work  with  few  errors  of  consequence.  In  addition  to  the  biograph- 
ical sketches,  portraits  of  a  number  of  representative  citizens  are  given. 

The  faces  of  some,  and  biographical  sketches  of  many,  will  be  missed  in  this  volume.  For  this  the 
publishers  are  not  to  blame.  Not  having  a  proper  conception  of  the  work,  some  refused  to  give  the 
information  necessary  to  compile  a  sketch,  while  others  were  indifferent.  Occasionally  some  member  of 
the  family  would  oppose  the  enterprise,  and  on  account  of  such  opposition  the  support  of  the  interested 
one  would  be  withheld.  In  a  few  instances  men  could  never  be  found,  though  repeated  calls  were  made 
at  their  residence  or  place  of  business. 

CHAPMAN   BROS. 

CHICAGO,  September,  188U. 


OF  THE. 


V 


OK  THE. 


OFTHE 


£*±g:±g^y^;: 


FIJfST  PRESIDENT. 


E  "WASH! 


HE  Father  of  our  Country  was 
born  in  Westmorland  Co.,  Va., 
Feb.    22,   1732.     His  parents 
were    Augustine    and     Mary 
(Ball)  Washington.  The  family 
to  which  he  belonged  has   not 
been    satisfactorily  traced    in 
England.      His     great-grand- 
father, John  Washington,  em- 
igrated to  Virginia  about  1657, 
and    became     a     prosperous 
planter.      He  had   two    sons, 
Lawrence    and     John.      The 
former   married    Mildred    Warner 
and    had    three    children,    John. 
Augustine  and  Mildred.      Augus- 
tine,  the   father  of   George,  first 
married    Jane   Butler,    who    bore 
him  four  children,  two  of  whom, 
Lawrence  and  Augustine,  reached 
maturity.     Of  six  children  by  his 
second  marriage,  George  was  the 
eldest,   the    others    being    Betty, 
Samuel,  John   Augustine,  Charles 
and  Mildred. 

Augustine  Washington,  the  father  of  George,  died 
in  1743,  leaving  a  large  landed  property.  To  his 
eldest  son,  Lawrence,  he  bequeathed  an  estate  on 
the  Patomac,  afterwards  known  as  Mount  Vernon, 
and  to  George  he  left  the  parental  residence.  George 
received  only  such  education  as  the  neighborhood 
schools  afforded,  save  for  a  short  time  after  he  left 
school,  when  he  received  private  instruction  in 
mathemat;cs.  His  spelling  was  rather  defective. 


Remarkable  stories  are  told  of  his  great  physical 
strength  and  development  at  an  early  age.  He  was 
an  acknowledged  leader  among  his  companions,  and 
was  early  noted  for  that  nobleness  of  character,  fair- 
ness and  veracity  which  characterized  his  whole  life. 

When  George  was  1 4  years  old  he  had  a  desire  to  go  to 
sea,  and  a  midshipman's  warrant  was  secured  for  him, 
but  through  the  opposition  of  his  mother  the  idea  was 
abandoned.  Two  years  later  he  was  appointed 
surveyor  to  the  immense  estate  of  Lord  Fairfax.  In 
this  business  he  spent  three  years  in  a  rough  frontier 
life,  gaining  experience  which  afterwards  proved  very 
essential  to  him.  In  1751,  though  only  19  years  of 
age,  he  was  appointed  adjutant  with  the  rank  of 
major  in  the  Virginia  militia,  then  being  trained  for 
active  service  against  the  French  and  Indians.  Soon 
after  this  he  sailed  to  the  West  Indies  with  his  brother 
Lawrence,  who  went  there  to  restore  his  health  They 
soon  returned,  and  in  the  summer  of  1752  Lawrence 
died,  leaving  a  large  fortune  to  an  infant  daughter 
who  did  not  long  survive  him.  On  her  demise  the 
estate  of  Mount  Vernon  was  given  to  George. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  Robert  Dinwiddie,  as  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor  of  Virginia,  in  1752,  the  militia  was 
reorganized,  and  the  province  divided  into  four  mili- 
tary districts,  of  which  the  northern  was  assigned  to 
Washington  as  adjutant  general.  Shortly  after  this 
a  very  perilous  mission  was  assigned  him  and  ac- 
cepted, which  others  had  refused.  This  was  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  French  post  near  Lake  Erie  in  North- 
western Pennsylvania.  The  distance  to  be  traversed 
was  between  500  and  600  miles.  Winter  was  at  hand, 
and  the  journey  was  to  be  made  without  military 
escort,  through  a  territory  occupied  by  Indians.  The 


GEORGE   WASHINGTON. 


trip  was  a  perilous  one,  and  several  limes  he  came  near 
losing  his  life,  yet  he  returned  in  safety  and  furnished 
a  full  and  useful  report  of  his  expedition.  A  regiment 
of  300  men  was  raised  in  Virginia  and  put  in  com- 
mand of  Col.  Joshua  Fry,  and  Major  Washington  was 
commissioned  lieutenant-colonel.  Active  war  was 
then  begun  against  the  French  and  Indians,  in  which 
Washington  took  a  most  important  part.  In  the 
memorable  event  of  July  9,  1755,  known  as  Brad- 
dock's  defeat,  Washington  was  almost  the  only  officer 
of  distinction  who  escaped  from  the  calamities  of  the 
day  with  life  and  honor.  The  other  aids  of  Braddock 
were  disabled  early  in  the  action,  and  Washington 
alone  was  left  in  that  capacity  on  the  field.  In  a  letter 
to  his  brother  he  says :  "  I  had  four  bullets  through 
my  coat,  and  two  horses  shot  under  me,  yet  I  escaped 
unhurt,  though  death  was  leveling  my  companions 
on  every  side."  An  Indian  sharpshooter  said  he  was 
not  born  to  be  killed  by  a  bullet,  for  he  had  taken 
direct  aim  at  him  seventeen  times,  and  failed  to  hit 
him. 

After  having  been  five  years  in  the  military  service, 
and  vainly  sought  promotion  in  the  royal  army,  he 
took  advantage  of  the  fall  of  Fort  Duquesne  and  the 
expulsion  of  the  French  from  the  valley  of  the  Ohio, 
to  resign  his  commission.  Soon  after  he  entered  the 
Legislature,  where,  although  not  a  leader,  he  took  an 
active  and  important  part.  January  17,  1759,  he 
married  Mrs.  Martha  (Dandridge)  Custis,  the  wealthy 
widow  of  John  Parke  Custis. 

When  the  British  Parliament  had  closed  the  port 
••af  Boston,  the  cry  went  up  throughout  the  provinces 
that  "The  cause  of  Boston  is  the  cause  of  us  all." 
It  was  then,  at  the  suggestion  of  Virginia,  that  a  Con- 
gress of  all  the  colonies  was  called  to  meet  at  Phila- 
delphia,Sept.  5,  1774,  to  secure  their  common  liberties, 
peaceably  if  possible.  To  this  Congress  Col.  Wash- 
ington was  sent  as  a  delegate.  On  May  10,  1775,  the 
Congress  re-assembled,  when  the  hostile  intentions  of 
England  were  plainly  apparent.  The  battles  of  Con- 
cord and  Lexington  had  been  fought.  Among  the 
first  acts  of  this  Congress  was  the  election  of  a  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  the  colonial  forces.  This  high  and 
responsible  office  was  conferred  upon  Washington, 
who  was  still  a  member  of  the  Congress.  He  accepted 
it  on  June  19,  but  upon  the  express  condition  that  he 
receive  no  salary.  He  would  keep  an  exact  account 
of  expenses  and  expect  Congress  to  pay  them  and 
nothing  more.  It  is  not  the  object  of  this  sketch  to 
trace  the  military  acts  of  Washington,  to  whom  the 
fortunes  and  liberties  of  the  people  of  this  country 
were  so  long  confided.  The  war  was  conducted  by 
him  under  ever)'  possible  disadvantage,  and  while  his 
forces  often  met  with  reverses,  yet  he  overcame  every 
obstacle,  and  after  seven  years  of  heroic  devotion 
and  matchless  skill  he  gained  liberty  for  the  greatest 
nation  of  earth.  On  Dec.  23,  T783,  Washington,  in 
a  parting  address  of  surpassing  beauty,  lesigned  his 


commission  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  to 
to  the  Continental  Congress  sitting  at  Annapolis.  He 
retired  immediately  to  Mount  Vernon  and  resumed 
his  occupation  as  a  farmer  and  planter,  shunning  all 
connection  with  public  life. 

In  Febraary^Sg,  Washington  was  unanimously 
elected  President.  In  his  presidential  career  he  was 
subject  to  the  peculiar  trials  incidental  to  a  new 
government ;  trials  from  lack  of  confidence  on  the  part 
of  other  governments;  trials  from  want  of  harmony 
between  the  different  sections  of  our  own  country; 
trials  from  the  impoverished  condition  of  the  country, 
owing  to  the  war  and  want  of  credit;  trials  from  the 
beginnings  of  party  strife.  He  was  no  partisan.  His 
clear  judgment  could  discern  the  golden  mean  ;  and 
while  perhaps  this  alone  kept  our  government  from 
sinking  at  the  very  outset,  it  left  him  exposed  to 
attacks  from  both  sides,  which  were  often  bitter  and 
very  annoying. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  first  term  he  was  unani- 
mously re-elected.  At  the  end  of  this  term  many 
were  anxious  that  he  be  re-elected,  but  he  absolutely- 
refused  a  third  nomination.  On  the  fourth  of  March, 
1797,  at  the  expiraton  of  his  second  term  as  Presi- 
dent, he  returned  to  his  home,  hoping  to  pass  there 
his  few  remaining  years  free  from  the  annoyances  of 
public  life.  Later  in  the  year,  however,  his  repose 
seemed  likely  to  be  interrupted  by  war  with  France 
At  the  prospect  of  such  a  war  he  was  again  urged  to 
take  command  of  the  armies.  He  chose  his  sub- 
ordinate officers  and  left  to  them  the  charge  of  mat- 
ters in  the  field,  which  he  superintended  from  his 
home.  In  accepting  the  command  he  made  the 
reservation  that  he  was  not  to  be  in  the  field  until 
it  was  necessary.  In  the  midst  of  these  preparations 
his  life  was  suddenly  cut  off.  December  1 2,  he  took 
a  severe  cold  from  a  ride  in  the  rain,  which,  settling 
in  his  throat,  produced  inflammation,  and  terminated 
fatally  on  the  night  of  the  fourteenth.  On  the  eigh- 
teenth his  body  was  borne  wi'h  military  honors  to  its 
final  resting  place,  and  interred  in  the  family  vault  at 
Mount  Vernon. 

Of  the  character  of  Washington  it  is  impossible  to 
speak  but  in  terms  of  the  highest  respect  and  ad- 
miration. The  more  we  see  of  the  operations  of 
our  government,  and  the  more  deeply  we  feel  the 
difficulty  of  uniting  all  opinions  in  a  common  interest, 
the  more  highly  we  must  estimate  the  force  of  his  tal- 
ent and  character,  which  have  been  able  to  challenge 
the  reverence  of  all  parties,  and  principles,  and  na- 
tions, and  to  win  a  fame  as  extended  as  the  limits 
of  the  globe,  and  which  we  cannot  but  believe  will 
be  as  lasting  as  the  existence  of  man. 

The  person  of  Washington  was  unusally  tan,  erect 
and  well  proportioned.  His  muscular  strength  was 
great.  His  features  were  of  a  beautiful  symmetry. 
He  commanded  respect  without  any  appearance  of 
haughtiness,  and  ever  serious  without  being  dull. 


hECOND  PRESIDENT. 


23 


OHN    ADAMS,    the     second 

President  and  the  first  Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  in  Braintree  ( now 
Quincy  )(Mass.,  and  about  ten 
miles  from  Boston,  Oct.  19, 
1735.  His  great-grandfather,  Henry 
Adams,  emigrated  from  England 
about  1640,  with  a  family  of  eight 
sons,  and  settled  at  Braiutree.  The 
parents  of  John  were  John  and 
Susannah  (Boylston)  Adams.  His 
father  was  a  farmer  of  limited 
means,  to  which  he  added  the  bus- 
iness of  shoemaking.  He  gave  his 
eldest  son,  John,  a  classical  educa- 
tion at  Harvard  College.  John 
graduated  in  1755,  and  at  once  took  charge  of  the 
school  in  Worcester,  Mass.  This  he  found  but  a 
"school  of  affliction,"  from  which  he  endeavored  to 
gain  relief  by  devoting  himself,  in  addition,  to  the 
study  of  law.  For  this  purpose  he  placed  himself 
under  the  tuition  of  the  only  lawyer  in  the  town.  He 
had  thought  seriously  of  the  clerical  profession 
but  seems  to  have  been  turned  from  this  by  what  he 
termed  "  the  frightful  engines  of  ecclesiastical  coun- 
cils, of  diabolical  malice,  and  Calvanistic  good  nature,'1 
of  the  operations  of  which  he  had  been  a  witness  in 
his  native  town.  He  was  well  fitted  for  the  legal 
profession,  possessing  a  clear,  sonorous  voice,  being 
ready  and  fluent  of  speech,  and  having  quick  percep- 
tive powers.  He  gradually  gained  practice,  and  in 
1764  married  Abigail  Smith,  a  daughter  of  a  minister, 
and  a  lady  of  superior  intelligence.  Shortly  after  his 
marriage,  (i7<>5),  the  attempt  of  Parliamentary  taxa- 
tion turned  him  from  law  to  politics.  He  took  initial 
steps  toward  holdir.B  a  town  meeting,  and  the  resolu- 


tions he  offered  on  the  subject  became  very  populai 
throughout  the  Province,  and  were  adopted  word  for 
word  by  over  forty  different  towns.  He  moved  to  Bos- 
ton in  1768,  and  became  one  of  the  most  courageous 
and  prominent  advocatesof  the  popular  cause,  and 
was  chosen  a  member  of  the  General  Court  (the  Leg- 
lislature)  in  1770. 

Mr.  Adams  was  chosen  one  of  the  first  delegates 
from  Massachusetts  to  the  first  Continental  Congress, 
which  met  in  1774.  Here  he  distinguished  himself 
by  his  capacity  for  business  and  for  debate,  and  ad- 
vocated the  movement  for  independence  against  the 
majority  of  the  members.  In  May,  1776,  he  mcved 
and  carried  a  resolution  in  Congress  that  the  Colonies 
should  assume  the  duties  of  self-government.  He 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  committee  of  iive 
appointed  June  n,  to  prepare  a  declaration  of  inde- 
pendence. This  article  was  drawn  by  Jefferson,  but 
on  Adams  devolved  the  task  of  battling  it  through 
Congress  in  a  three  days  debate. 

On  the  day  after  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
was  passed,  while  his  soul  was  yet  warm  with  tin 
glow  of  excited  feeling,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  his  wile 
which,  as  we  read  it  now,  seems  to  have  been  dictated 
by  the  spirit  of  prophecy.  "Yesterday,"  he  says,  "the 
greatest  question  was  decided  that  ever  was  debated 
in  America;  and  greater,  perhaps,  never  was  or  wil. 
be  decided  among  men.  A  resolution  was  passed 
without  one  dissenting  colony,  '  that  these  United 
States  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  free  and  inde- 
pendent states.'  The  day  is  passed.  The  fourth  of 
July,  1776,  will  be  a  memorable  epoch  in  the  history 
of  America.  I  am  apt  to  believe  it  will  be  celebrated 
by  succeeding  generations,  as  the  great  anniversary 
festival.  It  ought  to  be  commemorated  as  the  day  of 
deliverance  by  solemn  acts  of  devotion  to  Almighty 
God.  It  ought  to  be  solemnized  with  pomp,  shows, 


JOHN  ADAMS. 


games,  sports,  guns,  bells,  bonfires,  and  illuminations 
from  one  end  of  the  continent  to  the  other,  from  this 
time  forward  for  ever.  You  will  think  me  transported 
with  enthusiasm,  but  I  am  not.  I  am  well  aware  of 
the  toil,  and  blood  and  treasure,  that  it  will  cost  to 
maintain  this  declaration,  and  support  and  defend 
these  States;  yet,  through  all  the  gloom,  I  can  see  the 
rays  of  light  and  glory.  I  can  see  that  the  end  is 
worth  more  than  all  the  means;  and  that  posterity 
will  triumph,  although  you  and  I  may  rue,  which  I 
hope  we  shall  not." 

In  November,  1777,  Mr.  Adams  was  appointed  a 
delegate  to  France  and  to  co-operate  with  Bemjamin 
Franklin  and  Arthur  Lee,  who  were  then  in  Paris,  in 
the  endeavor  to  obtain  assistance  in  arms  and  money 
from  the  French  Government.  This  was  a  severe  trial 
to  his  patriotism,  as  it  separated  him  from  his  home, 
compelled  him  to  cross  the  ocean  in  winter,  and  ex- 
posed him  to  great  peril  of  capture  by  the  British  cruis- 
ers, who  were  seeking  him.  He  left  France  June  17, 
1779.  In  September  of  the  same  year  he  was  again 
chosen  to  go  to  Paris,  and  there  hold  himself  in  readi- 
ness to  negotiate  a  treaty  of  peace  and  of  commerce 
with  Great  Britian,  as  soon  as  the  British  Cabinet 
might  be  found  willing  to  listen  to  such  proposels.  He 
sailed  for  France  in  November,  from  there  he  went  to 
Holland,  where  he  negotiated  important  loans  and 
formed  important  commercial  treaties. 

Finally  a  treaty  of  peace  with  England  was  signed 
Jan.  21,  1783.  The  re-action  from  the  excitement, 
toil  and  anxiety  through  which  Mr.  Adams  had  passed 
threw  him  into  a  fever.  After  suffering  from  a  con- 
tinued fever  and  becoming  feeble  and  emaciated  he 
was  advised  to  go  to  England  to  drink  the  waters  of 
Bath.  While  in  England,  stilldroopinganddespond- 
ing,  he  received  dispatches  from  his  own  government 
urging  the  necessity  of  his  going  to  Amsterdam  to 
negotiate  another  loan.  It  was  winter,  his  health  was 
delicate,  yet  he  immediately  set  out,  and  through 
storm,  on  sea,  on  horseback  and  foot,he  made  the  trip. 

February  24,  1785;  Congress  appointed  Mr.  Adams 
envoy  to  the  Court  of  St.  James.  Here  he  met  face 
to  face  the  King  of  England,  who  had  so  long  re- 
garded him  as  a  traitor.  As  England  did  not 
condescend  to  appoint  a  minister  to  the  United 
States,  and  as  Mr.  Adams  felt  that  he  was  accom- 
plishing but  little,  he  sought  permission  to  return  to 
his  own  country,  where  he  arrived  in  June,  1788. 

When  Washington  was  first  chosen  President,  John 
Adams,  rendered  illustiious  by  his  signal  services  at 
home  and  abroad,  was  chosen  Vice  President.  Again 
at  the  second  election  of  Washington  as  President, 
Adams  was  chosen  Vice  President.  In  1796,  Wash- 
ington retired  from  public  life,  and  Mr.  Adams  was 
elected  President, though  not  without  much  opposition. 
Serving  in  this  office  four  years,he  was  succeeded  by 
Mr.  Jefferson,  his  opponent  in  politics. 

While    Mr.  Adams  was  Vice  President  the   great 


French  Revolution  shook  the  continent  of  Europe, 
and  it  was  upon  this  point  which  he  was  at  issue  with 
the  majority  of  his  countrymen  led  by  Mr.  Jefferson. 
Mr.  Adams  felt  no  sympathy  with  the  French  people 
in  their  struggle,  for  he  had  no  confidence  in  their 
power  of  self-government,  and  he  utterly  abhored  the 
class  of  atheist  philosophers  who  he  claimed  caused  it. 
On  the  other  hand  Jefferson's  sympathies  were  strongly 
enlisted  in  behalf  of  the  French  people.  Hence  or- 
iginated the  alienation  between  these  distinguished 
men,  and  two  powerful  parties  were  thus  soon  orgar.- 
ized,  Adams  at  the  head  of  the  one  whose  sympathies 
were  with  England  and  Jefferson  led  the  other  in 
sympathy  with  France. 

The  world  has  seldom  seen  a  spectacle  of  more 
moral  beauty  and  grandeur,  than  was  presented  by  the 
old  age  of  Mr.  Adams.  The  violence  of  party  feeling 
had  died  away,  and  he  had  begun  to  receive  that  just 
appreciation  which,  to  most  men,  is  not  accorded  till 
after  death.  No  one  could  look  upon  his  venerable 
form,  and  think  of  what  he  had  done  and  suffered, 
and  how  he  had  given  up  all  the  prime  and  strength 
of  his  life  to  the  public  good,  without  the  deepest 
emotion  of  gratitude  and  respect.  It  was  his  peculiar 
good  fortune  to  witness  the  complete  success  of  the 
institution  which  he  had  been  so  active  in  creating  and 
supporting.  In  1824,  his  cup  of  happiness  was  filled 
to  the  brim,  by  seeing  his  son  elevated  to  the  highest 
station  in  the  gift  of  the  people. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1826,  which  completed  the  half 
century  since  the  signing  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, arrived,  and  there  were  but  three  of  the 
signers  of  that  immortal  instrument  left  upon  the 
earth  to  hail  its  morning  light.  And,  as  it  is 
well  known,  on  that  day  two  of  these  finished  their 
earthly  pilgrimage,  a  coincidence  so  remarkable  as 
to  seem  miraculous.  For  a  few  days  before  Mr. 
Adams  had  been  rapidly  failing,  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  fourth  he  found  himself  too  weak  to  rise  from 
his  bed.  On  being  requested  to  name  a  toast  for  the 
customary  celebration  of  the  day,  he  exclaimed  "  IN- 
DEPENDENCE FOREVER."  When  the  day  was  ushered 
in,  by  the  ringing  of  bells  and  the  firing  of  cannons, 
he  was  asked  by  one  of  his  attendants  if  he  knew 
what  day  it  was?  He  replied,  "O  yes;  it  is  the  glor- 
ious fourth  of  July — God  bless  it — God  bless  you  all." 
In  the  course  of  the  day  he  said,  "  It  is  a  great  and 
glorious  day."  The  last  words  he  uttered  were, 
"Jefferson  survives."  But  he  had,  at  one  o'clock,  re- 
signed his  spirit  into  the  hands  of  his  God. 

The  personal  appearance  and  manners  of  Mr. 
Adams  were  not  particularly  prepossessing.  His  face, 
as  his  portrait  manifests.was  intellectual  and  expres- 
sive, but  his  figure  was  low  and  ungraceful,  and  his 
manners  were  frequently  abrupt  and  uncourteous. 
He  had  neither  the  lofty  dignity  of  Washington,  nor 
the  engaging  elegance  and  gracefulness  which  marked 
the  manners  and  address  of  Jefferson. 


1 


THIRD  PRESIDENT. 


HOMAS  JEFFERSON  was 
born  April  2,  1743,  at  Shad- 
well,  Albermarle  county,  Va. 
His  parents  were  Peter  and 
Jane  (  Randolph)  Jefferson, 
the  former  a  native  of  Wales, 
and  the  latter  born  in  Lon- 
don. To  them  were  born  six 
daughters  and  two  sons,  of 
whom  Thomas  was  the  elder. 
When  14  years  of  age  his 
father  died.  He  received  a 
most  liberal  education,  hav- 
ing been  kept  diligently  at  school 
from  the  time  he  was  five  years  of 
age.  In  1760  he  entered  William 
and  Mary  College.  Williamsburg  was  then  the  seat 
of  the  Colonial  Court,  and  it  was  the  obode  of  fashion 
a.id  splendor.  Young  Jefferson,  who  was  then  17 
years  old,  lived  somewhat  expensively,  keeping  fine 
horses,  and  much  caressed  by  gay  society,  yet  he 
was  earnestly  devoted  to  his  studies,  and  irreproacha- 
able  in  his  morals.  It  is  strange,  however,  under 
such  influences,that  he  was  not  ruined.  In  the  sec- 
ond year  of  his  college  course,  moved  by  some  un- 
explained inward  impulse,  he  discarded  his  horses, 
society,  and  even  his  favorite  violin,  to  which  he  had 
previously  given  much  time.  He  often  devoted  fifteen 
hours  a  day  to  hard  study,  allowing  himself  for  ex- 
ercise only  a  run  in  the  evening  twilight  of  a  mile  out 
of  the  city  and  back  again.  He  thus  attained  very 
high  intellectual  culture,  alike  excellence  in  philoso- 
phy and  the  languages.  The  most  difficult  Latin  and 
Greek  authors  he  read  with  facility.  A  more  finished 
scholar  has  seldom  gone  forth  from  college  halls;  and 


there  was  not  to  be  found,  perhaps,  in  all  Virginia,  a 
more  pureminded,  upright,  gentlemanly  young  man. 

Immediately  upon  leaving  college  he  began  the 
study  of  law.  For  the  short  time  he  continued  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  he  rose  rapidly  and  distin- 
guished himself  by  his  energy  and  accuteness  as  a 
lawyer.  But  the  times  called  for  greater  action. 
The  policy  of  England  had  awakened  the  spirit  of 
resistance  of  the  American  Colonies,  and  the  enlarged 
views  which  Jefferson  had  ever  entertained,  soon  led 
him  into  active  political  life.  In  1769  he  was  chosen 
a  member  of  the  Virginia  House  of  Burgesses.  In 
1772  he  married  Mrs.  Martha  Skelton,  a  very  beauti- 
ful, wealthy  and  highly  accomplished  young  widow. 

Upon  Mr.  Jefferson's  large  estate  at  Shadwell,  there 
was  a  majestic  swell  of  land,  called  Monticello,  which 
commanded  a  prospect  of  wonderful  extent  and 
beauty.  This  spot  Mr.  Jefferson  selected  for  his  new 
home;  and  here  he  reared  a  mansion  of  modest  yet 
elegant  architecture,  which,  next  to  Mount  Vernon, 
became  the  most  distinguished  resort  in  our  land. 

In  1775  he  was  sent  to  the  Colonial  Congress, 
where,  though  a  silent  member,  his  abilities  as  a 
writer  and  a  reasoner  soon  become  known,  and  he 
was  placed  upon  a  number  of  important  committees, 
and  was  chairman  of  the  one  appointed  for  the  draw- 
ing up  of  a  declaration  of  independence.  This  com- 
mittee consisted  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  John  Adams, 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Roger  Sherman  and  Robert  R. 
Livingston.  Jefferson,  as  chairman,  was  appointed 
to  draw  up  the  paper.  Franklin  and  Adams  suggested 
a  few  verbal  changes  before  it  was  submitted  to  Con- 
gress. On  June  28,  a  few  slight  changes  were  made 
in  it  by  Congress,  and  it  was  passed  and  signed  July 
4,  1776.  What  must  have  been  the  feelings  of  that 


THOMAS  JEFFERSON. 


man — what  the  emotions  that  swelled  his  breast — 
who  was  charged  with  the  preparation  of  that  Dec- 
laration, which,  while  it  made  known  the  wrongs  of 
America,  was  also  to  publish  her  to  the  world,  free, 
soverign  and  independent.  It  is  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable papers  ever  written  ;  and  did  no  other  effort 
>)f  the  mind  of  its  author  exist,  that  alone  would  be 
sufficient  to  stamp  his  name  with  immortality. 

In  1779  Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  successor  to 
Patrick  Henry,  as  Governor  of  Virginia.  At  one  time 
the  British  officer,  Tarleton,  sent  a  secret  expedition  to 
Monticello,  to  capture  the  Governor.  Scarcely  five 
minutes  elapsed  after  the  hurried  escape  of  Mr.  Jef- 
ferson and  his  family,  ere  his  mansion  was  in  posses- 
sion of  the  British  troops.  His  wife's  health,  never 
very  good,  was  much  injured  by  this  excitement,  and 
in  the  summer  of  1782  she  died. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  to  Congress  in  1783. 
Two  years  later  he  was  appointed  Minister  Plenipo- 
tentiary to  France.  Returning  to  the  United  States 
in  September,  1789,  he  became  Secretary  of  State 
in  Washington's  cabinet.  This  position  he  resigned 
Jan.  i,  1794.  In  T797,he  was  chosen  Vice  Presi- 
dent, and  four  years  later  was  elected  President  over 
Mr.  Adams,  with  Aaron  Burr  as  Vice  President.  In 
1804  he  was  re-elected  with  wonderful  unanimity, 
and  George  Clinton,  Vice  President. 

The  early  part  of  Mr.  Jefferson's  second  adminstra- 
tion  was  disturbed  by  an  event  which  threatened  the 
trunquility  and  peace  of  the  Union;  this  was  the  con- 
spiracy of  Aaron  Burr.  Defeated  in  the  late  election 
lo  the  Vice  Presidency,  and  led  on  by  an  unprincipled 
ambition,  this  extraordinary  man  formed  the  plan  of  a 
military  expedition  into  the  Spanish  territories  on  our 
southwestern  frontier,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  there 
a  new  republic.  This  has  been  generally  supposed 
was  a  mere  pretext ;  and  although  it  has  not  been 
generally  known  what  his  real  plans  were,  there  is  no 
doubt  that  they  were  of  a  far  more  dangerous 
character. 

In  1809,  at  the  expiration  of  the  second  term  for 
which  Mr.  Jefferson  had  been  elected,  he  determined 
to  retire  from  political  life.  For  a  period  of  nearly 
forty  years,  he  had  been  continually  before  the  pub- 
lic, and  all  that  time  had  been  employed  in  offices  of 
the  greatest  trust  and  responsibility.  Having  thus  de- 
voted the  best  part  of  his  life  to  the  service  of  his 
country,  he  now  felt  desirous  of  that  rest  which  his 
declining  years  required,  and  upon  the  organization  of 
the  new  administration,  in  March,  1809,  he  bid  fare- 
well forever  to  public  life,  and  retired  to  Monticello. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  profuse  in  his  hospitality.  Whole 
families  came  in  their  coaches  with  their  horses, — 
fathers  and  mothers,  boys  and  girls,  babies  and 
nurses, — and  remained  three  and  even  six  months. 
Life  at  Monticello,  for  years,  resembled  that  at  a 
fashionable  watering-place. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1826,  being  the  fiftieth  anniver- 


sary of  the  Declaration  of  American  Independence, 
great  preparations  were  made  in  every  part  of  tht 
Union  for  its  celebration,  as  the  nation's  jubilee,  and 
the  citizens  of  Washington,  to  add  to  the  solemnity 
of  the  occasion,  invited  Mr.  Jefferson,  as  the  framer. 
and  one  of  the  few  surviving  signers  of  the  Declara- 
tion, to  participate  in  their  festivities.  But  an  ill- 
ness, which  had  been  of  several  weeks  duration,  and 
had  been  continually  increasing,  compelled  him  to 
decline  the  invitation. 

On  the  second  of  July,  the  disease  under  which 
he  was  laboring  left  him,  but  in  such  a  reduced 
state  that  his  medical  attendants,  entertained  no 
hope  of  his  recovery.  From  this  time  he  was  perfectly 
sensible  that  his  last  hour  was  at  hand.  On  the  next 
d:iy,  which  was  Monday,  he  asked  of  those  around 
him,  the  day  of  the  month,  and  on  being  told  it  was 
the  third  of  July,  he  expressed  the  earnest  wish  that 
he  might  be  permitted  to  breathe  the  air  of  the  fiftieth 
anniversary.  His  prayer  was  heard — that  day,  whose 
dawn  was  hailed  with  such  rapture  through  our  land, 
burst  upon  his  eyes,  and  then  they  were  closed  for- 
ever. And  what  a  noble  consummation  of  a  noble 
life!  To  die  on  that  day, — the  birthday  of  a  nation,- - 
the  day  which  his  own  name  and  his  own  act  had 
rendered  glorious;  to  die  amidst  the  rejoicings  and 
festivities  of  a  whole  nation,  who  looked  up  to  him, 
as  the  author,  under  God,  of  their  greatest  blessings, 
was  all  that  was  wanting  to  fill  up  the  record  his  life. 

Almost  at  the  same  hour  of  his  death,  the  kin- 
dred spirit  of  the  venerable  Adams,  as  if  to  bear 
him  company,  left  the  scene  of  his  earthly  honors. 
Hand  in  hand  they  had  stood  forth,  the  champions  of 
freedom;  hand  in  hand,  during  the  dark  and  desper- 
ate struggle  of  the  Revolution,  they  had  cheered  and 
animated  their  desponding  countrymen;  for  half  a 
century  they  had  labored  together  for  the  good  of 
the  country;  and  now  hand  in  hand  they  depart. 
In  their  lives  they  had  been  united  in  the  same  great 
cause  of  liberty,  and  in  their  deaths  they  were  not 
divided. 

In  person  Mr.  Jefferson  was  tall  and  thin,  rather 
above  six  feet  in  height,  but  well  formed;  his  eyes 
were  light,  his  hair  originally  red,  in  after  life  became 
white  and  silvery;  his  complexion  was  fair,  his  fore- 
head broad,  and  his  whole  countenance  intelligent  and 
thoughtful.  He  possessed  great  fortitude  of  mind  as 
well  as  personal  courage ;  and  his  command  of  tem- 
per was  such  that  his  oldest  and  most  intimate  friends 
never  recollected  to  have  seen  him  in  a  passion. 
His  manners,  though  dignified,  were  simple  and  un- 
affected, and  his  hospitality  was  so  unbounded  that 
all. found  at  his  house  a  ready  welcome.  In  conver- 
sation he  was  fluent,  eloquent  and  enthusiastic;  and 
his  language  was  remarkably  pure  and  correct.  He 
was  a  finished  classical  scholar,  and  in  his  writings  is 
discernable  the  care  with  which  he  formed  his  style 
upon  the  best  models  of  antiquity. 


/ 


FOURTH  PRESIDENT. 


npoisoi). 


AMES    MADISON,    "Father 
of  the  Constitution,1'  and  fourth 
President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  March  16,  1757,  and 
died  at  his  home  in  Virginia, 
June  28,  1836.     The  name  of 
James  Madison  is  inseparably  con- 
nected with  most  of  the  important 
events  in  that  heroic  period  of  our 
country  during  which  the  founda- 
tions of  this  great   republic  were 
laid.  He  was  the  last  of  the  founders 
of  the   Constitution   of  the    United 
States  to   be   called    to   his   eternal 
reward. 

The  Madison  family  were  among 
the  early  emigrants  to  the  New  World, 
landing  upon  the  shores  of  the  Chesa- 
peake but  15  years  after  the  settle- 
ment of  Jamestown.  The  father  of 
James  Madison  was  an  opulent 
planter,  residing  upon  a  very  fine  es- 
tate called  "Montpelier,"  Orange  Co., 
Va.  The  mansion  was  situated  in 
the  midst  of  scenery  highly  pictur- 
esque and  romantic,  on  the  west  side 
of  South-west  Mountain,  at  the  foot  of 
Blue  Ridge.  It  was  but  25  miles  from  the  home  of 
Jefferson  at  Monticello.  The  closest  personal  and 
political  attachment  existed  between  these  illustrious 
men,  from  their  early  youth  until  death. 

The  early  education  of  Mr.  Madison  was  conducted 
mostly  at  home  under  a  private  tutor.  At  the  age  of 
18  he  was  sent  to  Princeton  College,  in  New  Jersey. 
Here  lie  applied  himself  to  study  with  the  most  im- 


prudent zeal;  allowing  himself,  for  months,  but  three 
hours'  sleep  out  of  the  24.  His  health  thus  became  so 
seriously  impaired  that  he  never  recovered  any  vigor 
of  constitution.  He  graduated  in  1771,  with  a  feeble 
body,  with  a  character  of  utmost  purity,  and  with  a 
mind  highly  disciplined  and  richly  stored  with  learning 
which  embellished  and  gave  proficiency  to  his  subsf  " 
quent  career. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  commenced  the  study  of 
law  and  a  course  of  extensive  and  systematic  reading. 
This  educational  course,  the  spirit  of  the  times  in 
which  he  lived,  and  the  society  with  which  he  asso- 
ciated, all  combined  to  inspire  him  with  a  strong 
love  of  liberty,  and  to  train  him  for  his  life-work  of 
a  statesman.  Being  naturally  of  a  religious  turn  of 
mind,  and  his  frail  health  leading  him  to  think  that 
his  life  was  not  to  be  long,  he  directed  especial  atten- 
tion to  theological  studies.  Endowed  with  a  mind 
singularly  free  from  passion  and  prejudice,  and  with 
almost  unequalled  powers  of  reasoning,  he  weighed 
all  the  arguments  for  and  against  revealed  religion, 
until  his  faith  became  so  established  as  never  to 
be  shaken. 

In  the  spring  of  1776,  when  26  years  of  age,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Convention,  to 
frame  the  constitution  of  the  State.  The  next  year 
(1777),  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  General  Assembly. 
He  refused  to  treat  the  whisky-loving  voters,  and 
consequently  lost  his  election ;  but  those  who  had 
witnessed  the  talent,  energy  and  public  spirit  of  the 
modest  young  man,  enlisted  themselves  in  his  behalf, 
and  he  was  appointed  to  the  Executive  Council. 

Both  Patrick  Henry  and  Thomas  Jefferson  were 
Governors  of  Virginia  while  Mr.  Madison  remained 
member  of  the  Council ;  and  their  appreciation  of  his 


32 


/AMES  MADISON. 


intellectual,  social  and  moral  worth,  contributed  not 
a  little  to  his  subsequent  eminence.  In  the  year 
1780,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress.  Here  he  met  the  most  illustrious  men  in 
our  land,  and  he  was  immediately  assigned  to  one  of 
the  most  conspicuous  positions  among  them. 

For  three  years  Mr.  Madison  continued  in  Con- 
gress, one  of  its  most  active  and  influential  members, 
in  the  year  1784,  his  term  having  expired,  he  was 
elected  a.  member  of  the  Virginia  Legislature. 

No  man  felt  more  deeply  than  Mr.  Madison  the 
utter  inefficiency  of  the  old  confederacy,  with  no  na- 
tional government,  with  no  power  to  form  treaties 
which  would  be  binding,  or  to  enforce  law.  There 
was  not  any  State  more  prominent  than  Virginia  in 
the  declaration,  that  an  efficient  national  government 
must  be  formed.  In  January,  1786,  Mr.  Madison 
carried  a  resolution  through  the  General  Assembly  of 
Virginia,  inviting  the  other  States  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners to  meet  in  convention  at  Annapolis  to  discuss 
this  subject.  Five  States  only  were  represented.  The 
convention,  however,  issued  another  call,  drawn  up 
by  Mr.  Madison,  urging  all  the  States  to  send  their 
delegates  to  Philadelphia,  in  May,  1787,  to  draft 
a  Constitution  for  the  United  States,  to  take  the  place 
of  that  Confederate  League.  The  delegates  met  at 
the  time  appointed.  Every  State  but  Rhode  Island 
represented.  George  Washington  was  chosen 
1  lent  of  the  convention;  and  the  present  Consti- 
tu  of  the  United  States  was  then  and  there  formed. 
There  was,  perhaps,  no  mind  and  no  pen  more  ac- 
tive in  framing  this  immortal  document  than  the  mind 
and  the  pen  of  James  Madison. 

The  Constitution,  adopted  by  a  vote  81  to  79,  was 
to  be  presented  to  the  several  States  for  acceptance. 
But  grave  solicitude  was  felt.  Should  it  be  rejected 
we  should  be  left  but  a  conglomeration  of  independent 
States,  with  but  little  power  at  home  and  little  respect 
abroad.  Mr.  Madison  was  selected  by  the  conven- 
tion to  draw  up  an  address  to  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  expounding  the  principles  of  the  Constitution, 
and  urging  its  adoption.  There  was  great  opposition 
to  it  at  first,  but  it  at  length  triumphed  over  all,  and 
went  into  effect  in  1789. 

Mr.  Madison  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives in  the  first  Congress,  and  soon  became  the 
avowed  leader  of  the  Republican  party.  While  in 
New  York  attending  Congress,  he  met  Mrs.  Todd,  a 
young  widow  of  remarkable  power  of  fascination, 
whom  he  married.  She  was  in  person  and  character 
queenly,  and  probably  no  lady  has  thus  far  occupied 
so  prominent  a  position  in  the  very  peculiar  society 
which  has  constituted  our  republican  court  as  Mrs. 
Madison. 

Mr.  Madison  served  as  Secretary  of  State  under 
Jefferson,  and  at  the  close  of  his  administration 
was  chosen  President.  At  this  time  the  encroach- 
ments of  England  had  brought  us  to  the  verge  of  war. 


British  orders  in  council  destioyed  our  commerce,  and 
our  flag  was  exposed  to  constant  insult.  Mr.  Madison 
was  a  man  of  peace.  Scholarly  in  his  taste,  retiring 
in  his  disposition,  war  had  no  charms  for  him.  But  the 
meekest  spirit  can  be  roused.  It  makes  one's  blood 
boil,  even  now,  to  think  of  an  American  ship  brought 
to,  upon  the  ocean,  by  the  guns  of  an  English  cruiser. 
A  young  lieutenant  steps  on  board  and  orders  the 
crew  to  be  paraded  before  him.  With  great  nonchal- 
ance he  selects  any  number  whom  he  may  please  to 
designate  as  British  subjects  ;  orders  them  down  the 
ship's  side  into  his  boat ;  and  places  them  on  the  gun- 
deck  of  his  man-of-war,  to  fight,  by  compulsion,  the 
battles  of  England.  This  right  of  search  and  im- 
pressment, no  efforts  of  our  Government  could  induce 
the  British  cabinet  to  relinquish. 

On  the  1 8th  of  June,  1812,  President  Madison  gave 
his  approval  to  an  act  of  Congress  declaring  war 
against  Great  Britain.  Notwithstanding  the  bitter 
hostility  of  the  Federal  party  to  the  war,  the  country 
in  general  approved;  and  Mr.  Madison,  on  the  4th 
of  March,  i8'3>  was  re-elected  by  a  large  majority, 
and  entered  upon  his  second  term  of  office.  This  is 
not  the  place  to  describe  the  various  adventures  of 
this  war  on  the  land  and  on  the  water.  Our  infant 
navy  then  laid  the  foundations  of  its  renown  in  grap- 
pling with  the  most  formidable  power  which  ever 
swept  the  seas.  The  contest  commenced  in  earnest 
by  the  appearance  of  a  British  fleet,  early  in  Februaiy, 
1813,  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  declaring  nearly  the  whole 
coast  of  the  United  States  under  blockade. 

The  Emperor  of  Russia  offered  his  services  as  me 
dilator.  America  accepted ;  England  refused.  A  Brit- 
ish force  of  five  thousand  men  landed  on  the  banks 
of  the  Patuxet  River,  near  its  entrance  into  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  and  marched  rapidly,  by  way  of  Bladens- 
burg,  upon  Washington. 

The  straggling  little  city  of  Washington  was  thrown 
into  consternation.  The  cannon  of  the  brief  conflict 
at  Bladensburg  echoed  through  the  streets  of  the 
metropolis.  The  whole  population  fled  from  the  city. 
The  President,  leaving  Mrs.  Madison  in  the  White 
House,  with  her  carriage  drawn  up  at  the  door  to 
await  his  speedy  return,  hurried  to  meet  the  officers 
in  a  council  of  war.  He  met  our  troops  utterly  routed, 
and  he  could  not  go  back  without  danger  of  being 
captured.  But  few  hours  elapsed  ere  the  Presidential 
Mansion,  the  Capitol,  and  all  the  public  buildings  in 
Washington  were  in  flames. 

The  war  closed  after  two  years  of  fighting,  and  on 
Feb.  13,  1815,  the  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  atGhent. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  his  second  term  of 
office  expired,  and  he  resigned  the  Presidential  chair 
to  his  friend,  James  Monroe.  He  retired  to  his  beau- 
tiful home  at  Montpelier,  and  there  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  On  June  28,  1836,  then  at  the 
age  of  85  years,  he  fell  asleep  in  death.  Mrs.  Madi- 
son died  July  12,  1849. 


FIFTH  PRESIDENT. 


35 


AMES    MONROE,   the  fifth 
President  of  The  United  States, 
was  born  in  Westmoreland  Co., 
Va.,  April  28,  1758.    His  early 
life  was  passed  at  the  place  of 
nativity.  His  ancestors  had  for 
many  years    resided  in  the  prov- 
ince in  which  he  was  born.    When, 


at  17  years  of  age,  in  the  process 
of  completing  his  education  at 
William  and  Mary  College,  the  Co- 
lonial Congress  assembled  at  Phila- 
delphia to  deliberate  upon  the  un- 
just and  manifold  oppressions  of 
Great  Britian,  declared  the  separa- 
tion of  the  Colonies,  and  promul- 
gated the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence. Had  he  been  born  ten  years  before  it  is  highly 
probable  that  he  would  have  been  one  of  the  signers 
of  that  celebrated  instrument.  At  this  time  he  left 
school  and  enlisted  among  the  patriots. 

He  joined  the  army  when  everything  looked  hope- 
less and  gloomy.  The  number  of  deserters  increased 
from  day  to  day.  The  invading  armies  came  pouring 
in;  and  the  lories  not  only  favored  the  cause  of  the 
mother  country,  but  disheartened  the  new  recruits, 
who  were  sufficiently  terrified  at  the  prospect  of  con- 
tending with  an  enemy  whom  they  had  been  taught 
to  deem  invincible.  To  such  brave  spirits  as  James 
Monroe,  who  went  right  onward,  undismayed  through 
difficulty  and  danger,  the  United  States  owe  their 
l>olitical  emancipation.  The  young  cadet  joined  the 
ranks,  and  espoused  the  cause  of  his  injured  country, 
with  a  firm  determination  to  live  or  die  with  her  strife 


for  liberty.  Firmly  yet  sadly  he  shared  in  the  mel- 
ancholy retreat  from  Harleam  Heights  and  White 
Plains,  and  accompanied  the  dispirited  army  as  it  fled 
before  its  foes  through  New  Jersey.  In  four  months 
after  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  the  patriots 
had  been  beaten  in  seven  battles.  At  the  battle  of 
Trenton  he  led  the  vanguard,  and,  in  the  act  of  charg- 
ing upon  the  enemy  he  received  a  wound  in  the  left 
shoulder. 

As  a  reward  for  his  bravery,  Mr.  Monroe  was  pro- 
moted a  captain  of  infantry ;  and,  having  recovered 
from  his  wound,  he  rejoined  the  army.  He,  however, 
receded  from  the  line  of  promotion,  by  becoming  an 
officer  in  the  staff  of  Lord  Sterling.  During  the  cam- 
paigns of  1777  and  1778,  in  the  actions  of  Brandy 
wine,  Germantown  and  Monmouth,  he  continued 
aid-de-camp ;  but  becoming  desirous  to  regain  his 
position  in  the  army,  he  exerted  himself  to  collect  a 
regiment  for  the  Virginia  line.  This  scheme  failed 
owing  to  the  exhausted  condition  of  the  State.  Upon 
this  failure  he  entered  the  office  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  at 
that  period  Governor,  and  pursued,  with  considerable 
ardor,  the  study  of  common  law.  He  did  not,  however, 
entirely  lay  aside  the  knapsack  for  the  green  bag; 
but  on  the  invasions  of  the  enemy,  served  as  a  volun- 
teer, during  the  two  years  of  his  legal  pursuits. 

In  1782,  he  was  elected  from  King  George  county, 
a  member  of  the  Leglislature  of  Virginia,  and  by  that 
body  he  was  elevated  to  a  seat  in  the  Executive 
Council.  He  was  thus  honored  with  the  confidence 
of  his  fellow  citizens  at  23  years  of  age  ;  and  having 
at  this  early  period  displayed  some  of  that  ability 
and  aptitude  for  legislation,  which  were  afterwards 
employed  with  unremitting  energy  for  the  public  good, 


JAMES  MONROE. 


lie  was  in  the  succeeding  year  chosen  a  member  of 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 
Deeply  as  Mr.  Monroe  felt  the  imperfections  of  the  old 
Confederacy,  he  was  opposed  to  the  new  Constitution, 
ihinking,  with  many  others  of  the  Republican  parly, 
shat  it  gave  too  much  power  to  the  Central  Government, 
and  not  enough  to  the  individual  States.  Still  he  re- 
tained the  esteem  of  his  friends  who  were  its  warm 
supporters,  and  who,  notwithstanding  his  opposition 
secured  its  adoption.  In  1789,  he  became  a  member 
of  the  United  States  Senate;  which  office  he  held  for 
four  years.  Every  month  the  line  of  distinction  be- 
tween the  two  great  parties  which  divided  the  nation, 
the  Federal  and  the  Republican,  was  growing  more 
distinct.  The  two  prominent  ideas  which  now  sep- 
arated them  were,  that  the  Republican  party  was  in 
sympathy  with  France,  and  also  in  favor  of  such  a 
strict  construction  of  the  Constitution  as  to  give  the 
Central  Government  as  little  power,  and  the  State 
Governments  as  much  power,  as  the  Constitution  would 
warrant.  The  Federalists  sympathized  with  England, 
and  were  in  favor  of  a  liberal  construction  of  the  Con- 
stitution, which  would  give  as  much  power  to  the 
Central  Government  as  that  document  could  possibly 
authorize. 

The  leading  Federalists  and  Republicans  were 
alike  noble  men,  consecrating  all  their  energies  to  the 
good  of  the  nation.  Two  more  honest  men  or  more 
pure  patriots  than  John  Adams  the  Federalist,  and 
James  Monroe  the  Republican,  never  breathed.  In 
building  up  this  majestic  nation,  which  is  destined 
to  eclipse  all  Grecian  and  Assyrian  greatness,  the  com- 
bination of  their  antagonism  was  needed  to  create  the 
right  equilibrium.  And  yet  each  in  his  day  was  de- 
nounced as  almost  a  demon. 

Washington  was  then  President.  England  had  es- 
poused the  cause  of  the  Bourbons  against  the  princi- 
ples of  the  French  Revolution.  All  Europe  was  drawn 
into  the  conflict.  We  were  feeble  and  far  away. 
Washington  issued  a  proclamation  of  neutrality  be- 
tween these  contending  powers.  France  had  helped 
us  in  the  struggle  for  our  liberties.  All  the  despotisms 
of  Europe  were  now  combined  to  prevent  the  French 
from  escaping  from  a  tyranny  a  thousand-fold  worse 
than  that  which  we  had  endured  Col.  Monroe,  more 
magnanimous  than  prudent,  was  anxious  that,  at 
whatever  hazard,  we  should  help  our  old  allies  in 
their  extremity.  It  was  the  impulse  of  a  generous 
and  noble  nature.  He  violently  opposed  the  Pres- 
ident's proclamation  as  ungrateful  and  wanting  in 
magnanimity. 

Washington,  who  could  appreciate  such  a  character, 
developed  his  calm,  serene,  almost  divine  greatness, 
by  appointing  that  very  James  Monroe,  who  was  de- 
nouncing the  policy  of  the  Government,  as  the  minister 
of  that  Government  to  the  Republic  of  France.  Mr. 
Monroe  was  welcomed  by  the  National  Convention 
in  France  with  the  most  enthusiastic  demonstrations- 


Shortly  after  his  return  to  this  country,  Mr.  Mon- 
roe was  elected  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  held  the 
office  for  three  yeais.  He  was  again  sent  to  France  to 
co-operate  with  Chancellor  Livingston  in  obtaining 
the  vast  territory  then  known  as  the  Province  of 
Louisiana,  which  France  had  but  shortly  before  ob- 
tained from  Spain.  Their  united  efforts  were  suc- 
cessful. For  the  comparatively  small  sum  of  fifteen 
millions  of  dollars,  the  entire  territory  of  Orleans  and 
district  of  Louisiana  were  added  to  the  United  States. 
This  was  probably  the  largest  transfer  of  real  estate 
which  was  ever  made  in  all  the  history  of  the  world. 

From  France  Mr.  Monroe  went  to  England  to  ob- 
tain from  that  country  some  recognition  of  0111 
rights  as  neutrals,  and  to  remonstrate  against  those 
odious  impressments  of  our  seamen.  But  Eng- 
land was  unrelenting.  He  again  returned  to  Eng- 
land on  the  same  mission,  but  could  receive  no 
redress.  He  returned  to  his  home  and  was  again 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia.  This  he  soon  resigned 
to  accept  the  position  of  Secretary  of  State  under 
Madison.  While  in  this  office  war  with  England  was 
declared,  the  Secretary  of  War  resigned,  and  during 
these  trying  times,  the  duties  of  the  War  Department 
were  also  put  upon  him.  He  was  truly  the  armor- 
bearer  of  President  Madison,  and  the  most  efficient 
business  man  in  his  cabinet.  Upon  the  return  of 
peace  he  resigned  the  Department  of  War,  but  con- 
tinued in  the  office  of  Secretary  of  State  until  the  ex- 
piration of  Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  At  the  elec 
tion  held  the  previous  autumn  Mr.  Monroe  himself  had 
been  chosen  President  with  but  little  opposition,  and 
upon  March  4,  1817,  was  inaugurated.  Four  years 
later  he  was  elected  for  a  second  term. 

Among  the  important  measures  of  his  Presidency 
were  the  cession  of  Florida  to  the  United  States;  the 
Missouri  Compromise,  and  the  "  Monroe  doctrine."' 

This  famous  doctrine,  since  known  as  the  "  Monroe 
doctrine,"  was  enunciated  by  him  in  1823.  At  that 
time  the  United  States  had  recognized  the  independ- 
ence of  the  South  American  states,  and  did  not  wish 
to  have  European  powers  longer  attempting  to  sub- 
due portions  of  the  American  Continent.  The  doctrine 
is  as  follows:  "That  we  should  consider  any  attempt 
on  the  part  of  European  powers  to  extend  their  sys- 
tem to  any  portion  of  this  hemisphere  as  dangerous 
to  our  peace  and  safety,"  and  "that  we  could  not 
view  any  interposition  for  the  purpose  of  oppressing 
or  controlling  American  governments  or  provinces  in 
any  other  light  than  as  a  manifestation  by  European 
powers  of  an  unfriendly  disposition  toward  the  United 
States."  This  doctrine  immediately  affected  the  course 
of  foreign  governments,  and  has  become  the  approved 
sentiment  of  the  United  States. 

At  the  end  of  his  second  term  Mr.  Monroe  retired 
to  his  home  in  Virginia,  where  he  lived  until  1830, 
when  he  went  to  New  York  to  live  with  his  son-in- 
law.  In  that  city  he  died, on  the  4th  of  July,  1831 


J ,        o£  , 


SIXTH  PRESIDENT. 


39 


Il£^ 


OHN  QUINCY  ADAMS,  the 
sixth  President  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  in  the  rural 
home  of  his   honored   father. 
John  Adams,  in  Quincy,  Mass., 
on  the  i  ith  cf  July,  1767.  His 
mother,  a  woman  of  exalted 
worth,  watched  over  his  childhood 
during  the  almost   constant   ab- 
sence of  his  father.      When   but 
eight  years  of  age,  he  stood  with 
his  mother  on  an  eminence,  listen- 
ing to  the  booming  of  the  great  bat- 
tle on  Bunker's  Hill,  and  gazing  on 
upon  the  smoke  and  flames  billow- 
ing up  from    the   conflagration   of 
Charlestown. 

When  but  eleven  years  old  he 
took  a  tearful  adieu  of  his  mother, 
to  sail  with  his  fatner  for  Europe, 
through  a  fleet  of  hostile  British  cruisers.  The  bright, 
animated  boy  spent  a  year  and  a  half  in  Paris,  where 
his  father  was  associated  with  Franklin  and  Lee  as 
minister  plenipotentiary.  His  intelligence  attracted 
the  notice  of  these  distinguished  men,  and  he  received 
from  them  flattering  marks  of  attention. 

Mr.  John  Adams  had  scarcely  returned  to  this 
country,  in  1779,  ere  he  was  again  sent  abroad.  Again 
•  ol.ii  Quincy  accompanied  his  father.  At  Paris  he 
applied  himself  with  great  diligence,  for  six  months, 
to  3tudy;  then  accompanied  his  father  to  Holland, 
where  he  entered,  first  a  school  in  Amsterdam,  then 
the  University  at  Leyden.  About  a  year  from  this 
time,  in  1781,  when  the  manly  boy  was  but  fourteen 
yea's  of  age,  he  was  selected  by  Mr.  Dana,  our  min- 
ister to  the  Russian  court,  as  his  private,  secretary. 

In  this  school  of  incessant  labor  and  of  enobling 
culture  he  spent  fourteen  months,  and  then  returned 
to  Holland  through  Sweden,  Denmark,  Hamburg  and 
Bremen.  This  long  journey  he  took  alone,  in  the 
winter,  when  in  his  sixteenth  year.  Again  he  resumed 
his  studies,  under  a  private  tutor,  at  Hague.  Thence. 


in  the  spring  of  1782,  he  accompanied  his  father  to 
Paris,  traveling  leisurely,  and  forming  acquaintance 
with  the  most  distinguished  men  on  the  Continent; 
examining  architectural  remains,  galleries  of  paintings, 
and  all  renowned  works  of  art.  At  Paris  he  again 
became  associated  with  the  most  illustrious  men  of 
all  lands  in  the  contemplations  of  the  loftiest  temporal 
themes  which  can  engross  the  human  mind.  After 
a  short  visit  to  England  he  returned  to  Paris,  and 
consecrated  all  his  energies  to  study  until  May,  1785, 
when  he  returned  to  America.  To  a  brilliant  young 
man  of  eighteen,  who  had  seen  much  of  the  world, 
and  who  was  familiar  with  the  etiquette  of  courts,  a 
residence  with  his  father  in  London,  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, must  have  been  extremely  attractive 
but  with  judgment  very  rare  in  one  of  his  age,  he  pre- 
ferred to  return  to  America  to  complete  his  education 
in  an  American  college.  He  wished  then  to  study 
law,  that  with  an  honorable  profession,  he  might  be 
able  to  obtain  an  independent  support. 

Upon  leaving  Harvard  College,  at  the  age  of  twenty, 
he  studied  law  for  three  years.  In  June,  1794,  be- 
ing then  but  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Washington,  resident  minister  at  the 
Netherlands.  Sailing  from  Boston  in  July,  he  reached 
London  in  October,  where  he  was  immediately  admiu 
ted  to  the  deliberations  of  Messrs.  Jay  and  Pinckney, 
assisting  them  in  negotiating  a  commercial  treaty  with 
Great  Britian.  After  thus  spending  a  fortnight  in 
London,  he  proceeded  to  the  Hague. 

In  July,  1797,  he  left  the  Hague  to  go  to  Portugal  as 
minister  plenipotentiary.  On  his  way  to  Portugal, 
upon  arriving  in  London,  he  met  with  despatches 
directing  him  to  the  court  of  Benin,  but  requesting 
him  to  remain  in  London  until  he  should  receive  his 
instructions.  While  waiting  he  was  married  to  an 
American  lady  to  whom  he  had  been  previously  en- 
gaged,— Miss  Louisa  Catherine  Johnson,  daughter 
of  Mr.  Joshua  Johnson,  American  consul  in  London; 
a  lady  endownd  with  that  beauty  and  those  accom- 
plishment which  eminently  fitted  her  to  move  in  the 
elevated  sphere  for  which  she  was  destined. 


JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS. 


He  reached  Berlin  with  his  wife  in  November,  1797  ; 
where  he  remained  until  July,  1799,  when,  havingful- 
filled  all  the  purposes  of  his  mission,  he  solicited  his 
recall. 

Soon  after  his  return,  in  1802,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  Senate  of  Massachusetts,  from  Boston,  and  then 
was  elected  Senator  of  the  United  States  for  six  years, 
from  the  4th  of  March,  1804.  His  reputation,  his 
ability  and  his  experience,  placed  him  immediately 
among  the  most  prominent  and  influential  members 
of  that  body.  Especially  did  he  sustain  the  Govern- 
ment in  its  measures  of  resistance  to  the  encroach- 
ments of  England,  destroying  our  commerce  and  in- 
sulting our  flag.  There  was  no  man  in  America  more 
familiar  with  the  arrogance  of  the  British  court  upon 
these  points,  and  no  one  more  resolved  to  present 
a  firm  resistance. 

In  1809,  Madison  succeeded  Jefferson  in  the  Pres- 
idential chair,  and  he  immediately  nominated  John 
Quincy  Adams  minister  to  St.  Petersburg.  Resign- 
ing his  professorship  in  Harvard  College,  he  embarked 
at  Boston,  in  August,  1809. 

While  in  Russia,  Mr.  Adams  was  an  intense  stu- 
dent. He  devoted  his  attention  to  the  language  and 
history  of  Russia;  to  the  Chinese  trade;  to  the 
European  system  of  weights,  measures,  and  coins  ;  to 
the  climate  and  astronomical  observations  ;  while  he 
Kept  up  a  familiar  acquaintance  with  the  Greek  and 
Latin  classics.  In  all  the  universities  of  Europe,  a 
more  accomplished  scholar  could  scarcely  be  found. 
All  through  life  the  Bible  constituted  an  important 
part  of  his  studies.  It  was  his  rule  to  read  five 
chapters  every  day. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  Mr.  Monroe  took  the 
Presidential  chair,  and  immediately  appointed  Mr. 
Adams  Secretary  of  State.  Taking  leave  of  his  num- 
erous friends  in  public  and  private  life  in  Europe,  he 
sailed  in  June,  1819,  for  the  United  States.  On  the 
1 8th  of  August,  he  again  crossed  the  threshold  of  his 
home  in  Quincy.  During  the  eight  yearsof  Mr.  Mon- 
roe's administration,  Mr.  Adams  continued  Secretary 
of  State. 

Some  time  before  the  close  of  Mr.  Monroe's  second 
term  of  office,  new  candidates  began  to  be  presented 
for  the  Presidency.  The  friends  of  Mr.  Adams  brought 
forward  his  name.  It  was  an  exciting  campaign. 
Party  spirit  was  never  more  bitter.  Two  hundred  and 
sixty  electoral  votes  were  cast.  Andrew  Jackson  re- 
ceived ninety-nine;  John  Quincy  Adams,  eighty-four; 
William  H.  Crawford,  forty -one ;  Henry  Clay,  thirty- 
se/en.  As  there  was  no  choice  by  the  people,  the 
question  went  to  the  House  of  Representatives.  Mr. 
Clay  gave  the  vote  of  Kentucky  to  Mr.  Adams,  and 
he  was  elected. 

The  friends  of  all  the  disappointed  candidates  now 
combined  in  a  venomous  and  persistent  assault  upon 
Mr.  Adams.  There  is  nothing  more  disgraceful  in 
*V.P  nast  history  of  our  country  than  the  abuse  which 


was  poured  in  one  uninterrupted  stream,  upon  this 
high-minded,  upright,  patriotic  man.  There  never  was 
an  administration  more  pure  in  principles,  more  con- 
scientiously devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  the  coun- 
try, than  that  of  John  Quincy  Adams;  and  never,  per- 
haps, was  there  an  administration  more  unscrupu- 
lously and  outrageously  assailed. 

Mr.  Adams  was,  to  a  very  remarkable  degree,  ab- 
stemious and  temperate  in  his  habits;  always  rising 
early,  and  taking  much  exercise.  When  at  his  homein 
Quincy,  he  has  been  known  to  walk,  before  breakfast, 
seven  miles  to  Boston.  In  Washington,  it  was  said 
that  he  was  the  first  man  up  in  the  city,  lighting  his 
own  fire  and  applying  himself  to  work  in  his  library 
often  long  before  dawn. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1829,  Mr.  Adams  retired 
from  the  Presidency,  and  was  succeeded  by  Andrew 
Jackson.  John  C.  Caliioun  was  elected  Vice  Presi- 
dent. The  slavery  question  now  began  to  assume 
portentous  magnitude.  Mr.  Adams  returned  to 
Quincy  and  to  his  studies,  which  he  pursued  with  un- 
abated zeal.  But  he  was  not  long  permitted  to  re- 
main in  retirement.  In  November,  1830,  he  was 
elected  representative  to  Congress.  For  seventeen 
years,  until  his  death,  he  occupied  the  post  as  repre- 
sentative, towering  above  all  his  peers,  ever  ready  to 
do  brave  battle' for  freedom,  and  winning  the  title  of 
"the  old  man_  eloquent."  Upon  taking  his  seat  in 
the  House,  he  announced  that  he  should  hold  him- 
self bound  to  no  party.  Probably  there  never  was  a 
member  more  devoted  to  his  duties.  He  was  usually 
the  first  in  his  place  in  the  morning,  and  the  last  to 
leave  his  seat  in  the  evening.  Not  a  measure  could 
be  brought  forward  and  escape  his  scrutiny.  The 
battle  which  Mr.  Adams  fought,  almost  singly,  against 
the  proslavery  party  in  the  Government,  was  sublime 
in  its  moral  daring  and  heroism.  For  persisting  in 
presenting  petitions  for  the  abolition  of  slavery,  he 
was  threatened  with  indictment  by  the  grand  jury, 
with  expulsion  from  the  House,  with  assassination; 
but  no  threats  could  intimidate  him,  and  his  final 
triumph  was  complete. 

It  has  been  said  of  President  Adams,  that  when  his 
body  was  bent  and  his  hair  silvered  by  the  lapse  of  v 
fourscore  years,  yielding  to  the  simple  faith  of  a  little' 
child,  he  was  accustomed  to  repeat  every  night,  before 
he  slept,  the  prayer  which  his  mother  taught  him  in 
his  infant  years. 

On  the  2 1 st  of  February,  1848,  he  rose  on  the  floor 
of  Congress,  with  a  paper  in  his  hand,  to  address  the 
speaker.  Suddenly  he  fell,  again  stricken  by  paraly- 
sis, and  was  caught  in  the  arms  of  those  around  him. 
For  a  time  he  was  senseless,  as  he  was  conveyed  to 
the  sofa  in  the  rotunda.  With  reviving  conscious- 
ness, he  opened  his  eyes,  looked  calmly  around  and 
said  "  This  is  the  end  of  earth  /'then  after  a  moment's 
pause  he  added,  ''/am  content''  These  were  the 
last  words  of  the  grand  "Old  Man  Eloquent." 


• 


SEVENTH  PRESILENT. 


NDREVV  JACKSON,  the 
seventh  President  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in 
Waxhaw  settlement,  N.  C., 
March  15,  1767,  a  few  days 
after  his  father's  death.  His 
parents  were  poor  emigrants 
from  Ireland,  and  took  up 
their  abode  in  Waxhaw  set- 
tlement, where  they  lived  in 
deepest  poverty. 
Andrew,  or  Andy,  as  he  was 
universally  called,  grew  up  a  very 
rough,  rude,  turbulent  boy.  His 
features  were  coarse,  his  form  un- 
gainly; and  there  was  but  very 
little  in  his  character,  made  visible,  which  was  at- 
tractive. 

When  only  thirteen  years  old  he  joined  the  volun- 
teers of  Carolina  against  the  British  invasion.  In 
1781,  he  and  his  brother  Robert  were  captured  and 
imprisoned  for  a  time  at  Camden.  A  British  officer 
ordered  him  to  brush  his  mud-spattered  boots.  "  I  am 
a  prisoner  of  war,  not  your  servant,"  was  the  reply  of 
the  dauntless  boy. 

The  brute  drew  his  sword,  and  aimed  a  desperate 
Dlow  at  the  head  of  the  helpless  young  prisoner. 
Andrew  raised  his  hand,  and  thus  received  two  fear- 
ful gashes, — one  on  the  hand  and  the  other  upon  the 
head.  The  officer  then  turned  to  his  brother  Robert 
with  the  same  demand.  He  also  refused,  and  re- 
ceived a  blow  from  the  keen-edged  sabre,  which  quite 
disabled  him,  and  which  probably  soon  after  caused 
his  death.  They  suffered  much  other  ill-treatment,  and 
were  finally  stricken  with  the  small-pox.  Their 
mother  was  successful  in  obtaining  their  exchange, 


and  took  her  sick  boys  home.  After  a  long  illness 
Andrew  recovered,  and  the  death  of  his  mother  soon 
left  him  entirely  friendless. 

Andrew  supported  himself  in  various  ways,  such  as 
working  at  the  saddler's  trade,  teaching  school  and 
clerking  in  a  general  store,  until  1784,  when  he 
entered  a  law  office  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.  He,  however, 
gave  more  attention  to  the  wild  amusements  of  the 
times  than  to  his  studies.  In  1788,  he  was  appointed 
solicitor  for  the  western  district  of  North  Carolina,  of 
which  Tennessee  was  then  a  part.  This  involved 
many  long  and  tedious  journeys  amid  dangers  of 
every  kind,  but  Andrew  Jackson  never  knew  fear, 
and  the  Indians  had  no  desire  to  repeat  a  skirmish 
witn  the  Sharp  Knife. 

In  1791,  Mr.  Jackson  was  married  to  a  woman  who 
supposed  herself  divorced  from  her  former  husband. 
Great  was  the  surprise  of  both  parties,  two  years  later, 
to  find  that  the  conditions  of  the  divorce  had  just  been 
definitely  settled  by  the  first  husband.  The  marriage 
ceremony  was  performed  a  second  time,  but  the  occur- 
rence was  often  used  by  his  enemies  to  bring  Mr. 
Jackson  into  disfavor. 

During  these  years  he  worked  hard  at  his  profes- 
sion, and  frequently  had  one  or  more  duels  on  hand, 
one  of  which,  when  he  killed  Dickenson,  was  espec- 
ially disgraceful. 

In  January,  ^96,  the  Territory  of  Tennessee  then 
containing  nearly  eighty  thousand  inhabitants,  I  he 
people  met  in  convention  at  Knoxville  to  frame  a  con- 
stitution. Five  were  sent  from  each  of  the  eleven 
counties.  Andrew  Jackson  was  one  of  the  delegates. 
The  new  State  was  entitled  to  but  one  member  in 
the  National  House  of  Representatives.  Andrew  Jack- 
son  was  chosen  that  member.  Mounting  his  horse  he 
rode  to  Philedelphia,  where  Congress  then  held  its 


44 


ANDRE  IV  JACKSON. 


sessions, — a  distance  of  about  eight  hundred    miles. 

Jackson  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  Jefferson  was  his  idol.  He  admired 
Bonaparte,  loved  France  and  hated  England.  As  Mr. 
Jackson  took  his  seat,  Gen.  Washington,  whose 
second  term  of  office  was  then  expiring,  delivered  his 
last  speech  to  Congress.  A  committee  drew  up  a 
complimentary  address  in  reply.  Andrew  Jackson 
did  not  approve  of  the  address,  and  was  one  of  the 
twelve  who  voted  against  it.  He  was  not  willing  to 
say  that  Gen.  Washington's  adminstration  had  been 
"  wise,  firm  and  patriotic." 

•'  Mr.  Jackson  was  elected  to  the  United  States 
Senate  in  1797,  but  soon  resigned  and  returned  home. 
Soon  after  lie  was  chosen  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  his  State,  which  position  he  held  for  six  years. 

When  the  war  of  1812  with  Great  Britian  com- 
menced, Madison  occupied  the  Presidential  chair. 
Aaron  Burr  sent  word  to  the  President  that  there  was 
an  unknown  man  in  the  West,  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
•>•  ould  do  credit  to  a  commission  if  one  were  con- 
ferred upon  him.  Just  at  that  time  Gen.  Jackson 
offered  his  services  and  those  of  twenty-five  hundred 
volunteers.  His  offer  was  accepted,  and  the  troops 
were  assembled  at  Nashville. 

As  the  British  were  hourly  expected  to  make  an  at- 
tack upon  New  Orleans,  where  Gen.  Wilkinson  was 
in  command,  he  was  ordered  to  descend  the  river 
with  fifteen  hundred  troops  to  aid  Wilkinson.  The 
expedition  reached  Natchez ;  and  after  a  delay  of  sev- 
eral weeks  there,  without  accomplishing  anything, 
the  men  were  ordered  back  to  their  homes.  But  the 
energy  Gen.  Jackson  had  displayed,  and  his  entire 
devotion  to  the  comrfort  of  his  soldiers,  won  him 
golden  opinions;  and  he  became  the  most  popular 
man  in  the  State.  It  was  in  this  expedition  that  his 
toughness  gave  him  the  nickname  of  "  Old  Hickory." 

Soon  after  this,  while  attempting  to  horsewhip  Col. 
Thomas  H.  Benton,  for  a  remark  that  gentleman 
made  about  his  taking  a  part  as  second  in  a  duel,  in 
which  a  younger  brother  of  Benton's  was  engaged, 
he  received  two  severe  pistol  wounds.  While  he  was 
lingering  upon  a  bed  of  suffering  news  came  that  the 
Indians,  who  had  combined  under  Tecutnseh  from 
Florida  to  the  Lakes,  to  exterminate  the  white  set- 
tlers, were  committing  the  most  awful  ravages.  De- 
cisive action  became  necessary.  Gen.  Jackson,  with 
his  fractured  bone  just  beginning  to  heal,  his  arm  in 
a  sling,  and  unable  to  mount  his  horse  without  assis- 
tance, gave  his  amazing  energies  to  the  raising  of  an 
army  to  rendezvous  at  Fayettesville,  Alabama. 

The  Creek  Indians  had  established  a  strong  ford  on 
one  of  the  bends  of  the  Tallapoosa  River,  near  the  cen- 
ter of  Alabama,  about  fifty  miles  below  Fort  Strother. 
With  an  army  of  two  thousand  men,  Gen,  Jackson 
traversed  the  pathless  wilderness  in  a  march  of  eleven 
ilnys.  He  reached  their  fort,  called  Tohopeka  or 
Horse-shoe,  on  the  27th  of  March.  1814.  The  bend 


of  the  river  enclosed  nearly  one  hundred  acres  of 
tangled  forest  and  wild  ravine.  Across  the  narrow 
neck  the  Indians  had  constructed  a  formidable  breast- 
work of  logs  and  brush.  Here  nine  hundred  warriors, 
with  an  ample  suplyof  arms  were  assembled. 

The  fort  was  stormed.  The  fight  was  utterly  des- 
perate. Not  an  Indian  would  accept  of  quarter.  When 
bleeding  and  dying,  they  would  fight  those  who  en- 
deavored to  spare  their  lives.  From  ten  in  the  morn- 
ing until  dark,  the  battle  raged.  The  carnage  was 
awful  and  revolting.  Some  threw  themselves  into  the 
river;  but  the  unerring  bullet  struck  their  heads  as 
they  swam.  Nearly  everyone  of  the  nine  hundred  war- 
rios  were  killed  A  few  probably,  in  the  night,  swam 
the  river  and  escaped.  This  ended  the  war.  The 
power  of  the  Creeks  was  broken  forever.  This  bold 
plunge  into  the  wilderness,  with  itsterriffic  slaughter, 
so  appalled  the  savages,  that  the  haggard  remnants 
of  the  bands  came  to  the  camp,  begging  for  peace. 

This  closing  of  the  Creek  war  enabled  us  to  con- 
centrate all  our  militia  upon  the  British,  who  were  the 
allies  of  the  Indians  No  man  of  less  resolute  will 
than  Gen.  Jackson  could  have  conducted  this  Indian 
campaign  to  so  successful  an  issue  Immediately  he 
was  appointed  major-general. 

Late  in  August,  with  an  army  of  two  thousand 
men,  on  a  rushing  march,  Gen.  Jackson  came  to 
Mobile.  A  British  fleet  came  from  Pensacola,  landed 
a  force  upon  the  beach,  anchored  near  the  little  fort, 
and  from  both  ship  and  shore  commenced  a  furious 
assault.  The  battle  was  long  and  doubtful.  At  length 
one  of  the  ships  was  blown  up  and  the  rest  retired. 

Garrisoning  Mobile,  where  he  had  taken  his  little 
army,  he  moved  his  troops  to  New  Orleans, 
And  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  which  soon  ensued, 
was  in  reality  a  very  arduous  campaign.  This  won 
for  Gen.  Jackson  an  imperishable  name.  Here  his 
troops,  which  numbered  about  four  thousand  men, 
won  a  signal  victory  over  the  British  army  of  about 
nine  thousand.  His  loss  was  but  thirteen,  while  the 
loss  of  the  British  was  two  thousand  six  hundred. 

The  name  of  Gen.  Jackson  soon  began  to  be  men- 
tioned in  connection  with  the  Presidency,  but,  in  1824, 
he  was  defeated  by  Mr.  Adams.  He  was,  however, 
successful  in  the  election  of  1828,  and  was  re-elected 
for  a  second  term  in  1832.  In  1829,  just  before  he 
assumed  the  reins  of  the  government,  he  met  with 
the  most  terrible  affliction  of  his  life  in  the  death  of 
his  wife,  whom  he  had  loved  with  a  devotion  which  has 
perhaps  never  been  surpassed.  From  the  shock  of 
her  death  he  never  recovered. 

His  administration  was  one  of  the  most  memorable 
in  the  annals  of -our  country;  applauded  by  one  party, 
condemned  by  the  other.  No  man  had  more  bitter 
enemies  or  warmer  friends.  At  the  expiration  of  his 
two  terms  of  office  he  retired  to  the  Hermitage,  where 
he  died  Tune  8,  1845.  The  last  years  of  Mr.  Jack- 
son's life  were  that  of  a  devoted  Christian  man. 


, 


^  '7 


EIGHTH  PRESIDENT. 


ARTIN  VAN  BUREN,  the 
eighth      President     of     the 
United  States,  was  born  at 
Kinderhook,  N.  Y.,  Dec.   5, 
1782.     He  died  at  the  same 
place,  July   24,    1862.      His 
body  rests  in   the  cemetery 
at  Kinderhook.     Above  it  is 
a  plain  granite    shaft  fifteen  feet 
high,  bearing  a  simple  inscription 
about  half  way  up   on   one    face. 
The  lot  is  unfenced,  unbordered 
or  unbounded  by  shrub  or  flower. 

There  is  but  little  in  the  life  of  Martin  Van  Buren 
of  romantic  interest.  He  fought  no  battles,  engaged 
in  no  wild  adventures.  •  Though  his  life  was  stormy  in 
political  and  intellectual  conflicts,  and  he  gained  many 
signal  victories,  his  days  passed  uneventful  in  those 
incidents  which  give  zest  to  biography.  His  an- 
cestors, as  his  name  indicates,  were  of  Dutch  origin, 
and  were  among  the  earliest  emigrants  from  Holland 
to  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  His  father  was  a  farmer, 
residing  in  the  old  town  of  Kinderhook.  His  mother, 
also  of  Dutch  lineage,  was  a  woman  of  superior  intel- 
ligence and  exemplary  piety. 

He  was  decidedly  a  precocious  boy,  developing  un- 
usual activity,  vigor  and  strength  of  mind.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen,  he  had  finished  his  academic  studies 
in  his  native  village,  and  commenced  the  study  of 
law.  As  he  had  not  a  collegiate  education,  seven 
years  of  study  in  a  law-office  were  required  of  him 
before  he  could  be  admitted  to  the  bar.  Inspired  with 
a  lofty  ambition,  and  conscious  of  his  powers,  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  with  indefatigable  industry.  After 
spending  six  yenrn  in  an  office  in  his  native  village, 


he  went  to  the  city  of  New  York,  and  prosecuted  his 
studies  for  the  seventh  year. 

In  1803,  Mr.  Van  Buren,  then  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  his  native  vil- 
lage. The  great  conflict  between  the  Federal  and 
Republican  party  was  then  at  its  height.  Mr.  Van 
Buren  was  from  the  beginning  a  politician.  He  had, 
perhaps,  imbibed  that  spirit  while  listening  to  the 
many  discussions  which  had  been  carried  on  in  his 
father's  hotel.  He  was  in  cordial  sympathy  with 
Jefferson,  and  earnestly  and  eloquently  espoused  the 
cause  of  State  Rights ;  though  at  thai  time  the  Fed- 
eral party  held  the  supremacy  both  in  his  town 
and  State. 

His  success  and  increasing  ruputation  led  him 
after  six  years  of  practice,  to  remove  to  Hudson,  tli. 
county  seat  of  his  county.  Here  he  spent  seven  years 
constantly  gaining  strength  by  contending  in  the. 
courts  with  some  of  the  ablest  men  who  have  adorned 
the  bar  of  his  State. 

Just  before  leaving  Kinderhook  for  Hudson,  Mi. 
Van  Buren  married  a  lady  alike  distinguished  for 
beauty  and  accomplishments.  After  twelve  short 
years  she  sank  into  the  grave,  the  victim  of  consump- 
tion, leaving  her  husband  and  four  sons  to  weep  over 
her  loss.  For  twenty-five  years,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was 
an  earnest,  successful,  assiduous  lawyer.  The  record 
of  those  years  is  barren  in  items  of  public  interest. 
In  1812,  when  thirty  years  of  age,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  State  Senate,  and  cave  his  strenuous  support  to 
Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  In  1815,  he  was 'ap- 
pointed Attorney-General,  and  the  next  year  moved ' 
to  Albany,  the  capital  of  the  State. 

While  he  was  acknowledged  us  one  of  the  most 
p. ominent  leaders  of  the  Democratic  party,  he  had 


MARTIN  VAN  BUREN. 


the  moral  courage  to  avow  that  true  democracy  did 
not  require  that  "  universal  suffrage "  which  admits 
the  vile,  the  degraded,  the  ignorant,  to  the  right  of 
governing  the  State.  In  true  consistency  with  his 
democratic  principles,  he  contended  that,  while  the 
path  leading  to  the  privilege  of  voting  should  be  open 
to  every  man  without  distinction,  no  one  should  be 
invested  with  that  sacred  prerogative,  unless  he  were 
in  some  degree  qualified  for  it  by  intelligence,  virtue 
and  some  property  interests  in  the  welfare  of  the 
State. 

In  1821  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  United 
States  Senate;  and  in  the  same  year,  he  took  a  seat 
in  the  convention  to  revise  the  constitution  of  his 
native  State.  His  course  in  this  convention  secured 
the  approval  of  men  of  all  parties.  No  one  could 
doubt  the  singleness  of  his  endeavors  to  promote  the 
interests  of  all  classes  in  the  community.  In  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States,  he  rose  at  once  to  a 
conspicuous  position  as  an  active  and  useful  legislator. 

In  1827,  John  Quincy  Adams  being  then  in  the 
Presidential  chair,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  re-elected  to 
the  Senate.  He  had  been  from  the  beginning  a  de- 
termined opposer  of  the  Administration,  adopting  the 
"State  Rights"  view  in  opposition  to  what  was 
deemed  the  Federal  proclivities  of  Mr.  Adams. 

Soon  after  this,  in  1828,  he  was  chosen  Governorof 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  accordingly  resigned  his 
seat  in  the  Senate.  Probably  no  one  in  the  United 
States  contributed  so  much  towards  ejecting  John  Q. 
Adams  from  the  Presidential  chair,  and  placing  in  it 
Andrew  Jackson,  as  did  Martin  Van  Buren.  Whether 
entitled  to  the  reputation  or  not,  he  certainly  was  re- 
garded throughout  the  United  States  as  one  of  the 
most  skillful,  sagacious  and  cunning  of  politicians. 
It  was  supposed  that  no  one  knew  so  well  as  he  how 
to  touch  the  secret  spiings  of  action;  how  to  pull  all 
the  wires  to  put  his  machinery  in  motion ;  and  how  to 
organize  a  political  army  which  would,  secretly  and 
stealthily  accomplish  the  most  gigantic  results.  By 
lihese  powers  it  is  said  that  he  outwitted  Mr.  Adams, 
Mr.  Clay,  Mr.  Webster,  and  secured  results  which 
few  thought  then  could  be  accomplished. 

When  Andrew  Jackson  was  elected  President  he 
appointed  Mr.  Van  Buren  Secretary  of  State.  This 
jw.iition  he  resigned  in  1831,  and  was  immediately 
appointed  Minister  to  England,  where  he  went  the 
same  autumn.  The  Senate,  however,  when  it  met, 
refused  to  ratify  the  nomination,  and  he  returned 


home,  apparently  untroubled ;  was  nominated  Vice 
President  in  the  place  of  Calhoun,  at  the  re-election 
of  President  Jackson ;  and  with  smiles  for  all  and 
frowns  for  none,  he  took  his  place  at  the  head  of  that 
Senate  which  had  refused  to  confirm  his  nomination 
as  ambassador. 

His  rejection  by  the  Senate  roused  all  the  zeal  of 
President  Jackson  in  behalf  of  his  repudiated  favor- 
ite ;  and  this,  probably  more  than  any  other  cause, 
secured  his  elevation  to  the  chair  of  the  Chief  Execu- 
tive. On  the  20th  of  May,  1836,  Mr.  Van  Buren  re- 
ceived the  Democratic  nomination  to  succeed  Gen. 
Jackson  as  President  of  the  United  States.  He  was 
elected  by  a  handsome  majority,  to  the  delight  of  the 
retiring  President.  "  Leaving  New  York  out  of  the 
canvass,"  says  Mr.  Parton,  "the  election  of  Mr.  Van 
Buren  to  the  Presidency  was  as  much  the  act  of  Gen. 
Jackson  as  though  the  Constitution  had  conferred 
upon  him  the  power  to  appoint  a  successor." 

His  administration  was  filled  with  exciting  events. 
The  insurrection  in  Canada,  which  threatened  to  in 
volve  this  country  in  war  with  England,  the  agitation 
of  the  slavery  question,  and  finally  the  great  commer- 
cial panic  which  spread  over  the  country,  all  were 
trials  to  his  wisdom.  The  financial  distress  was  at- 
tributed to  the  management  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  brought  the  President  into  such  disfavor  that  he 
failed  of  re-election. 

With  the  exception  of  being  nominated  for  the 
Presidency  by  the  "Free  Soil"  Democrats,  in  1848, 
Mr.  Van  Buren  lived  quietly  upon  his  estate  until 
his  death. 

He  had  ever  been  a  prudent  man,  of  frugal  habits, 
and  living  within  his  income,  had  now  fortunately  a 
competence  for  his  declining  years.  His  unblemished 
character,  his  commanding  abilities,  his  unquestioned 
patriotism,  and  the  distinguished  positions  which  he 
had  occupied  in  the  government  of  our  country,  se- 
cured to  him  not  only  the  homage  of  his  party,  but 
the  respect  ot  the  whole  community.  It  was  on  the 
4th  of  March,  1841,  that  Mr.  Van  Buren  retired  from 
the  presidency.  From  his  fine  estate  at  Lindenwald, 
he  still  exerted  a  powerful  influence  upon  the  politics 
of  the  country.  From  this  time  until  his  death,  on 
the  24th  of  July,  1862,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  he 
resided  at  Lindenwald,  a  gentleman  of  leisure,  of 
culture  and  of  wealth;  enjoying  in  a  healthy  old 
age,  probably  far  more  happiness  than  he  had  before 
experienced  amid  the  stormy  scenes  of  his  active  life. 


NINTH  PRESIDENT. 


ILLIAM  HENRY  HARRI- 
SON, the  ninth   President  of 
the  United  States,  was  born 
at  Berkeley,  Va.,  Feb.  9,  1773. 
His  father,   Benjamin   Harri- 
son, was  in  comparatively  op- 
ulent circumstances,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  distinguished 
men  of  his  day.      He  was  an 
intimate    friend    of     George 
Washington,  was  early  elected 
a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress,    and  was    conspicuous 
among  the  patriots  of  Virginia  in 
resisting  the  encroachments  of  the 
British  crown.     In  the  celebrated 
Congress  of  1775,  Benjamin  Har- 
rison   and   John   Hancock   were 
both  candidates  for  the  office  of 
speaker. 

Mr  Harrison  was  subsequently 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia,  and 
was  twice   re-elected.       His  son, 
j  William  Henry,  of  course  enjoyed 

in  childhood  all  the  advantages  which  wealth  and 
intellectual  and  cultivated  society  could  give.  Hav- 
ing received  a  thorough  common-school  education,  he 
entered  Hampden  Sidney  College,  where  he  graduated 
with  honor  soon  after  the  death  of  his  father.  He 
chen  repaired  to  Philadelphia  to  study  medicine  under 
the  instructions  of  Dr.  Rush  and  the  guardianship  of 
Robert  Morris,  both  of  whom  were,  with  his  father, 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Indian  troubles,  and  not- 
withstanding the  remonstrances  of  his  friends,  he 
abandoned  his  medical  studies  and  entered  the  army, 
having  obtained  a  commission  of  Ensign  from  Presi- 


dent  Washington.  He  was  then  but  19  years  old. 
From  that  time  he  passed  gradually  upward  in  rank 
until  he  became  aid  to  General  Wayne,  after  whose 
death  he  resigned  his  commission.  He  was  then  ap- 
pointed Secretary  of  the  North-western  Territory .  This 
Territory  was  then  entitled  to  but  one  member  in 
Congress  and  Capt.  Harrison  was  chosen  to  fill  that 
position. 

In  the  spring  of  1800  the  North-western  -Territory 
was  divided  by  Congress  into  two  portions.  The 
eastern  portion,  comprising  the  region  now  embraced 
in  the  State  of  Ohio,  was  called  ''  The  Territory 
north-west  of  the  Ohio."  The  western  portion,  which 
included  what  is  now  called  Indiana,  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin,  was  called  the  "Indiana  Territory."  Wil- 
liam Henry  Harrison,  then  27  years  of  age,  was  ap- 
pointed by  John  Adams,  Governor  of  the  Indiana 
Territory,  and  immediately  after,  also  Governor  of 
Upper  Louisiana.  He  v.  as  thus  ruler  over  almost  as 
extensive  a  realm  as  any  sovereign  upon  the  globe.  He 
was  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  and  was  in- 
vested with  powers  nearly  dictatorial  over  the  now 
rapidly  increasing  white  population.  The  ability  and 
fidelity  with  which  he  discharged  these  responsible 
duties  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  he  was  four 
times  appointed  to  this  office — first  by  John  Adams, 
twice  by  Thomas  Jefferson  and  afterwards  by  Presi- 
dent Madison. 

When  he  began  his  adminstration  there  were  but 
three  white  settlements  in  that  almost  boundless  region, 
now  crowded  with  cities  and  resounding  with,  all  the 
tumult  of  wealth  and  traffic.  One  of  these  settlements 
was  on  the  Ohio,  nearly  opposite  Louisville;  one  at 
Vincennes,  on  the  Wabash,  and  the  third  a  French 
settlement. 

The  vast  wilderness  over  which  Gov.  Harrisoi. 
reigned  was  filled  with  many  tribes  of  Indians.  About 


52 


WILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON. 


the  year  1806,  two  extraordinary  men,  twin  brothers, 
of  the  Shawnese  tribe,  rose  among  them.  One  of 
those  was  called  Tecumseh,  or  "  The  Crouching 
Panther;"  the  other,  Olliwacheca,  or  "The  Prophet." 
Tecumseh  was  not  only  an  Indian  warrior,  but  a  man 
of  great  sagacity,  far-reaching  foresight  and  indomit- 
able perseverance  in  any  enterprise  in  which  he  might 
engage.  He  was  inspired  with  the  highest  enthusiasm, 
a. id  had  long  regarded  with  dread  and  with  hatred 
the  encroachment  of  the  whites  upon  the  hunting- 
grounds  of  his  fathers.  His  brother,  the  Prophet,  was 
anorator,  who  could  sway  the  feelings  of  the  untutored 
Indian  as  the  gale  tossed  the  tree -tops  beneath  which 
.hey  dwelt. 

But  the  Prophet  was  not  merely  an  orator:  he  was, 
:  i  the  superstitious  minds  of  the  Indians,  invested 
vith  the  superhuman  dignity  of  a  medicine-man  or  a 
a  igician.  With  an  enthusiasm  unsurpassed  by  Peter 
ihe  Hermit  rousing  Europe  to  the  crusades,  he  went 
frum  tribe  to  tribe,  assuming  that  he  was  specially  sent 
by  the  Great  Spirit. 

Gov.  Harrison  made  many  attempts  to  conciliate 
the  Indians,  but  at  last  the  war  came,  and  at  Tippe- 
canoe  the  Indians  were  routed  with  great  slaughter. 
October  28,  1812,  his  army  began  its  march.  When 
near  the  Prophet's  town  three  Indians  of  rank  made 
their  appearance  and  inquired  why  Gov.  Harrison  was 
approaching  them  in  so  hostile  an  attitude.  After  a 
short  conference,  arrangements  were  made  for  a  meet- 
ing the  next  day,  to  agree  upon  terms  of  peace. 

But  Gov.  Harrison  was  too  well  acquainted  with 
the  Indian  character  to  be  deceived  by  such  protes- 
tations. Selecting  a  favorable  spot  for  his  night's  en- 
campment, he  took  every  precaution  against  surprise. 
His  troops  were  posted  in  a  hollow  square,  and  slept 
upon  their  arms. 

The  troops  threw  themselves  upon  the  ground  for 
rest;  but  every  man  had  his  accourtrements  on,  his 
loaded  musket  by  his  side,  and  his  bayonet  fixed.  The 
wakeful  Governor,  between  three  and  four  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  had  risen,  and  was  sitting  in  conversa- 
tion with  his  aids  by  the  embers  of  a  waning  fire.  It 
was  a  chill,  cloudy  morning  with  a  drizzling  rain.  In 
the  darkness,  the  Indians  had  crept  as  near  as  possi- 
ble, and  just  then,  with  a  savage  yell,  rushed,  with  all 
the  desperation  which  superstition  and  passion  most 
highly  inflamed  could  give,  upon  the  left  flank  of  the 
little  army.  The  savages  had  been  amply  provided 
with  guns  and  ammunition  by  the  English.  Their 
war-whoop  was  accompained  by  a  shower  of  bullets. 

The  camp-fires  were  instantly  extinguished,  as  the 
light  aided  the  Indians  in  their  aim.  With  hide- 
tus  yells,  the  Indian  bands  rushed  on,  not  doubting  a 
speedy  and  an  entire  victory.  But  Gen.  Harrison's 
troops  stood  as  immovable  as  the  rocks  around  them 
until  day  dawned :  they  then  made  a  simultaneous 
charge  with  the  bayonet,  and  swept  every  thing  be- 
fore them,  and  completely  routing  thf  foe. 


Gov.  Harrison  now  had  all  his  energies  tasked 
to  the  utmost.  The  British  descending  from  the  Can - 
adas,  were  ot  themselves  a  very  formidable  force  ;  but 
with  their  savage  allies,  rushing  like  wolves  from  the 
forest,  searching  out  every  remote  farm-house,  burn- 
ing, plundering,  scalping,  torturing,  the  wide  frontier 
was  plunged  into  a  state  of  consternation  which  even 
the  most  vivid  imagination- can  but  faintly  conceive. 
The  war-whoop  was  resounding  everywhere  in  the 
forest.  The  horizon  was  illuminated  with  the  conflagra- 
tion of  the  cabins  of  the  settlers.  Gen  Hull  had  made 
the  ignominious  surrender  of  his  forces  at  Detroit. 
Under  these  despairing  circumstances,  Gov.  Harrison 
was  appointed  by  President  Madison  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  North-western  army,  with  orders  to  retake 
Detroit,  and  to  protect  the  frontiers. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  place  a  man  in  a  situation 
demanding  more  energy,  sagacity  and  courage;  but 
General  Harrison  was  found  equal  to  the  position, 
and  nobly  and  triumphantly  did  he  meet  .all  the  re 
sponsibilities. 

He  won  the  love  of  his  soldiers  by  always  sharing 
with  them  their  fatigue.  His  whole  baggage,  while 
pursuing  the  foe  up  the  Thames,  was  carried  in  a 
valise;  and  his  bedding  consisted  of  a  single  blanket 
lashed  over  his  saddle  Thirty-five  British  officers, 
his  prisoners  of  war,  supped  with  him  after  the  battle 
The  only  fare  he  could  give  them  was  beef  roasted 
before  the  fire,  without  bread  or  salt. 

In  1816,  Gen.  Harrison  was  chosen  a  member  of 
the  National  House  of  Representatives,  to  represent 
the  District  of  Ohio.  In  Congress  he  proved  an 
active  member;  and  whenever  he  spoke,  it  was  with 
force  of  reason  and  power  of  eloquence,  which  arrested 
the  attention  of  all  the  members. 

In  1819,  Harrison  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of 
Ohio;  and  in  1824,  as  one  of  the  presidential  electors 
of  that  State,  he  gave  his  vote  for  Henry  Clay.  The 
same  year  he  was  chosen  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

In  1836,  the  friends  of  Gen.  Harrison  brought  him 
forward  as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency  against 
Van  JJuren,  but  he  was  defeated.  At  the  close  of 
Mr.  Van  Buren's  term,  he  was  re -nominated  by  his 
party,  and  Mr.  Harrison  was  unanimously  nominated 
by  the  Whigs,  with  John  Tyler  forthe  Vice  Presidency. 
The  contest  was  very  animated.  Gen  Jackson  gave 
all  his  influence  to  prevent  Harrison's  election  ;  but 
his  triumph  was  signal. 

The  cabinet  which  he  formed,  with  Daniel  Webster 
at  its  head  as  Secretary  of  State,  was  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  with  which  anv  President  had  ever  been 
surrounded.  Never  were  the  prospects  of  an  admin- 
istration more  flattering,  or  the  hopes  of  the  country 
more  sanguine.  In  the  midst  of  these  bright  and 
joyous  prospects,  Gen.  Harrison  was  seized  by  a 
pleurisv-fever  and  after  a  few  days  of  violent  sick- 
ness, died  on  the  4th  of  April ;  just  one  month  after 
his  inauguration  as  President  of  the  United  States. 


TENTH  PRESIDENT. 


55 


OHN    TYLER,     the    tenth 
Presidentof  the  United  States. 
He  was  born  in  Charles-city 
Co.,  Va.,  March  29, 1790.  He 
was  the  favored  child   of  af- 
fluence and  high    social    po- 
sition.    At  the   early  age   of 
twelve,  John  entered  William 
and  Mary  College  and  grad- 
uated with  much  honor  when 
but  seventeen  years  old.  After 
graduating,  he  devoted  him- 
self with    great   assiduity  to   the 
study    of    law,    partly   with    his 
father   and   partly  with   Edmund 
Randolph,  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished lawyers  of  Virginia. 

At  nineteen  years  of  age,  ne 
commenced  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  was  rapid  and  aston- 
ishing. It  is  said  that  three 
months  had  not  elapsed  ere  there 
was  scarcely  a  case  on  the  dock- 
I  et  of  the  court  in  which  he  was 
not  retained.  When  but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he 
was  almost  unanimously  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  State 
Legislature.  He  connected  himself  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  warmly  advocated  the  measures  of 
Jefferson  and  Madison.  For  five  successive  years  he 
was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  receiving  nearly  the 
unanimous  vote  or  his  county. 

When  but  twenty-six  years  of  age,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Here  he  acted  earnestly  and 
ably  with  the  Democratic  party,  opposing  a  national 
bank,  internal  improvements  by  the  General  Govern- 


ment, a  protective  tariff,  and  advocating  a  strict  con- 
struction of  the  Constitution,  and  the  most  careful 
vigilance  over  Stale  rights.  His  labors  in  Congress 
were  so  arduous  that  before  the  close  of  his  second 
term  he  found  it  necessary  to  resign  and  retire  to  his 
estate  in  Charles-city  Co.,  to  recruit  his  health.  He, 
however,  soon  after  consented  to  take  his  seat  in  the 
State  Legislature,  where  his  influence  was  powerful 
in  promoting  public  works  of  great  utility.  With  a 
reputation  thus  canstantly  increasing,  he  was  chosen 
by  a  very  large  majority  of  votes,  Governor  of  his 
native  State.  His  administration  was  signally  a  suc- 
cessful one.  His  popularity  secured  his  re-election. 

John  Randolph,  a  brilliant,  erratic,  half-crazed 
man,  then  represented  Virginia  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States.  A  portion  of  the  Democratic  party 
was  displeased  with  Mr.  Randolph's  wayward  course, 
and  brought  forward  John  Tyler  as  his  opponent, 
considering  him  the  only  man  in  Virginia  of  sufficient 
popularity  to  succeed  against  the  renowned  orator  of 
Roanoke.  Mr.  Tyler  was  the  victor. 

In  accordance  with  his  professions,  upon  taking  his 
seat  in  the  Senate,  he  joined  tha  ranks  of  the  opposi- 
tion. He  opposed  the  tariff;  he  spoke  against  and 
voted  against  the  bank  as  unconstitutional ;  he  stren- 
uously opposed  all  restrictions  upon  slavery,  resist- 
ing all  projects  of  internal  improvements  by  the  Gen- 
eral Government,  and  avowed  his  sympathy  with  Mr. 
Calhoun's  view  of  nullification  ;  he  declared  that  Gen. 
Jackson,  by  his  opposition  to  the  nullifiers,  had 
abandoned  the  piinciples  of  the  Democratic  party. 
Such  was  Mr.  Tyler's  record  in  Congress, — a  record 
in  perfect  accordance  with  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  avowed. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  resumed  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  There  was  a  rpl:t  in  the  Democratic 


JOHN  TYLER. 


party.  His  friends  still  regarded  him  as  a  true  Jef- 
fersonian,  gave  him  a  dinner,  and  showered  compli- 
ments upon  him.  He  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
forty-six.  His  career  had  been  very  brilliant.  In  con- 
sequence of  his  devotion  to  public  business,  his  pri- 
vate affairs  had  fallen  into  some  disorder;  and  it  was 
not  without  satisfaction  that  he  resumed  the  practice 
of  law,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  culture  of  his  plan- 
tation. Soon  after  this  he  removed  to  Williamsburg, 
lor  the  better  education  of  his  children  ;  and  he  again 
took  his  seat  in  the  Legislature  of  Virginia. 

By  the  Southern  Whigs,  he  was  sent  to  the  national 
convention  at  Harrisburg  to  nominate  a  President  in 
1839.  The  majority  of  votes  were  given  to  Gen.  Har- 
rison, a  genuine  Whig,  much  to  the  disappointment  of 
the  South,  who  wished  for  Henry  Clay.  To  concili- 
ate the  Southern  Whigs  and  to  secure  their  vote,  the 
convention  then  nominated  John  Tyler  for  Vice  Pres- 
ident. It  was  well  known  that  he  was  not  in  sympa- 
thy with  the  Whig  party  in  the  Noith :  but  the  Vice 
President  has  but  very  little  power  in  the  Govern- 
ment, his  main  and  almost  only  duty  being  to  pre- 
side over  the  meetings  of  the  Senate.  Thus  it  hap- 
pened that  a  Whig  President,  and,  in  reality,  a 
Democratic  Vice  President  were  chosen. 

In  1841,  Mr.  Tyler  was  inaugurated  Vice  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  In  one  short  month  from 
that  time,  President  Harrison  died,  and  Mr.  Tyler 
thus  found  himself,  to  his  own  surprise  and  that  of 
the  whole  Nation,  an  occupant  of  the  Presidential 
chair.  This  was  a  new  test  of  the  stability  of  our 
institutions,  as  it  was  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  our 
country  that  such  an  event  had  occured.  Mr.  Tyler 
was  at  home  in  Williamsburg  when  he  received  the 
unexpected  tidings  of  the  death  of  President  Harri- 
son. He  hastened  to  Washington,  and  on  the  6th  of 
April  was  inaugurated  to  the  high  and  responsible 
office.  He  was  placed  in  a  position  of  exceeding 
delicacy  and  difficulty.  All  his  long  life  he  had  been 
opposed  to  the  main  principles  of  the  party  which  had 
brought  him  into  power.  He  had  ever  been  a  con- 
sistent, honest  man,  with  an  unblemished  record. 
Gen.  Harrison  had  selected  a  Whig  cabinet.  Should 
he  retain  them,  and  thus  surround  himself  with  coun- 
sellors whose  views  were  antagonistic  to  his  own?  or, 
on  the  other  hand,  should  he  turn  against  the  party 
which  had  elected  him  and  select  a  cabinet  in  har- 
mony with  himself,  and  which  would  oppose  all  those 
views  which  the  Whigs  deemed  essential  to  the  pub- 
lic welfare?  This  was  his  fearful  dilemma.  He  in- 
vited the  cabinet  which  President  Harrison  had 
selected  to  retain  their  seats.  He  reccommcnded  a 
day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  that  God  would  guide  and 
bless  us. 

The  Whigs  carried  through  Congress  a  bill  for  the 
incor|x>ration  of  a  fiscal  bank  of  the  United  States. 
The  President,  after  ten  days'  delay,  returned  it  with 
his  veto.  He  suseested,  however,  that  he  would 


approve  of  a  bill  drawn  up  upon  such  a  plan  as  he 
proposed.  Such  a  bill  was  accordingly  prepared,  and 
privately  submitted  to  him.  He  gave  it  his  approval. 
It  '.vas  passed  without  alteration,  and  he  sent  it  back 
with  his  veto.  Here  commenced  the  open  rupture. 
It  is  said  that  Mr.  Tyler  was  provoked  to  this  meas- 
ure by  a  published  letter  from  the  Hon.  John  M. 
Botts,  a  distinguished  Virginia  Whig,  who  severely 
touched  the  pride  of  the  President. 

The  opposition  now  exultingly  received  the  Presi- 
dent into  their  arms.  The  party  which  elected  him 
denounced  him  bitterly.  All  the  members  of  his 
cabinet,  excepting  Mr.  Webster,  resigned.  The  Whigs 
of  Congress,  both  the  Senate  and  the  House,  held  a 
meeting  and  issued  an  address  to  the  people  of  the 
United  States,  proclaiming  that  all  political  alliance 
between  the  Whigs  and  President  Tyler  were  at 
an  end. 

Still  the  President  attempted  to  conciliate.  He 
appointed  a  new  cabinet  of  distinguished  Whigs  and 
Conservatives,  carefully  leaving  out  all  strong  party 
men.  Mr.  Webster  soon  found  it  necessary  to  resign, 
forced  out  by  the  pressure  of  his  Whig  friends.  Thus 
the  four  years  of  Mr.  Tyler's  unfortunate  administra- 
tion passed  sadly  away.  No  one  was  satisfied.  The 
land  was  filled  with  murmurs  and  vituperation.  Whigs 
and  Democrats  alike  assailed  him.  More  and  more, 
however,  he  brought  himself  into  sympathy  with  his 
old  friends,  the  Democrats,  until  at  the  close  of  his  term, 
he  gave  his  whole  influence  to  the  support  of  Mr. 
Polk,  the  Democratic  candidate  for  his  successor. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1845,  he  retired  from  the 
harassments  of  office,  to  the  regret  of  neither  party,  and 
probably  to  his  own  unspeakable  iclief.  His  first  wife, 
Miss  Letitia  Christian,  died  in  Washington,  in  1842; 
and  in  June,  1844,  President  Tyler  was  again  married, 
at  New  York,  to  Miss  Julia  Gardiner,  a  young  lady  of 
many  personal  and  intellectual  accomplishments. 

The  remainder  of  his  days  Mr.  Tyler  passed  mainly 
in  retirement  at  his  beautiful  home, — Sherwood  For- 
est, Charles-city  Co.,  Va.  A  polished  gentleman  in 
his  manners,  richly  furnished  with  information  from 
books  and  experience  in  the  world,  and  possessing 
brilliant  powers  of  conversation,  his  family  circle  was 
the  scene  of  unusual  attractions.  With  sufficient 
means  for  the  exercise  of  a  generous  hospitality,  he 
might  have  enjoyed  a  serene  old  age  with  the  few 
friends  who  gathered  around  him,  were  it  not  for  the 
storms  of  civil  war  which  his  own  principles  and 
policy  had  helped  to  introduce. 

When  the  great  Rebellion  rose,  which  the  State- 
rights  and  nullifying  doctrines  of  Mr.  John  C.  Cal- 
houn  had  inaugurated,  President  Tyler  renounced  his 
allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and  joined  the  Confed- 
erates. He  was  chosen  a  member  of  their  Congress; 
and  while  engaged  in  active  measures  to  destroy,  by 
force  of  arms,  the  Government  over  which  he  had 
once  n>esided,  he  was  taken  sick  and  soon  died. 


ELEVENTH  PRESIDENT. 


59 


AMES  K.  POLK,  the  eleventh 
President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  in  Mecklenburg  Co., 
N.  C.,Nov.  2,  1795.  His  par- 
ents were  Samuel  and  Jane 
(Knox)  Polk,  the  former  a  son 

of  Col.  Thomas  Polk,  who  located 

at  the  above  place,  as  one  of  the 

first  pioneers,  in  1735. 

In  the  year  1 3o6,  with  his  wife 

and  children,  and  soon  after  fol- 


lowed by  most  of  the  members  of 
the  Polk  fatnly,  Samuel  Polk  emi- 
grated some  two  or  three  hundred 
miles  farther  west,  to  the  rich  valley 
of  the  Duck  River.  Here  in  the 
midst  of  the  wilderness,  in  a  region 
which  was  subsequently  called  Mau- 
ry  Co.,  they  reared  their  log  huts, 
and  established  their  homes.  In  the 
hard  toil  of  a  new  farm  in  the  wil- 
derness, James  K.  Polk  spent  the 
early  years  of  his  childhood  and 
youth.  His  father,  adding  the  pur- 
suit of  a  surveyor  to  that  of  a  farmer, 
gradually  increased  in  wealth  until 
he  became  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  region.  His 
mother  was  a  superior  woman,  of  strong  common 
sense  and  earnest  piety. 

Very  early  in  life,  James  developed  a  taste  for 
reading  and  expressed  the  strongest  desire  to  obtain 
a  liberal  education.  His  mother's  training  had  made 
him  methodical  in  his  habits,  had  taught  him  punct- 
uality and  industry,  and  had  inspired  him  with  lofty 
principles  of  morality.  His  health  was  frail ;  and  his 
father,  fearing  that  he  might  not  be  able  to  endure  a 


sedentary  life,  got  a  situation  for  him  behind  the 
counter,  hoping  to  fit  him  for  commercial  pursuits. 

This  was  to  James  a  bitter  disappointment.  He 
had  no  taste  for  these  duties,  and  his  daily  tasks 
were  irksome  in  the  extreme.  He  remained  in  this 
uncongenial  occupation  but  a  few  weeks,  when  at  his 
earnest  solicitation  his  father  removed  him,  and  made 
arrangements  for  him  to  prosecute  his  studies.  Soon 
after  he  sent  him  to  Murfreesboro  Academy.  With 
ardor  which  could  scarcely  be  surpassed,  he  pressed 
forward  in  his  studies,  and  in  less  than  two  and  a  half 
years,  in  the  autumn  of  1815,  entered  the  sophomore 
class  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  at  Chapel 
Hill.  Here  he  was  one  of  the  most  exemplary  of 
scholars,  punctual  in  every  exercise,  never  allowing 
himself  to  be  absent  from  a  recitation  or  a  religious 
service. 

He  graduated  in  1818,  with  the  highest  honors,  be- 
ing deemed  the  best  scholar  of  his  class,  both  in 
mathematics  and  the  classics.  He  was  then  twenty- 
three  years  of  age.  Mr.  Folk's  health  was  at  this 
time  much  impaired  by  the  assiduity  with  which  he 
had  prosecuted  his  studies.  After  a  short  season  of 
relaxation  he  went  to  Nashville,  and  entered  the 
office  of  Felix  Grundy,  to  study  law.  Here  Mr.  Polk 
renewed  his  acquaintance  with  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
resided  on  his  plantation,  the  Hermitage,  but  a  few 
miles  from  Nashville.  They  had  probably  been 
slightly  acquainted  before. 

Mr.  Polk's  father  was  a  Jeffersonian  Republican, 
and  James  K.  Polk  ever  adhered  to  the  same  politi- 
cal faith.  He  was  a  popular  public  speaker,  and  was 
constantly  called  upon  to  address  the  meetings  of  his 
party  friends.  His  skill  as  a  speaker  was  such  that 
he  was  popularly  called  the  Napoleon  of  the  stump. 
He  was  a  man  cf  unblemished  morals,  ger.ir.l  ,T.  d 


So 


JAMES  K.  POLK. 


lourterus  in  his  bearing,  and  with  that  sympathetic 
nature  in  the  joy  s  and  griefs  of  others  which  ever  gave 
him  troops  of  friends.  In  1823,  Mr.  Polk  was  elected 
to  the  Legislature  of  Tennessee.  Here  he  gave  his 
strong  influence  towards  the  election  of  his  friend, 
Mr.  Jackson,  to  the  Presidency  of  the  United  States. 

In  January,  1824,  Mr.  Polk  married  Miss  Sarah 
Childress,  of  Rutherford  Co.,  Tenn.  His  bride  was 
altogether  worthy  of  him, — a  lady  of  beauty  and  cul- 
ture. In  the  fall  of  1825,  Mr.  Polk  was  chosen  a 
member  of  Congress.  The  satisfaction  which  he  gave 
to  his  constituents  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact,  that 
for  fourteen  successive  years,  until  1839,  he  was  con- 
tinuec-'  in  that  office.  He  then  voluntarily  withdrew, 
only  that  he  might  accept  the  Gubernatorial  chair 
of  Imnessee.  In  Congress  he  was  a  laborious 
member,  a  frequent  and  a  popular  speaker.  He  was 
always  in  his  seat,  always  courteous ;  and  whenever 
he  spoke  it  was  always  to  the  point,  and  without  any 
ambitious  rhetorical  display. 

During  five  sessions  of  Congress,  Mr.  Polk  was 
Speaker  of  the  House.  Strong  passions  were  roused, 
and  stormy  scenes  were  witnessed  ;  but  Mr.  Polk  per- 
formed his  arduous  duties  to  a  very  general  satisfac- 
tion, and  a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  to  him  was 
passed  by  the  House  as  he  withdrew  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1839. 

In  accordance  with  Southern  usage,  Mr.  Polk,  as  a 
candidate  for  Governor,  canvassed  the  State.  He  was 
elected  by  a  large  majority,  and  on  the  1 4th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1839,  took  the  oath  of  office  at  Nashville.  In  1841, 
his  term  of  office  expired,  and  he  was  again  the  can- 
didate of  the  Democratic  party,  but  was  defeated. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1845,  Mr.  Polk  was  inaugur- 
ated President  of  the  United  States.  The  verdict  of 
the  country  in  favor  of  the  annexation  of  Texas,  exerted 
its  influence  upon  Congress  ;  and  the  last  act  of  the 
administration  of  President  Tyler  was  to  affix  his  sig- 
nature to  a  joint  resolution  of  Congress,  passed  on  the 
3d  of  March,  approving  of  the  annexation  of  Texas  to 
the  American  Union.  As  Mexico  still  claimed  Texas 
as  one  of  her  provinces>  the  Mexican  minister, 
Almonte,  immediately  demanded  his  passports  and 
left  the  country,  declaring  the  act  of  the  annexation 
to  be  an  act  hostile  to  Mexico. 

In  his  first  message,  President  Polk  urged  that 
Texas  should  immediately,  by  act  of  Congress,  be  re- 
ceived into  the  Union  on  the  same  footing  with  the 
other  States.  In  the  meantime,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent 


with  an  army  into  Texas  to  hold  the  country.  He  was 
sent  first  to  Nueces,  which  the  Mexicans  said  was  the 
western  boundary  of  Texas.  Then  he  was  sent  nearly 
two  hundred  miles  further  west,  to  the  Rio  Grande, 
where  he  erected  batteries  which  commanded  the 
Mexican  city  of  Matamoras,  which  was  situated  on 
the  western  banks. 

The  anticipated  collision  soon  took  place,  and  war 
was  declared  against  Mexico  by  President  Polk.  The 
war  was  pushed  forward  by  Mr.  Folk's  administration 
with  great  vigor.  Gen.  Taylor,  whose  army  was  first 
called  one  of  "observation,"  then  of  "occupation," 
then  of  "invasion,  "was  sent  forward  to  Monterey.  The 
feeble  Mexicans,  in  every  encounter,  were  hopelessly 
and  awfully  slaughtered.  The  day  of  judgement 
alone  can  reveal  the  misery  which  this  war  caused. 
It  was  by  the  ingenuity  of  Mr.  Polk's  administration 
that  the  war  was  brought  on. 

'To  the  victors  belong  the  spoils."  Mexico  was 
prostrate  before  us.  Her  capital  was  in  our  hands. 
We  now  consented  to  peace  upon  the  condition  that 
Mexico  should  surrender  to  us,  in  addition  to  Texas, 
all  of  New  Mexico,  and  all  of  Upper  and  Lower  Cal- 
ifornia. This  new  demand  embraced,  exclusive  of 
Texas,  eight  hundred  thousand  square  miles.  This 
was  an  extent  of  territory  equal  to  nine  States  of  the 
size  of  New  York.  Thus  slavery  was  securing  eighteen 
majestic  States  to  be  added  to  the  Union.  There  were 
some  Americans  who  thought  it  all  right :  there  were 
others  who  thought  it  all  wrong.  In  the  prosecution 
of  this  war,  we  expended  twenty  thousand  lives  and 
more  than  a  hundred  million  of  dollars.  Of  this 
money  fifteen  millions  were  paid  to  Mexico. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1849,  Mr.  Polk  retired  from 
office,  having  served  one  term.  The  next  day  was 
Sunday.  On  the  5th,  Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated 
as  his  successor.  Mr.  Polk  rode  to  the  Capitol  in  the 
same  carriage  with  Gen.  Taylor;  and  the  same  even- 
ing, with  Mrs.  Polk,  he  commenced  his  return  to 
Tennessee.  He  was  then  but  fifty-four  years  of  age. 
He  had  ever  been  strictly  temperate  in  all  his  habits, 
and  his  health  was  good.  With  an  ample  fortune, 
a  choice  library,  a  cultivated  mind,  and  domestic  ties 
of  the  dearest  nature,  it  seemed  as  though  long  years 
of  tranquility  and  happiness  were  before  him.  But  the 
cholera — that  fearful  scourge — was  then  sweeping  up 
the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi.  This  he  contracted, 
and  died  on  the  isth  of  June,  1849,  in  the  fifty-fourth 
year  of  his  age,  greatly  mourned  by  his  countrymen. 


TWELFTH  PRESIDENT. 


~raw?»?fc*/;  ./r-Jl^~^ 

wXSf/ilffr'Afff-l 


ACHARY  TAYLOR,  twelfth 
President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  on  the  24th  of  Nov., 
1784,  in  Orange  Co.,  Va.  His 
father,  Colonel  Taylor,  was 
a  Virginian  of  note,  and  a  dis- 
tinguished patriot  and  soldier  of 
the  Revolution.  When  Zachary 
was  an  infant,  his  father  with  his 
wife  and  two  children,  emigrated 
to  Kentucky,  where  he  settled  in 
the  pathless  wilderness,  a  few 
miles  from  Louisville.  In  this  front- 
ier home,  away  from  civilization  and 
all  its  refinements,  young  Zachary 
could  enjoy  but  few  social  and  educational  advan- 
tages. When  six  years  of  age  he  attended  a  common 
school,  and  was  then  regarded  as  a  bright,  active  boy, 
rather  remarkable  for  bluntness  and  decision  of  char- 
acter He  was  strong,  feailess  and  self-reliant,  and 
-nanifested  a  strong  desire  to  enter  the  army  to  fight 
the  Indians  who  were  ravaging  the  frontiers.  There 
is  little  to  be  recorded  of  the  uneventful  years  of  his 
childhood  on  his  father's  large  but  lonely  plantation. 
In  1808,  his  father  succeeded  in  obtaining  for  him 
the  commission  of  lieutenant  in  the  United  States 
army ;  and  he  joined  the  troops  which  were  stationed 
at  New  Orleans  under  Gen.  Wilkinson.  Soon  after 
this  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Smith,  a  young  lady 
from  one  of  the  first  families  of  Maryland. 

Immediately  after  the  declaration  of  war  with  Eng- 
land, in  1812,  Capt.  Taylor  (for  he  had  then  been 
promoted  to  that  rank)  was  put  in  command  of  Fort 
Harrison,  on  the  Wabash,  about  fifty  miles  above 
Vincennes.  This  fort  had  been  built  in  the  wilder- 
ness by  Gen.  Harrison, on  his  march  to  Tippecanoe. 
It  was  one  of  the  first  points  of  attack  by  the  Indians, 
',ed  by  Tecumseh.  Its  garrison  consisted  of  a  broken 


company  of  infantry  numbering   fifty  men,   many  of 
whom  were  sick. 

Early  in  the  autumn  of  1812,  the  Indians,  stealthily, 
and  in  large  numbers,  moved  upon  the  fort.  Their 
approach  was  first  indicated  by  the  murder  of  two 
soldiers  just  outside  of  the  stockade.  Capt.  Taylor 
made  every  possible  preparation  to  meet  the  antici- 
pated assault.  On  the  4th  of  September,  a  band  of 
forty  painted  and  plumed  savages  came  to  the  fort, 
waving  a  white  flag,  and  informed  Capt.  Taylor  that 
in  the  morning  their  chief  would  come  to  have  a  talk 
with  him.  It  was  evident  that  their  object  was  merely 
to  ascertain  the  state  of  things  at  the  fort,  and  Capt. 
Taylor,  well  versed  in  the  wiles  of  the  savages,  kept 
them  at  a  distance. 

The  sun  went  down ;  the  savages  disappeared,  the 
garrison  slept  upon  their  arms.  One  hour  before 
midnight  the  war-whoop  burst  from  a  thousand  lips 
in  the  forest  around,  followed  by  the  discharge  of 
musketry,  and  the  rush  of  the  foe.  Every  man,  sick 
and  well,  sprang  to  his  post.  Every  man  knew  that 
defeat  was  not  merely  death,  but  in  the  case  of  cap- 
ture, death  by  the  most  agonizing  and  prolonged  tor- 
ture. No  pen  can  describe,  no  immagination  can 
conceive  the  scenes  which  ensued.  The  savages  suc- 
ceeded in  setting  fire  to  one  of  the  block-houses- 
Until  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  this  awful  conflict 
continued.  The  savages  then,  baffled  at  every  point, 
and  gnashing  their  teeth  with  rage,  retired.  Capt. 
Taylor,  for  this  gallant  defence,  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  major  by  brevet. 

Until  the  close  of  the  war,  MajorTaylorwas.placed 
in  such  situations  that  he  saw  but  little  more  of  active 
service.  He  was  sent  far  away  into  the  depths  of  the 
wilderness,  to  Fort  Crawford,  on  Fox  River,  which 
empties  into  Green  Bay.  Here  there  was  but  little 
to  be  done  but  to  wear  away  the  tedious  hours  as  one 
best  could.  There  were  no  looks,  no  society,  no  in- 


ZACHARY  TAYLOR. 


tellectual  stimulus.  Thus  with  him  the  uneventful 
years  rolled  on  Gradually  he  rose  to  the  rank  of 
colonel.  In  the  Black-Hawk  war,  which  resulted  in 
the  capture  of  that  renowned  chieftain,  Col  Taylor 
took  a  subordinate  but  a  brave  and  efficient  part. 

For  twenty-four  years  Col.  Taylor  was  engaged  in 
the  defence  of  the  frontiers,  in  scenes  so  remote,  and  in 
employments  so  obscure,  that  his  name  was  unknown 
beyond  the  limits  of  liis  own  immediate  acquaintance. 
In  the  year  1836,  he  was  sent  to  Florida  to  compel 
the  Seminole  Indians  to  vacate  that  region  and  re- 
tire beyond  the  Mississippi,  as  their  chiefs  by  treaty, 
hac1  promised  they  should  do.  The  services  rendered 
he.c  secured  for  Col.  Taylor  the  high  appreciation  of 
the  Government;  and  as  a  reward,  he  was  elevated 
tc  :he  rank  of  brigadier-general  by  brevet ;  and  soon 
after,  in  May,  1838,  was  appointed  to  the  chief  com- 
mand of  the  United  States  troops  in  Florida. 

After  two  years  of  such  wearisome  employment 
amidst  the  everglades  of  the  peninsula,  Gen.  Taylor 
obtained,  at  his  own  request,  a  change  of  command, 
;.nd  was  stationed  over  the  Department  of  the  South- 
west. This  field  embraced  Louisiana,  Mississippi, 
Alabama  and  Georgia.  Establishing  his  headquarters 
at  Fort  Jessup,  in  Louisiana,  he  removed  his  family 
to  a  plantation  which  he  purchased,  near  Baton  Rogue. 
Here  he  remained  for  five  years,  buried,  as  it  were, 
from  the  world,  but  faithfully  discharging  every  duty 
imposed  upon  him. 

In  1846,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent  to  guard  the  land 
between  the  Nueces  and  Rio  Grande,  the  latter  river 
being  the  boundary  of  Texas,  which  was  then  claimed 
by  the  United  States.  Soon  the  war  with  Mexico 
was  brought  on,  and  at  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la 
Palma,  Gen.  Taylor  won  brilliant  victories  over  the 
Mexicans.  The  rank  of  major-general  by  brevet 
was  then  conferred  upon  Gen.  Taylor,  and  his  name 
was  received  with  enthusiasm  almost  everywhere  in 
the  Nation.  Then  came  the  battles  of  Monterey  and 
Buena  Vista  in  which  he  won  signal  victories  over 
forces  much  larger  than  he  commanded. 

His  careless  habits  of  dress  and  his  unaffected 
simplicity,  secured  for  Gen.  Taylor  among  his  troops, 
the  sobriquet  of  "Old  Rough  and  Ready.' 

Tne  tidings  of  the  brilliant  victory  of  Buena  Vista 
•pread  the  wildest  enthusiasm  over  the  country.  The 
name  of  Gen.  Taylor  was  on  every  one's  lips.  The 
Whig  party  decided  to  take  advantage  of  this  wonder- 
ful popularity  in  bringing  forward  the  unpolished,  un- 
lettered, honest  soldier  as  their  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  Gen.  Taylor  was  astonished  at  the  an- 
nouncement, and  for  a.  time  would  not  listen  toil;  de- 
rlaring  that  he  was  not  at  all  qualified  for  such  an 
office.  So  little  interest  had  he  taken  in  politics  that, 
for  forty  years,  he  had  not  cast  a  vote.  It  was  not 
without  chagrin  that  several  distinguished  statesmen 
who  had  been  long  years  in  the  public  service  found 
ti.iir  claims  set  aside  in  behalf  of  one  whose  name 


had  never  been  heard  of,  save  in  connection  with  Palo 
Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Monterey  and  Buena 
Vista.  It  Is  said  that  Daniel  Webster,  in  his  haste  re- 
marked, "  It  is  a  nomination  not  fit  to  be  made." 

Gen.  Taylor  was  not  an  eloquent  speaker  nor  a  fine 
writer  His  friends  took  possession  of  him,  and  pre- 
pared such  few  communications  as  it  was  needful 
should  be  presented  to  the  public.  The  popularity  of 
the  successful  warrior  swept  the  land.  He  was  tri- 
umphantly elected  over  two  opposing  candidates,— 
Gen.  Cass  and  Ex-President  Martin  Van  Buren. 
Though  he  selected  an  excellent  cabinet,  the  good 
old  man  found  himself  in  a  very  uncongenial  position, 
and  was,  at  times,  sorely  perplexed  and  harassed. 
His  mental  sufferings  were  very  severe,  and  probably 
tended  to  hasten  his  death.  The  pro-slavery  party 
was  pushing  its  claims  with  tireless  energy ,  expedi- 
tions were  fitting  out  to  capture  Cuba  ;  California  was 
pleading  for  admission  to  the  Union,  while  slavery 
stood  at  the  door  to  bar  her  out.  Gen.  Taylor  found 
the  political  conflicts  in  Washington  to  be  far  more 
trying  to  the  nerves  than  battles  with  Mexicans  or 
Indians 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  troubles,  Gen.  Taylor, 
after  he  had  occupied  the  Presidential  chair  but  little 
over  a  year,  took  cold,  and  after  a  brief  sickness  of 
but  little  over  five  days,  died  on  the  pth  of  July,  1850. 
His  last  words  were,  "  I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  I  am 
ready.  I  have  endeavored  to  do  my  duty."  He  died 
universally  respected  and  beloved.  An  honest,  un- 
pretending man,  he  had  been  steadily  growing  in  the 
affections  of  the  people ;  and  the  Nation  bitterly  la- 
mented his  death. 

Gen.  Scott,  who  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
Gen.  Taylor,  gave  the  following  graphic  and  truthful 
description  of  his  character: — "  With  a  good  store  of 
common  sense,  Gen.  Taylor's  mind  had  not  been  en- 
larged and  refreshed  by  reading,  or  much  converse 
with  the  world.  Rigidity  of  ideas  was  the  conse- 
quence. The  frontiers  and  small  military  posts  had 
been  his  home.  Hence  he  was  quite  ignorant  for  his 
rank,  and  quite  bigoted  in  his  ignorance.  His  sim- 
plicity was  child-like,  and  with  innumerable  preju- 
dices, amusing  and  incorrigible,  well  suited  to  the 
tender  age.  Thus,  if  a  man,  however  respectable, 
chanced  to  wear  a  coat  of  an  unusual  color,  or  his  hat 
a  little  on  one  side  of  his  head ;  or  an  officer  to  leave 
a  corner  of  his  handkerchief  dangling  from  an  out- 
side pocket, — in  any  such  case,  this  critic  held  the 
offender  to  be  a  coxcomb  (perhaps  something  worse), 
whom  he  would  not,  to  use  his  oft  repeated  phrase, 
'  touch  with  a  pair  of  tongs.' 

"Any  allusion  to  literature  beyond  good  old  Dil- 
worth's  spelling-book,  on  the  part  of  one  wearing  a 
sword,  was  evidence,  with  the  same  judge,  of  utter 
unfitness  for  heavy  marchings  and  combats.  In  short, 
few  men  have  ever  had  a  more  comfortable,  labor- 
saving  contempt  for  learning  of  every  kind." 


;•' 


THIRTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


FILLMHRE^ 


ILLARD  FILLMORE,  thir- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
States,   was  born  at  Summer 
Hill,  Cayuga  Co.,   N.  Y  .,  on 
the  7th  of  January,  1800.  His 
father  was  a  farmer,  and  ow- 
ing to  misfortune,  in  humble  cir- 
cumstances.    Of  his  mother,  the 
daughter  of  Dr.  AbiatharMillard, 
of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  it   has  been 
said  that  she  possessed  an  intellect 
of  very  high  order,  united  with  much 
personal  loveliness,  sweetness  of  dis- 
position, graceful  manners  and  ex- 
quisite sensibilities.      She   died   in 
1831 ;  having  lived  to  see  her  son  a 
young  man   of  distinguished    prom- 
ise, though  she  was  not  permitted  to  witness  the  high 
dignity  which  he  finally  attained. 

In  consequence  of  the  secluded  home  and  limited 
means  of  his  father,  Millard  enjoyed  but  slender  ad- 
vantages for  education  in  his  early  years.  The  com- 
mon schools,  which  he  occasionally  attended  were 
very  imperfect  institutions;  and  books  were  scarce 
and  expensive.  There  was  nothing  then  in  his  char- 
acter to  indicate  the  brilliant  career  upon  which  he 
was  about  to  enter.  He  was  a  plain  farmer's  boy ; 
intelligent,  good-looking,  kind-hearted.  The  sacred 
influences  of  home  had  taught  him  to  revere  the  Bible, 
and  had  laid  the  foundations  of  an  upright  character. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age,  his  father  sent  him 
some  hundred  miles  from  home,  to  the  then  wilds  of 
Livingston  County,  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  clothier. 
Near  the  mill  there  was  a  small  villiage,  where  some 


enterprising  man  had  commenced  the  collection  of  a 
village  library.  This  proved  an  inestimable  blessing 
to  young  Fillmore.  His  evenings  were  spent  in  read- 
ing. Soon  every  leisure  moment  was  occupied  with 
books.  His  thirst  for  knowledge  became  insatiate ; 
and  the  selections  which  he  made  were  continually 
more  elevating  and  instructive.  He  read  history, 
biography,  oratory,  and  thus  gradually  there  was  en- 
kindled in  his  heart  a  desire  to  be  something  more 
than  a  mere  worker  with  his  hands;  and  he  was  be- 
coming, almost  unknown  to  himself,  a  well-informed, 
educated  man. 

The  young  clothier  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
nineteen  years,  and  was  of  fine  personal  appearance 
and  of  gentlemanly  demeanor.  It  so  happened  that 
there  was  a  gentleman  in  the  neighborhood  of  ample 
pecuniary  means  and  of  benevolence,— Judge  Walter 
Wood, — who  was  struck  with  the  prepossessing  ap- 
pearance of  young  Fillmore.  He  made  his  acquaint- 
ance, and  was  so  much  impressed  with  his  ability  and 
attainments  that  he  advised  him  to  abandon  his 
trade  and  devote  himself  to  the  study  of  the  law.  The 
young  man  replied,  that  he  had  no  means  of  his  own, 
no  friends  to  help  him  and  that  his  previous  educa- 
tion had  been  very  imperfect.  But  Judge  Wood  had 
so  much  confidence  in  him  that  he  kindly  offered  to 
take  him  into  his  own  office,  and  to  loan  him  such 
money  as  he  needed.  Most  gratefully  the  generous 
offer  was  accepted. 

There  is  in  many  minds  a  strange  delusion  about 
a  collegiate  education.  A  young  man  is  supposed  to 
be  liberally  educated  if  he  has  graduated  at  some  col- 
lege. But  many  a  boy  loiters  through  university  hal! ; 
ind  then  enters  a  law  office,  who  is  by  no  means  as 


68 


MILLARD  FILLMORE. 


well  prepared  to  prosecute  his  legal  studies  as  was 
Millard  Fillmore  when  he  graduated  at  the  clothing- 
mill  at  the  end  of  four  years  of  manual  labor,  during 
which  every  leisure  moment  had  been  devoted  to  in- 
tense mental  culture. 

In  1823,  when  twenty-three  years  of  age,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  then 
went  to  the  village  of  Aurora,  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  law.  In  this  secluded,  peaceful  region, 
his  practice  of  course  was  limited,  and  there  was  no 
opportunity  for  a  sudden  rise  in  fortune  or  in  fame. 
Here,  in  the  year  1826,  he  married  a  lady  of  great 
moral  worth,  and  one  capable  of  adorning  any  station 
she  might  be  called  to  fill, — Miss  Abigail  Powers. 

His  elevation  of  character,  his  untiring  industry, 
his  legal  acquirements,  and  his  skill  as  an  advocate, 
gradually  attracted  attention ;  and  he  was  invited  to 
enter  into  partnership  under  highly  advantageous 
circumstances,  with  an  elder  member  of  the  bar  in 
Buffalo.  Just  before  removing  to  Buffalo,  in  1829, 
he  took  liis  seat  in  the  House  of  Assembly,  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  as  a  representative  from  Erie 
County.  Though  he  had  never  taken  a  very  active 
part  in  politics,  his  vote  and  his  sympathies  were  with 
the  Whig  party.  The  State  was  then  Democratic, 
and  he  found  himself  in  a  helpless  minority  in  the 
Legislature  ,  still  the  testimony  comes  from  all  parties, 
that  his  courtesy,  ability  and  integrity,  won,  to  a  very 
unusual  degree  the  respect  of  his  associates. 

In  the  autumn  of  1832,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in 
the  United  States  Congress  He  entered  that  troubled 
arena  in  some  of  the  most  tumultuous  hours  of  our 
national  history.  The  great  conflict  respecting  the 
national  bank  and  the  removal  of  the  deposits,  was 
then  raging. 

His  term  of  two  years  closed  ;  and  he  returned  to 
his  profession,  which  he  pursued  with  increasing  rep- 
utation and  success.  After  a  lapse  of  two  years 
he  again  became  a  candidate  for  Congress  ;  was  re- 
elected,  and  took  his  seat  in  1837.  His  past  expe- 
rience as  a  representative  gave  him  strength  and 
confidence.  The  first  term  of  service  in  Congress  to 
any  man  can  be  but  little  more  than  an  introduction. 
He  was  now  prepared  for  active  duty.  All  his  ener- 
gies were  brought  to  bear  upon  the  public  good.  Every 
measure  received  his  impress. 

Mr.  Fillmore  was  now  a  man  of  wide  repute,  and 
his  popularity  filled  the  State,  and  in  the  year  1847, 
he  was  elected  Comptroller  of  the  State. 


Mr.  Fillmore  had  attained  the  age  of  forty-seven 
years.  His  labors  at  the  bar,  in  the  Legislature,  in 
Congress  and  as  Comptroller,  had  given  him  very  con- 
siderable fame.  The  Whigs  were  casting  about  to 
find  suitable  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-Presi- 
dent  at  the  approaching  election.  Far  away,  on  the 
waters  of  the  Rio  Grande,  there  was  a  rough  old 
soldier,  who  had  fought  one  or  two  successful  battles 
with  the  Mexicans,  which  had  caused  his  name  to  be 
proclaimed  in  tiumpet-tones  all  over  the  land.  But 
it  was  necessary  to  associate  with  him  on  the  same 
ticket  some  man  of  reputation  as  a  statesman. 

Under  the  influence  of  these  considerations,  the 
namesof  Zachary  Taylor  and  Millard  Fillmore  became 
the  rallying-cry  of  the  Whigs,  as  their  candidates  for 
President  and  Vice-Peesident.  The  Whig  ticket  was 
signally  triumphant.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1849, 
Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated  President,  and  Millard 
Fillmore  Vice-President,  of  the  United  States. 

On  the  gth  of  July,  1850,  President  Taylor,  but 
about  one  year  and  four  months  after  his  inaugura- 
tion, was  suddenly  taken  sick  and  died.  By  the  Con- 
stitution. Vice-President  Fillmore  thus  became  Presi- 
dent. He  appointed  a  very  able  cabinet,  of  which 
the  illustrious  Daniel  Webster  was  Secretary  of  State. 

Mr.  Fillniore  had  very  serious  difficulties  to  contend 
with,  since  the  opposition  had  a  majority  in  both 
Houses.  He  did  everything  in  his  power  to  conciliate 
the  South ;  but  the  pro-slavery  party  in  the  South  felt 
the  inadequacy  of  all  measuresof  transient  conciliation. 
The  population  of  the  free  States  was  so  rapidly  in- 
creasing over  that  of  the  slave  States  that  it  was  in- 
evitable that  the  power  of  the  Government  should 
soon  pass  into  the  hands  of  the  free  States.  The 
famous  compromise  measures  were  adopted  under  Mr. 
Fillmcre's  adminstration,  and  the  Japan  Expedition 
was  sent  out.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1853,  Mr.  Fill- 
more,  having  served  one  term,  retired. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Fillmore  was  nominated  for  the  Pres- 
idency by  the  "  Know  Nothing  "  party,  but  was  beaten 
by  Mr.  Buchanan.  After  that  Mr.  Fillmore  lived  in 
retirement.  During  the  terrible  conflict  of  civil  war, 
he  was  mostly  silent.  It  was  generally  supposed  that 
his  sympathies  were  rather  with  those  who  were  en- 
deavoring to  overthrow  our  institutions.  President 
Fillmore  kept  aloof  from  the  conflict,  without  any 
cordial  words  of  cheer  to  the  one  party  or  the  other. 
He  was  thus  forgotten  by  both.  He  lived  to  a  ripe 
old  age,  and  died  in  Buffalo.  N.  Y.,  March  8,  1874. 


p 


FOURTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


PIERCE 

jjgSSWi  •*»*  •'"»   «C5j2jj 

l.t».t*&A.tW-.4^^^ 

^^ 


RANKLIN     PIERCE,   the 
fourteenth   President  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in 
Hillsborough,    N.    H.,    Nov. 
23,  1804.     His  father  was  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,   who, 
with    his   own    strong    arm, 
hewed   out  a    home   in    the 
wilderness.     He  was  a  man 
of    inflexible    integrity;     of 
strong,  though   uncultivated 
mind,  and  an  uncompromis- 
ing Democrat.      The   mother  of 
Franklin  Pierce  was  all  that  a  son 
could  desire, — an  intelligent,  pru- 
dent, affectionate,  Christian  wom- 
an.    Franklin  was  the  sixth  of  eight  children. 

Franklin  was  a  very  bright  and  handsome  boy,  gen- 
erous, warm-hearted  and  brave.  He  won  alike  the 
love  of  old  and  young.  The  boys  on  the  play  ground 
loved  him.  His  teachers  loved  him.  The  neighbors 
"looked  upon  him  with  pride  and  affection.  He  was 
by  instinct  a  gentleman;  always  speakingkind  words, 
doing  kind  deeds,  with  a  peculiar  unstudied  tact 
which  taught  him  what  was  agreeable.  Without  de- 
veloping any  precocity  of  genius,  or  any  unnatural 
devotion  to  books,  he  was  a  good  scholar;  in  body, 
in  mind,  in  affections,  a  finely-developed  boy. 

When  sixteen  years  of  age,  in  the  year  1820,  he 
entered  Bowdoin  College,  at  Brunswick,  Me  He  was 
one  of  the  most  popular  young  men  in  the  college. 
The  purity  of  his  moral  character,  the  unvarying 
courtesy  of  his  demeanor,  his  rank  as  a  scholar,  and 


genial  nature,  rendered  him  a  universal  favorite. 
There  was  something  very  peculiarly  winning  in  his 
address,  and  it  was  evidently  not  in  the  slightest  de- 
gree studied :  it  was  the  simple  outgushing  of  his 
own  magnanimous  and  loving  nature. 

Upon  graduating,  in  the  year  1824,  Franklin  Pierce 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Judge 
Woodbury,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers  of 
the  State,  and  a  man  of  great  private  worth.  The 
eminent  social  qualities  of  the  young  lawyer,  his 
father's  prominence  as  a  public  man,  and  the  brilliant 
political  career  into  which  Judge  Woodbury  was  en- 
tering, all  tended  to  entice  Mr.  Pierce  into  the  faci- 
nating  yet  perilous  path  of  political  life.  With  all 
the  ardor  of  his  nature  he  espoused  the  cause  of  Gen. 
Jackson  for  the  Presidency.  He  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  in  Hillsborough,  and  was  soon  elected 
to  represent  the  town  in  the  State  Legislature.  Here 
he  served  for  four  years.  The  last  two  years  he  was 
chosen  speaker  of  the  house  by  a  very  large  vote. 

In  1833,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Without  taking  an  active 
part  in  debates,  he  was  faithful  and  laborious  in  duty, 
and  ever  rising  in  the  estimation  of  those  with  whom 
he  was  associatad. 

In  1837,  being  then  but  thirty-three  years  of  age, 
he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States; 
taking  his  seat  just  as  Mr.  Van  Buren  commenced 
his  administration.  He  was  the  youngest  member  in 
the  Senate.  In  the  year  1834,  he  married  Miss  Jane 
Means  Appleton,  a  lady  of  rare  beauty  and  accom- 
plishments, and  one  admirably  fitted  to  adorn  every 
station  with  which  her  husband  was  honoted.  Of  the 


FRANKLIN  PIERCE. 


three  sons  who  were  born  to  them,  all  now  sleep  with 
their  parents  in  the  grave. 

In  the  year  1838,  Mr.  Pierce,  with  growing  fame 
and  increasing  business  as  a  lawyer,  took  up  his 
residence  in  Concord,  the  capital  of  New  Hampshire. 
President  Polk,  upon  his  accession  to  office,  appointed 
Mr.  Pierce  attorney-general  of  the  United  States;  but 
the  offer  was  declined,  in  consequence  of  numerous 
professional  engagements  at  home,  and  the  precariuos 
state  of  Mrs.  Pierce 's  health.  He  also,  about  the 
same  time  declined  the  nomination  for  governor  by  the 
Democratic  party.  The  war  with  Mexico  called  Mr. 
Pierce  in  the  army.  Receiving  the  appointment  of 
brigadier-general,  he  embarked,  with  a  portion  of  his 
troops,  at  Newport,  R.  L,  on  the  zyth  of  May,  1847. 
He  took  an  important  part  in  this  war,  proving  him- 
self a  brave  and  true  soldier. 

When  Gen.  Pierce  reached  his  home  in  his  native 
State,  he  was  received  enthusiastically  by  the  advo- 
cates of  the  Mexican  war,  and  coldly  by  his  oppo- 
nents. He  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
very  frequently  taking  an  active  part  in  political  ques- 
tions, giving  his  cordial  support  to  the  pro-slavery 
wing  of  the  Democratic  party.  The  compromise 
measures  met  cordially  with  his  approval;  and  he 
strenuously  advocated  the  enforcement  of  the  infa- 
mous fugitive-slave  law,  which  so  shocked  the  religious 
sensibilities  of  the  North.  He  thus  became  distin- 
guished as  a  "  Northern  man  with  Southern  principles.'' 
The  strong  partisans  of  slavery  in  the  South  conse- 
quently regarded  him  as  a  man  whom  they  could 
safely  trust  in  office  to  carry  out  their  plans. 

On  the  1 2th  of  June,  1852,  the  Democratic  conven- 
tion met  in  Baltimore  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  For  four  days  they  continued  in  session, 
and  in  thirty-five  ballotings  no  one  had  obtained  a 
two-thirds  vote.  Not  a  vote  thus  far  had  been  thrown 
for  Gen.  Pierce.  Then  the  Virginia  delegation 
brought  forward  his  name.  There  were  fourteen 
more  ballotings,  during  which  Gen.  Pierce  constantly- 
gained  strength,  until,  at  the  forty-ninth  ballot,  he 
received  two  hundred  and  eighty-two  votes,  and  all 
other  candidates  eleven.  Gen.  Winfield  Scott  was 
the  Whig  candidate.  Gen.  Pierce  was  chosen  with 
great  unanimity.  Only  four  States — Vermont,  Mas- 
sachusetts, Kentucky  and  Tennessee  —  cast  their 
electoral  votes  against  him  Gen.  Franklin  Pierce 
"as  therefore  inaugurated  President  of  the  United 
States  on  the  4th  of  March,  1853. 


His  administration  proved  one  of  the  most  stormy  our 
country  had  ever  experienced.  The  controversy  be- 
tween slavery  and  freedom  was  then  approaching  its 
culminating  point.  It  became  evident  that  there  was 
an  "  irrepressible  conflict  "  between  them,  and  that 
this  Nation  could  not  long  exist  "  half  slave  and  half 
free."  President  Pierce,  during  the  whole  of  his  ad- 
ministration, did  every  thing  he  could  to  conciliate 
the  South  ;  but  it  was  all  in  vain.  The  conflict  every 
year  grew  more  violent,  and  threats  of  the  dissolution 
of  the  Union  were  borne  to  the  North  on  every  South- 
ern breeze. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  affairs  when  President 
Pierce  approached  the  close  of  his  four-years'  term 
of  office.  The  North  had  become  thoroughly  alien- 
ated from  him.  The  anti-slavery  sentiment,  goaded 
by  great  outrages,  had  been  rapidly  increasing;  all 
the  intellectual  ability  and  social  worth  of  President 
Pierce  were  forgotten  in  deep  reprehension  of  his  ad- 
ministrative acts.  The  slaveholders  of  the  South,  also, 
unmindful  of  the  fidelity  with  which  he  had  advo- 
cated those  measures  of  Government  which  they  ap- 
proved, and  perhaps,  also,  feeling  that  he  had 
rendered  himself  so  unpopular  as  no  longer  to  be 
able  acceptably  to  serve  them,  ungratefully  dropped 
him,  and  nominated  James  Buchanan  to  succeed  him. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1857,  President  Pierce  re- 
tired to  his  home  in  Concord.  Of  three  children,  two 
had  died,  and  his  only  surviving  child  had  been 
killed  before  his  eyes  by  a  railroad  accident ,  and  his 
wife,  one  of  the  most  estimable  and  accomplished  of 
ladies,  was  rapidly  sinking  in  consumption.  The 
hour  of  dreadful  gloom"  soon  came,  and  he  was  left 
alone  in  the  world,  without  wife  or  child. 

When  the  terrible  Rebellion  burst  forth,  which  di- 
vided our  country  into  two  parties,  and  two  only,  Mr. 
Pierce  remained  steadfast  in  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  cherished,  and  gave  his  sympathies  to 
that  pro-slavery  party  with  which  he  had  ever  been 
allied.  He  declined  to  do  anything,  either  by  voice 
or  pen,  to  strengthen  the  hand  of  the  National  Gov- 
ernment. He  continued  to  reside  in  Concord  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  October, 
1869.  He  was  one  of  the  most  genial  and  social  of 
men,  an  honored  communicant  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  one  of  the  kindest  of  neighbors.  Gen- 
erous to  a  fault,  he  contributed  liberally  for  the  al- 
leviation of  suffering  and  want,  and  many  of  his  towns- 
people were  often  glndered  by  his  material  bounty. 


FIFTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


75 


AMES  BUCHANAN,  the  fif- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  in  a  small 
frontier  town,  at  the  foot  of  the 
eastern  ridge  of  the  Allegha- 
nies,  in  Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  on 
S  the  23d  of  April,  1791.  The  place 
where  the  humble  cabin  of  his 
father  stood  was  called  Stony 
Batter.  It  was  a  wild  and  ro- 
mantic spot  in  a  gorge  of  the  moun- 
tains, with  towering  summits  rising 
grandly  all  around.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  the  north  of  I  relar.d ; 
a  ]xx)f  man,  who  had  emigrated  in 
1783,  with  little  property  save  his 
own  strong  arms.  Five  years  afterwards  he  married 
Elizabeth  Spear,  the  daughter  of  a  respectable  farmer, 
and,  with  his  young  bride,  plunged  into  the  wilder- 
ness, staked  his  claim,  reared  his  log-hut,  opened  a 
clearing  with  his  axe,  and  settled  down  there  to  per- 
form his  obscure  part  in  the  drama  of  life.  In  this  se- 
cluded home,  where  James  was  born,  he  remained 
for  eight  years,  enjoying  but  few  social  or  intellectual 
advantages.  When  James  was  eight  years  of  age,  his 
father  removed  to  the  village  of  Mercersburg,  where 
his  son  was  placed  at  school,  and  commenced  a 
course  of  study  in  English,  Latin  and  Greek.  His 
progress  was  rapid,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  he 
entered  Dickinson  College,  at  Carlisle.  Here  he  de- 
veloped remarkable  talent,  and  took  his  stand  among 
the  first  scholars  in  the  institution.  His  application 
to  study  was  intense,  and  yet  his  native  powers  en- 


abled him  to  master  the  most  abstruse  subjects  wilh 
facility. 

In  the  year  1809,  he  graduated  with  the  highest 
honors  of  his  class.  He  was  then  eighteen  years  of 
age;  tall  and  graceful,  vigorous  in  health,  fond  of 
athletic  sport,  an  unerring  shot,  and  enlivened  with 
an  exuberant  flow  of  animal  spirits.  He  immediately 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  city  of  Lancaster, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1812,  when  he  was 
but  twenty-one  years  of  age.  Very  rapidly  he  rose 
in  his  profession,  and  at  once  took  undisputed  stand 
with  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  State.  When  but 
twenty-six  years  of  age,  unaided  by  counsel,  he  suc- 
cessfully defended  before  the  State  Senate  01  e  of  the 
judges  of  the  State,  who  was  tried  upon  articles  of 
impeachment.  At  the  age  of  thirty  it  was  generally 
admitted  that  he  stood  at  the  head  of  the  bar;  and 
there  was  no  lawyer  in  the  State  who  had  a  more  lu- 
crative practice. 

In  1820,  he  reluctantly  consented  to  run  as  a 
candidate  for  Congress.  He  was  elected,  and  for 
ten  years  he  remained  a  member  of  the  Lower  House. 
During  the  vacations  of  Congress,  he  occasionally 
tried  some  important  case.  In  1831,  he  retired 
altogether  from  the  toils  of  his  profession,  having  ac- 
quired an  ample  fortune. 

Gen.  Jackson,  upon  his  elevation  to  llie  Presidency, 
appointed  Mr.  Buchanan  minister  to  Russia.  The 
duties  of  his  mission  he  performed  with  ability,  which 
gave  satisfaction  to  all  parties.  Upon  his  return,  in 
1833,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  United  States 
Senate.  He  there  met,  as  his  associates,  Webster, 
Clay,  Wright  and  Calhoun.  He  advocated  the  meas- 
ures proposed  by  President  Jackson,  of  making  repri- 


76 


JAMES  BUCHANAN. 


sals  against  France,  to  enforce  the  payment  of  our 
claims  against  that  country  ;  and  defended  the  course 
of  the  President  in  his  unprecedented  and  wholesale 
removal  from  office  of  those  who  were  not  the  sup- 
porters of  his  administration.  Upon  this  question  he 
was  brought  into  direct  collision  with  He.ny  Clay. 
He  also,  with  voice  and  vote,  advocated  expunging 
from  the  journal  of  the  Senate  the  vote  of  censure 
against  Gen.  Jackson  for  removing  the  deposits. 
Earnestly  he  opposed  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the 
District  of  Columbia,  and  urged  the  prohibition  of  the 
circulation  of  anti-slavery  documents  by  the  United 
States  mails. 

As  to  petitions  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  he  advo- 
cated that  they  should  be  respectfully  received;  and 
that  the  reply  should  be  returned,  that  Congress  had 
no  power  to  legislate  upon  the  subject.  "  Congress," 
s.iid  he,  "  might  as  well  undertake  to  interfere  with 
slavery  under  a  foreign  government  as  in  any  of  the 
States  where  it  now  exists." 

U|X>n  Mr.  Folk's  accession  to  the  Presidency,  Mr. 
Buchanan  became  Secretary  of  State,  and  as  such, 
took  his  share  of  the  responsibility  in  the  conduct  of 
the  Mexican  War.  Mr.  Polk  assumed  that  crossing 
the  Nueces  by  the  American  troops  into  the  disputed 
territory  was  not  wrong,  but  for  the  Mexicans  to  cross 
the  Rio  Grande  into  that  territory  was  a  declaration 
of  war.  No  candid  man  can  read  with  pleasure  the 
account  of  the  course  our  Government  pursued  in  that 
movement 

Mr.  Buchanan  identified  himself  thoroughly  with 
the  party  devoted  to  the  perpetuation  and  extension 
of  slavery,  and  brought  all  the  energies  of  his  mind 
to  bear  against  the  Wilmot  Proviso.  He  gave  his 
cordial  approval  to  the  compromise  measures  of  1050, 
which  included  the  fugitive-slave  law.  Mr.  Pierce, 
u:ion  his  election  to  the  Presidency,  honored  Mr. 
Buchanan  with  the  mission  to  England. 

In  the  year  1856,  a  national  Democratic  conven- 
tion nominated  Mr.  Buchanan  for  the  Presidency.  The 
political  conflict  was  one  of  the  most  severe  in  which 
our  country  has  ever  engaged.  All  the  friends  of 
slavery  were  on  one  side ;  all  the  advocates  of  its  re- 
striction and  final  abolition,  on  the  other.  Mr.  Fre- 
mont, the  candidate  of  the  enemies  of  slavery,  re- 
reived  1 14  electoral  votes.  Mr.  Buchanan  received 
174,  and  was  elected.  The  popular  vote  stood 
1,340,618,  for  Fremont,  1,224,750  for  Buchanan.  On 
March  4th,  1857,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  inaugurated. 

Mr.  Buchanan  was  far  advanced  in  life.  Only  four 
years  were  wanting  to  fill  up  his  threescore  years  and 
ten.  His  own  friends,  those  with  whom  he  had  been 
allied  in  political  principles  and  action  for  years,  were 
seeking  the  destruction  ot  the  Government,  that  they 
might  rear  upon  the  ruins  of  our  free  institutions  a 
nation  whose  corner-stone  should  be  human  slavery 
[n  this  emergency,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  hopelessly  be- 
wildered He  could  not,  with  his  long-avowed  prin- 


ciples, consistently  oppose  the  State-rights  party  in 
their  assumptions.  As  President  of  the  United  States, 
bound  by  his  oath  faithfully  to  administer  the  laws, 
he  could  not,  without  perjury  of  the  grossest  kind, 
unite  with  those  endeavoring  to  overthrow  the  repub- 
lic. He  therefore  did  nothing. 

The  opponents  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  administration 
nominated  Abraham  Lincoln  as  their  standard  bearer 
in  the  next  Presidential  canvass.  The  pro-slavery 
party  declared,  that  if  he  were  elected,  and  the  con- 
trol of  the  Government  were  thus  taken  from  their 
hands,  they  would  secede  from  the  Union,  taking 
with  them,  as  they  retired,  the  National  Capitol  at 
Washington,  and  the  lion's  share  of  the  territory  of 
the  United  States. 

Mr.  Buchanan's  sympathy  with  the  pro-slavery 
party  was  such,  that  he  had  been  willing  to  offerthem 
far  more  than  they  had  ventured  to  claim.  All  the 
South  had  professed  to  ask  of  the  North  was  non- 
intervention upon  the  subject  of  slavery.  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan had  been  ready  to  offer  them  the  active  co- 
operation of  the  Government  to  defend  and  extend 
the  institution. 

As  the  storm  increased  in  violence,  the  slaveholders 
claiming  the  right  to  secede,  and  Mr.  Buchanan  avow- 
ing that  Congress  had  no  power  to  prevent  it,  one  of 
the  most  pitiable  exhibitions  of  governmental  im- 
becility was  exhibited  the  world  has  ever  seen.  He 
declared  that  Congress  had  no  power  to  enforce  its 
laws  in  any  State  which  had  withdrawn,  or  which 
was  attempting  to  withdraw  from  the  Union.  T hit- 
was  not  the  doctrine  of  Andrew  Jackson,  when,  with 
his  hand  upon  his  sword  hilt,  he  exclaimed.  "The 
Union  must  and  shall  be  preserved!" 

South  Carolina  seceded  in  December,  1860;  nearly 
three  months  before  the  inauguration  of  President 
Lincoln.  Mr.  Buchanan  looked  on  in  listless  despair. 
The  rebel  flag  was  raised  in  Charleston;  FortSumpter 
was  besieged ;  our  forts,  navy-yards  and  arsenals 
were  seized  ;  our  depots  of  military  stores  were  plun- 
dered :  and  our  custom-houses  and  post-offices  were 
appropriated  by  the  rebels. 

The  energy  of  the  rebels,  and  the  imbecility  of  our 
Executive,  were  alike  marvelous.  The  Nation  looked 
on  in  agony,  waiting  for  the  slow  weeks  to  glide  awny, 
and  close  the  administration,  so  terrible  in  its  weak- 
ness At  length  the  long-looked-for  hour  of  deliver- 
ance came,  when  Abraham  Lincoln  was  to  receive  the 
scepter. 

The  administration  of  President  Buchanan  was 
certainly  the  most  calamitous  our  country  has  ex- 
perienced. His  best  friends  cannot  recall  it  with 
pleasure.  And  still  more  deplorable  it  is  for  his  fame, 
that  in  that  dreadful  conflict  which  rolled  its  billows 
of  flame  and  blood  over  our  whole  land,  no  word  came 
from  his  lips  to  indicate  his  wish  that  our  country's 
banner  should  triumph  over  the  flag  of  the  rebellion. 
HP  died  at  his  Wheatland  retreat,  June  i,  1868. 


SIXTEENTH 


79 


LINCOLN.  > 


BRAHAM  LINCOLN,  the 
sixteenth  President  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in 
Hardin  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  12, 
1 809.  About  the  year  \  7  80,  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  left  Virginia  with  his 
family  and  moved  into  the  then 
wilds  of  Kentucky.  Onlytwo  years 
after  this  emigration,  still  a  young 
man,  while  working  one  day  in  a 
field,  was  stealthily  approached  by 
an  Indian  and  shot  dead.  His  widow 
was  left  in  extreme  poverty  with  five 
little  children,  three  boys  and  two 
girls.  Thomas,  the  youngest  of  the 
boys,  was  four  years  of  age  at  his 
father's  death.  This  Thomas  was 
the  father  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  the 
President  of  the  United  States 
whose  name  must  henceforth  forever  be  enrolled 
with  the  most  prominent  in  the  annals  of  our  world. 
Of  course  no  record  has  been  kept  of  the  life 
of  one  so  lowly  as  Thomas  Lincoln.  He  was  among 
the  poorest  of  the  poor.  His  home  was  a  wretched 
log-cabin ;  his  food  the  coarsest  and  the  meanest. 
Education  he  had  none;  he  could  never  either  read 
or  write.  As  soon  as  he  was  able  to  do  anything  for 
himself,  he  was  compelled  to  leave  the  cabin  of  his 
starving  mother,  and  push  out  into  the  world,  a  friend- 
less, wandering  boy,  seeking  work.  He  hired  him- 
self out,  and  thus  spent  the  whole  of  his  youth  as  a 
laborer  in  the  fields  of  others. 

When  twenty-eight  years  of  age  he  buili  a  log- 
cabin  of  his  own,  and  married  Nancy  Hanks,  the 
daughter  of  another  family  of  poor  Kentucky  emi- 
grants, who  had  also  come  from  Virginia.  Their 
second  child  was  Abraham  Lincoln,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  The  mother  of  Abraham  was  a  noble 
woman,  gentle,  loving,  pensive,  created  to  adorn 
a  palace,  doomed  to  toil  and  pine,  and  die  in  a  hovel. 
"All  that  I  am,  or  hope  to  be,"  exclaims  the  grate- 
ful son  "  I  owe  to  my  angel-mother.  " 

When  he  was  eight  years  of  age,  his  father  sold  his 


cabin  and  small  farm,  and  moved  to  Indiana.  Where 
two  years  later  his  mother  died. 

Abraham  soon  became  the  scribe  of  the  uneducated 
community  around  him.  He  could  not  hav£  had  a 
better  school  than  this  to  teach  him  to  put  thoughts 
into  words.  He  also  became  an  eager  reader.  The 
books  he  could  obtain  were  few ;  but  these  he  read 
and  re-read  until  they  were  almost  committed  to 
memory. 

As  the  years  rolled  on,  the  lot  of  this  lowly  family 
was  the  usual  lot  of  humanity.  Thi>re  were  joys  and 
griefs,  weddings  and  funerals.  Abraham's  sister 
Sarah,  to  whom  he  was  tenderly  attached,  was  mar- 
ried when  a  child  of  but  fourteen  years  of  age,  and 
soon  died.  The  family  was  gradually  scattered.  Mr. 
Thomas  Lincoln  sold  out  his  squatter's  claim  in  1830, 
and  emigrated  to  Macon  Co.,  111. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  then  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
With  vigorous  hands  he  aided  his  father  in  rearing 
another  log-cabin.  Abraham  worked  diligently  at  this 
until  he  saw  the  family  comfortably  settled,  and  their 
small  lot  of  enclosed  prairie  planted  with  corn,  wre.i 
he  announced  to  his  father  his  intention  to  leave 
home,  and  to  go  out  into  the  world  and  seek  his  for- 
tune. Little  did  he  or  his  friends  imagine  how  bril- 
liant that  fortune  was  to  be.  He  saw  the  value  of 
education  and  was  intensely  earnest  to  improve  his 
mind  to  the  utmost  of  his  power.  He  saw  the  ruin 
which  aident  spirits  were  causing,  and  became 
strictly  temperate;  refusing  to  allow  a  drop  of  intoxi- 
cating liquor  to  pass  his  lips.  And  he  had  read  in 
God's  word,  "Thou  shall  not  take  the  name  of  the 
Lord  thy  God  in  vain ;"  and  a  profane  expression  he 
was  never  heard  to  utter.  Religion  he  revered.  His 
morals  were  pure,  and  he  was  uncontaminated  by  a 
single  vice. 

Young  Abraham  worked  for  a  time  as  a  hired  laborer 
among  the  farmers.  Then  he  went  to  Springfield, 
where  he  was  employed  in  building  a  large  flat-boat. 
Tn  this  he  took  a  herd  of  swine,  floated  them  down 
ilie  Sangamon  to  the  Illinois,  and  thence  by  the  Mis- 
sissippi to  New  Orleans.  Whatever  Abraham  Lin- 
coln undertook,  he  performed  so  faithfully  as  to  give 
great  satisfaction  to  his  employers.  In  this  advcn- 


8o 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 


ture  his  employers  were  so  well  pleased,  that  upon 
his  return  tiiey  placed  a  store  and  mill  under  his  care. 

In  1832,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  he 
enlisted  and  was  chosen  captain  of  a  company.  He 
returned  to  Sangamon  County,  and  although  only  23 
years  of  age,  was  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature,  but 
was  defeated.  He  soon  after  received  from  Andrew 
Jackson  the  appointment  of  Postmaster  of  New  Salem, 
His  only  post-office  was  his  hat.  All  the  letters  he 
received  he  carried  there  ready  to  deliver  to  those 
he  chanced  to  meet.  He  studied  surveying,  and  soon 
made  this  his  business.  In  1834  he  again  became  a 
candidate  for  the  Legislature,  and  was  elected  Mr. 
Stiiart,  of  Springfield,  advised  him  to  study  law.  He 
walked  from  New  Salem  to  Springfield,  borrowed  of 
.\it.  Stuart  a  load  of  books,  carried  them  back  and 
!jega.n  his  legal  studies.  When  the  Legislature  as- 
sjiuhled  he  trudged  on  foot  with  his  pack  on  his  back 
o  .e  hundred  miles  to  Vandalia,  then  the  capital.  In 
1836  he  was  re-elected  to  the  Legislature.  Here  it 
was  he  first  met  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  In  1839  he  re- 
moved to  Springfield  and  began  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  with  the  jury  was  so  great  that  he  was 
soon  engaged  in  almost  every  noted  case  in  the  circuit. 

In  1854  the  great  discussion  began  between  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  Mr.  Douglas,  on  the  slavery  question. 
In  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  in  Illinois, 
in  1856,  he  took  an  active  part,  and  at  once  became 
one  of  the  leaders  in  that  party.  Mr.  Lincoln's 
speeches  in  opposition  to  Senatpr  Douglas  in  the  con- 
test in  1858  for  a  seat  in  the  Senate,  form  a  most 
notable  part  of  his  history.  The  issue  was  on  the 
slavery  question,  and  he  took  the  broad  ground  of 
.he  Declaration  of  Independence,  that  all  men  are 
created  equal.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  defeated  in  this  con- 
test, but  won  a  far  higher  prize. 

The  great  Republican  Convention  met  at  Chicago 
on  the  r6th  of  June,  1860.  The  delegates  and 
strangers  who  crowded  the  city  amounted  to  twenty- 
five  thousand.  An  immense  building  called  "The 
Wigwam,"  was  reared  to  accommodate  the  Conven- 
tion. There  were  eleven  candidates  for  whom  votes 
were  thrown.  William  H  Seward,  a  man  whose  fame 
as  a  statesman  had  long  filled  the  land,  was  the  most 
orominent.  It  was  generally  supposed  he  would  be 
the  nominee.  Abraham  Lincoln,  however,  received 
the  nomination  on  the  third  ballot.  Little  did  he  then 
dream  of  the  weary  years  of  toil  and  care,  and  the 
bloody  death,  to  which  that  nomination  doomed  him : 
and  as  little  did  he  dream  that  he  was  to  render  services 
to  his  country,  which  would  fix  upon  him  the  eyes  of 
the  whole  civilized  world,  and  which  would  give  him 
a  place  in  the  affections  of  his  countrymen,  second 
only,  if  second,  to  that  of  Washington. 

Election  day  came  and  Mr.  Lincoln  received  180 
electoral  votes  out  of  203  cast,  and  was,  therefore, 
constitutionally  elected  President  of  the  United  States. 
The  tirade  of  abuse  that  was  poured  upon  this  good 


and  merciful  man,  especially  by  the  slaveholders,  was 
greater  than  upon  any  other  man  ever  elected  to  this 
high  position.  In  February,  1861,  Mr.  Lincoln  started 
for  Washington,  stopping  in  all  the  large  cities  on  his 
way  making  speeches.  The  whole  journey  was  frouglu 
with  much  danger.  Many  of  the  Southern  States  had 
already  seceded,  and  several  attempts  at  assassination 
were  afterwards  brought  to  light.  A  gang  in  Balti- 
more had  arranged,  upon  his  arrival  to"  get  up  a  row," 
and  in  the  confusion  to  make  sure  of  his  death  with 
revolvers  and  hand-grenades.  A  detective  unravelled 
the  plot.  A  secret  and  special  train  was  provided  to 
take  him  from  Harrisburg,  through  Baltimore,  at  an 
unexpected  hour  of  the  night.  The  train  started  at 
half-past  ten  ;  and  to  prevent  auy  possible  communi- 
cation on  the  part  ot  the  Secessionists  with  their  Con- 
federate gang  in  Baltimore,  as  soon  as  the  train  had 
started  the  telegraph-wires  were  cut.  Mr.  Lincoln 
reached  Washington  in  safety  and  was  inaugurated, 
although  great  anxiety  was  felt  by  all  loyal  people. 

In  the  selection  of  his  cabinet  Mr.  Lincoln  gave 
to  Mr.  Seward  the  Department  of  State,  and  to  other 
prominent  opponents  before  the  convention  he  gave 
important  positions. 

During  no  other  administration  have  the  duties 
devolving  upon  the  President  been  so  manifold,  and 
the  responsibilities  so  great,  as  those  which  fell  to 
the  lot  of  President  Lincoln.  Knowing  this,  and 
feeling  his  own  weakness  and  inability  to  meet,  and  in 
his  own  strength  to  cope  with,  the  difficulties,  he 
learned  early  to  seek  Divine  wisdom  and  guidance  in 
determining  his  plans,  and  Divine  comfort  in  all  his 
trials,  bo^h  personal  and  national  Contrary  to  his 
own  estimate  of  himself,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  one  of  the 
most  courageous  of  men.  He  went  directly  into  the 
rebel  capital  just  as  the  retreating  foe  was  leaving, 
with  no  guard  but  a  few  sailors.  From  the  time  he 
had  left  Springfield,  in  1861,  however,  plans  had  been 
made  for  his  assassination,and  he  at  last  fell  a  victim 
to  one  of  them.  April  14,  1865,  he,  with  Gen.  Grant, 
was  urgently  invited  to  attend  Fords'  Theater.  It 
was  announced  that  they  would  Le  present.  Gen. 
Grant,  however,  left  the  city.  President  Lincoln,  feel- 
ing, witn  his  characteristic  kindliness  of  heart,  that 
it  would  be  a  disappointment  if  he  should  fail  them, 
very  reluctantly  consented  to  go.  While  listening  to 
the  play  an  actor  by  the  name  of  John  Wilkes  Booth 
entered  the  box  where  the  President  and  family  were 
seated,  and  fired  a  bullet  into  his  brains.  He  died  the 
next  morning  at  seven  o'clock. 

Never  before,  in  the  history  of  the  world  was  a  nation 
plunged  into  such  deep  grief  by  the  death  of  its  ruler 
Strong  men  met  in  the  streets  and  wept  in  speechless 
anguish.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  a  nation  was 
in  tears.  His  was  a  life  which  will  fitly  become  a 
model.  His  name  as  the  savior  of  his  country  will 
live  with  that  of  Washington's,  its  father;  hisc^vintry- 
men  being  unable  to  decide  whii-h  is  tl-y  greater. 


S£  VENTEENTH  PRESIDENT, 


NDREW  JOHNSON,  seven- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
States.  The  early  life  of 
Andrew  Johnson  contains  but 
the  record  of  poverty,  destitu- 
tion and  friendlessness.  He 
was  born  December  29,  1808, 
in  Raleigh,  N.  C.  His  parents, 
belonging  to  the  class  of  the 
"poor  whites  "  of  the  South,  were 
in  such  circumstances,  that  they 
could  not  confer  even  the  slight- 
est advantages  of  education  upon 
their  child.  When  Andrew  was  five 
years  of  age,  his  father  accidentally 
lost  his  life  while  herorically  endeavoring  to  save  a 
friend  from  drowning.  Until  ten  years  of  age,  Andrew 
was  a  ragged  boy  about  the  streets,  supported  by  the 
labor  of  his  mother,  who  obtained  her  living  with 
her  own  hands. 

He  then,  having  never  attended  a  school  one  day, 
and  being  unable  either  to  read  or  write,  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  tailor  in  his  native  town.  A  gentleman 
was  in  the  habit  of  going  to  the  tailor's  shop  occasion- 
ally, and  reading  to  the  boys  at  work  there.  He  often 
read  from  the  speeches  of  distinguished  British  states- 
men. Andrew,  who  was  endowed  with  a  mind  of  more 
than  ordinary  native  ability,  became  much  interested 
in  these  speeches ;  his  ambition  was  roused,  and  he 
was  inspired  with  a  strong  desire  to  learn  to  read. 

He  accordingly  applied  himself  to  the  alphabet,  and 
with  the  assistance  of  some  of  his  fellow-workmen, 
learned  his  letters.  He  then  called  upon  the  gentle- 
man to  borrow  the  book  of  speeches.  The  owner, 


pleased  with  his  zeal,  not  only  gave  him  the  booic 
but  assisted  him  in  learning  to  combine  the  letter: 
into  words.  Under  such  difficulties  he  pressed  o;_ 
ward  laboriously,  spending  usually  ten  or  twelve  hours 
at  work  in  the  shop,  and  then  robbing  himself  of  rest 
and  recreation  to  devote  such  time  as  he  could  to 
reading. 

He  went  to  Tennessee  in  1826,  and  located  at 
Greenville,  where  he  married  a  young  lady  who  pos 
sessed  some  education.  Under  her  instructions  he 
learned  to  write  and  cipher.  He  became  prominent 
in  the  village  debating  society,  and  a  favorite  with 
the  students  of  Greenville  College.  In  1828,  he  or- 
ganized a  working  man's  party,  which  elected  him 
alderman,  and  in  1830  elected  him  mayor,  which 
position  he  held  three  years. 

He  now  began  to  take  a  lively  interest  in  political 
affairs ;  identifying  himself  with  the  working-classes, 
to  which  he  belonged.  In  1835,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Tennes- 
see. He  was  then  just  twenty-seven  years  of  age. 
He  became  a  very  active  member  of  the  legislature, 
gave  his  adhesion  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  in 
1840  "stumped  the  State,"  advocating  Martin  ^  an 
Buren's  claims  to  the  Presidency,  in  opposition  to  thosv 
of  Gen.  Harrison.  In  this  campaign  he  acquired  much 
readiness  as  a  speaker,  and  extended  and  increased 
his  reputation. 

In  1841,  he  was  elected  State  Senator;  in  1843,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  Congress,  and  by  successive 
elections,  held  that  important  post  for  ten  years.  In 
1853,  he  was  elected  Governor  of  Tennessee,  and 
was  re-elected  in  1855.  In  all  these  res]X>nsible  posi- 
tions, he  discharged  his  duties  with  distinguished  abi. 


84 


ANDREW  JOHNSON. 


ity,  and  proved  himself  the  warm  friend  of  the  work- 
ing classes.  In  1857,  Mr.  Johnson  was  elected 
United  States  Senator. 

Years  before,  in  1845,  he  had  warmly  advocated 
the  annexation  of  Texas,  stating  however,  as  his 
reason,  that  he  thought  this  annexation  would  prob- 
ably prove  "  to  be  the  gateway  out  of  which  the  sable 
sons  of  Africa  are  to  pass  from  bondage  to  freedom, 
and  become  merged  in  a  population  congenial  to 
themselves."  In  1850,  he  also  supported  the  com- 
promise measures,  the  two  essential  features  of  which 
were,  that  the  white  people  of  the  Territories  should 
be  permitted  to  decide  for  themselves  whether  they 
would  enslave  the  colored  people  or  not,  and  that 
the  *ree  States  of  the  North  should  return  to  the 
South  persons  who  attempted  to  escape  from  slavery. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  never  ashamed  of  his  lowly  origin: 
on  the  contrary,  he  often  took  pride  in  avowing  that 
he  owed  his  distinction  to  his  own  exertions.  "Sir," 
said  he  on  the  floor  of  the  Senate,  "  I  do  not  forget 
that  I  am  a  mechanic ;  neither  do  I  forget  that  Adam 
was  a  tailor  and  sewed  fig-leaves,  and  that  our  SaV- 
ior  was  the  son  of  a  carpenter." 

In  the  Charleston- Baltimore  convention  of  i8uj,  ne 
wa.s  the  choice  of  the  Tennessee  Democrats  for  the 
Presidency.  In  1861,  when  the  purpose  of  the  South- 
2rn  Democracy  became  apparent,  he  took  a  decided 
Stand  in  favor  of  the  Union,  and  held  that  "  slavery 
must  be  held  subordinate  to  the  Union  at  whatever 
cost."  He  returned  to  Tennessee,  and  repeatedly 
imperiled  his  own  life  to  protect  the  Unionists  of 
Tennesee.  Tennessee  having  seceded  from  the 
Union,  President  Lincoln,  on  March  4th,  1862,  ap- 
pointed him  Military  Governor  of  the  State,  and  he 
established  the  most  stringent  military  rule.  His 
numerous  proclamations  attracted  wide  attention.  In 

1864,  he  was  elected  Vice-President  of  the    United 
States,  and  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  April   15, 

1865,  became  President.     In  a  speech  two  days  later 
he  said,  "  The  American  people  must  be   taught,   if 
they  do  not  already  feel,  that  treason  is  a  crime  and 
must  be  punished ;  that   the     Government  will    not 
always  bear  with  its  enemies ;  that  it  is   strong   not 
only  to  protect,  but   to    punish.     *     *     The  people 
must  understand  that  it  (treason)  is  the   blackest   of 
crimes,  and  will  surely  be  punished."    Yet  his  whole 
administration,  the  history  of  which  is  so  well  known, 
was  in  utter  inconsistency  with,  and  the  most  violent 


opposition  to.  the  principles  laid  down  in  that  speech. 

In  his  loose  policy  of  reconstruction  and  general 
amnesty,  he  was  opposed  by  Congress ;  and  he  char- 
acterized Congress  as  a  new  rebellion,  and  lawlessly 
defied  it,  in  everything  possible,  to  the  utmost.  In 
the  beginning  of  1868,  on  account  of  "high  crimes 
and  misdemeanors,"  the  principal  of  which  was  the 
removal  of  Secretary  Stanton,  in  violation  of  the  Ten- 
ure of  Office  Act,  articles  of  impeachment  were  pre- 
ferred against  him,  and  the  trial  began  March  23. 

It  was  very  tedious,  continuing  for  nearly  three 
months.  A  test  article  of  the  impeachment  was  at 
length  submitted  to  the  court  for  its  action.  It  was 
certain  that  as  the  court  voted  upon  that  article  so 
would  it  vote  upon  all.  Thirty-four  voices  pronounced 
the  President  guilty.  As  a  two-thirds  vote  was  neces- 
sary to  his  condemnation,  he  was  pronounced  ac- 
quitted, notwithstanding  the  great  majority  against 
him.  The  change  of  one  vote  from  the  not  guilty 
side  would  have  sustained  the  impeachment. 

The  President,  for  the  remainder  of  his  term,  was 
but  little  regarded.  He  continued,  though  impotent!;-; 
his  conflict  with  Congress.  His  own  party  did  not 
think  it  expedient  to  renominate  him  for  the  Presi- 
dency. The  Nation  rallied,  with  enthusiasm  unpar- 
alleled since  the  day  s  of  Washington,  around  the  name 
of  Gen.  Grant.  Andrew  Johnson  was  forgotten. 
The  bullet  of  the  assassin  introduced  him  to  the 
President's  chair.  Notwithstanding  this,  never  was 
there  presented  to  a  man  a  better  opportunity  to  im- 
mortalize his  name,  and  to  win  the  gratitude  of  a 
nation.  He  failed  utterly.  He  retired  to  his  home 
in  Greenville,  Tenn.,  taking  no  very  active  part  in 
politics  until  1875.  On  Jan.  26,  after  an  exciting 
struggle,  he  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  of  Ten- 
nessee, United  States  Senator  in  the  forty-fourth  Con- 
gress, and  took  his  seat  in  that  body,  at  the  special 
session  convened  by  President  Grant,  on  the  5th  of 
March.  On  the  27th  of  July,  1875,  the  ex-President 
made  a  visit  to  his  daughter's  home,  near  Carter 
Station,  Tenn.  When  he  started  on  his  journey,  he  was 
apparently  in  his  usual  vigorous  health,  but  on  reach- 
ing the  residence  of  his  child  the  following  day,  was 
stricken  with  paralysis,  rendering  him  unconscious. 
He  rallied  occasionally,  but  finally  passed  away  at 
2  A.M.,  July  31,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  His  fun- 
eral was  attended  at  Geenville,  on  the  3d  of  August, 
with  every  demonstration  of  respect. 


EIGHTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


LYSSES  S.  GRANT,  the 
eighteenth  President  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  on 
the  2Qth  of  April,  1822,  of 
4"  Christian  parents,  in  a  humble 
home,  at  Point  Pleasant,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio.  Shortly  after 
his  father  moved  to  George- 
town, Brown  Co.,  O.  In  this  re- 
mote frontier  hamlet,  Ulysses 
received  a  common-school  edu- 
cation. At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, in  the  year  1839,  he  entered 
the  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point.  Here  he  was  regarded  as  a 
solid,  sensible  young  man  of  fair  abilities,  and  of 
sturdy,  honest  character.  He  took  respectable  rank 
as  a  scholar.  In  June,  1843,  he  graduated,  about  the 
middle  in  his  class,  and  was  sent  as  lieutenant  of  in- 
fantry to  one  of  the  distant  military  posts  in  the  Mis- 
souri Territory.  Two  years  he  past  in  these  dreary 
solitudes,  watching  the  vagabond  and  exasperating 
Indians. 

The  war  with  Mexico  came.  Lieut.  Grant  was 
sent  with  his  regiment  to  Corpus  Christi.  His  first 
battle  was  at  Palo  Alto.  There  was  no  chance  here 
for  the  exhibition  of  either  skill  or  heroism,  nor  at 
Resaca  de  la  Palma,  his  second  battle.  At  the  battle 
of  Monterey,  his  third  engagement,  it  is  said  that 
he  performed  a  signal  service  of  daring  and  skillful 
horsemanship.  His  brigade  had  exhausted  its  am- 
munition. A  messenger  must  be  sent  for  more,  along 
a  route  exposed  to  the  bullets  of  the  foe.  Lieut. 
Grant,  adopting  an  expedient  learned  of  the  Indians, 
grasped  the  mane  of  his  horse,  and  hanging  upon  one 
side  of  the  anip^al,  ran  the  gauntlet  in  entire  safety. 


From  Monterey  he  was  sent,  with  the  fourth  infantry, 
vo  aid  Gen.  Scott,  at  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz.  In 
preparation  for  the  march  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  he 
was  appointed  quartermaster  of  his  regiment.  At  the 
battle  of  Molino  del  Rey,  he  was  promoted  to  a 
first  lieutenancy,  and  was  brevetted  captain  at  Cha- 
pultepec. 

At  the  close  of  the  Mexican  War,  Capt.  Grant  re- 
turned with  his  regiment  to  New  York,  and  was  again 
sent  to  one  of  the  military  posts  on  the  frontier.  The 
discovery  of  gold  in  California  causing  an  immense 
tide  of  emigration  to  flow  to  the  Pacific  shores,  Capt. 
Grant  was  sent  with  a  battalion  to  Fort  Dallas,  in 
Oregon,  for  the  protection  of  the  interests  of  the  im- 
migrants. Life  was  wearisome  in  those  wilds.  Capt. 
Grant  resigned  his  commission  and  returned  to  the 
States;  and  having  married,  entered  upon  the  cultiva- 
tion of  a  small  farm  near  St.  Louis,  Mo.  He  had  but 
little  skill  as  a  farmer.  Finding  his  toil  not  re- 
munerative, he  turned  to  mercantile  life,  entering  into 
the  leather  business,  with  a  younger  brother,  at  Ga- 
lena, 111.  This  was  in  the  year  1860.  As  the  tidings 
of  the  rebels  firing  on  Fort  Sumpter  reached  the  ears 
of  Capt.  Grant  in  his  counting-room,  he  said, — 
"  Uncle  Sam  has  educated  me  for  the  army ;  though 
I  have  served  him  through  one  war,  I  do  not  feel  that 
I  have  yet  repaid  the  debt.  I  am  still  ready  to  discharge 
my  obligations.  I  shall  therefore  buckle  on  my  sword 
and  see  Uncle  Sam  through  this  war  too." 

He  went  into  the  streets,  raised  a  company  of  vol- 
unteers, and  led  them  as  their  captain  to  Springfield, 
the  capital  of  the  State,  where  their  services  were 
offered  to  Gov.  Yates.  The  Governor,  impressed  by 
the  zeal  and  straightforward  executive  ability  of  Capt. 
Grant,  gave  him  a  desk  in  his  office,  to  assist  in  the 
volunteer  organization  that  was  being  formed  in  the 
State  in  behalf  of  the  Government.  On  the  15  th  of 


UL  YSSES  S.  GRA  NT. 


June,  1 86 1,  Capt.  Grant  received  a  commission  as 
Colonel  of  the  Twenty-first  Regiment  of  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers. His  merits  as  a  West  Point  graduate,  who 
had  served  for  15  years  in  the  regular  army,  were  such 
that  he  was  soon  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier- 
General  and  was  placed  in  command  at  Cairo.  The 
rebels  raised  their  banner  at  Paducah,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Tennessee  River.  Scarcely  had  its  folds  ap- 
peared in  the  breeze  ere  Gen.  Grant  was  there.  The 
rebels  fled.  Their  banner  fell,  and  the  star  and 
stripes  were  unfurled  in  its  stead. 

He  entered  the  service  with  great  determination 
and  immediately  began  active  duty.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning, and  until  the  surrender  of  Lee  at  Richmond 
he  was  ever  pushing  the  enemy  with  great  vigor  and 
effectiveness.  At  Belmont,  a  few  days  later,  he  sur- 
prised and  routed  the  rebels,  then  at  Fort  Henry 
won  another  victory.  Then  came  the  brilliant  fight 
at  Fort  Donelson.  The  nation  was  electrified  by  the 
victory,  and  the  brave  leader  of  the  boys  in  blue  was 
immediately  made  a  Major-General,  and  the  military 
district  of  Tennessee  was  assigned  to  him. 

Like  all  great  captains,  Gen.  Grant  knew  well  how 
to  secure  the  results  of  victory.  He  immediately 
pushed  on  to  the  enemies'  lines.  Then  came  the 
terrible  battles  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  Corinth,  and  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  where  Gen.  Pemberton  made  an 
unconditional  surrender  of  the  city  with  over  thirty 
thousand  men  and  one-hundred  and  seventy-two  can- 
non. The  fall  of  Vicksburg  was  by  far  the  most 
severe  blow  which  the  rebels  had  thus  far  encountered, 
and  opened  up  the  Mississippi  from  Cairo  to  the  Gulf. 

Gen.  Grant  was  next  ordered  to  co-operate  with 
Gen.  Banks  in  a  movement  upon  Texas,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  New  Orleans,  where  he  was  thrown  from 
his  horse,  and  received  severe  injuries,  from  which  he 
was  laid  up  for  months.  He  then  rushed  tc  the  aid 
of  Gens.  Rosecrans  and  Thomas  at  Chattanooga,  and 
by  a  wonderful  series  of  strategic  and  technical  meas- 
ures put  the  Union  Army  in  fighting  condition.  Then 
followed  the  bloody  battles  at  Chattanooga,  Lookout 
Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge,  in  which  the  rebels 
were  routed  with  great  loss.  This  won  for  him  un- 
bounded praise  in  the  North.  On  the  4th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1864,  Congress  revived  the  grade  of  lieutenant- 
general,  and  the  rank  was  conferred  on  Gen.  Grant. 
He  repaired  to  Washington  to  receive  his  credentials 
a.:id  enter  upon  !b<"  duties  of  his  new  office. 


Gen.  Grant  decided  as  soon,  as  he  took  charge  of 
the  army  to  concentrate  the  widely-dispersed  National 
troops  for  an  attack  upon  Richmond,  the  nominal 
capital  of  the  Rebellion,  and  endeavor  there  to  de- 
stroy the  rebel  armies  which  would  be  promptly  as- 
sembled from  all  quarters  for  its  defence.  The  whole 
continent  seemed  to  tremble  under  the  tramp  of  these 
majestic  armies,  rushing  to  the  decisive  battle  field. 
Steamers  were  crowded  with  troops.  Railway  trains 
were  burdened  with  closely  packed  thousands.  His 
plans  were  comprehensive  and  involved  a  series  of 
campaigns,  which  were  executed  with  remarkable  en- 
ergy and  ability,  and  were  consummated  at  the  sur- 
render of  Lee,  April  9,  1865. 

The  war  was  ended.  The  Union  was  saved.  The 
almost  unanimous  voice  of  the  Nation  declared  Gen. 
Grant  to  be  the  most  prominent  instrument  in  its  sal- 
vation. The  eminent  services  he  had  thus  rendered 
the  country  brought  him  conspicuously  forward  as  the 
Republican  candidate  for  the  Presidential  chair. 

At  the  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago, 
May  21,  1868,  he  was  unanimously  nominated  for  the 
Presidency,  and  at  the  autumn  election  received  a 
majority  of  the  popular  vote,  and  214  out  of  294 
electoral  votes. 

The  National  Convention  of  the  Republican  party 
which  met  at  Philadelphia  on  the  5th  of  June,  1872, 
placed  Gen.  Grant  in  nomination  for  a  second  term 
by  a  unanimous  vote.  The  selection  was  emphati- 
cally indorsed  by  the  people  five  months  later,  292 
electoral  votes  being  cast  for  him. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  his  second  term,  Gen.  Grant 
started  upon  his  famous  trip  around  the  world.  He 
visited  almost  every  country  of  the  civilized  world, 
and  was  everywhere  received  with  such  ovations 
and  demonstrations  of  respect  and  honor,  private 
as  well  as  public  and  official,  as  were  never  before 
bestowed  upon  any  citizen  of  the  United  States. 

He  was  the  most  prominent  candidate  before  the 
Republican  National  Convention  in  1880  for  a  re- 
nomination  for  President.  He  went  to  New  York  and 
embarked  in  the  brokerage  business  under  the  firm 
nameof  Grant  &  Ward.  The  latter  proved  a  villain, 
wrecked  Grant's  fortune,  and  for  larceny  was  sent  to 
the  penitentiary.  The  General  was  attacked  with 
cancer  in  the  throat,  but  suffered  in  his  stoic-like 
manner,  never  complaining.  He  was  re-instated  as 
General  of  the  Army  and  retired  by  Congress.  The 
cancer  soon  finished  its  deadly  work,  and  July  23, 
r885,  the  nation  went  in  mourning  over  the  death  of 
the  illustrious  General. 


,^i 


NINETEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


»       TEIf  ZR  !\P15r! 
&4     J3LJIL  J|   JJ: 


UTHERFORD  B.  HAYES, 
the  nineteenth  President  of 
the  United  States,  was  born  in 
Delaware,  O.;  Oct.  4,  1822,  al- 
most three  months  after  the 
death  of  his  father,  Rutherford 
Hayes.  His  ancestry  on  both 
the  paternal  and  maternal  sides, 
was  of  the  most  honorable  char- 
acter. It  can  be  traced,  it  is  said, 
as  farbackas  1280,  when  Hayes  and 
Rutherford  were  two  Scottish  chief- 
tains,' fighting  side  by  side  with 
Baliol,  William  Wallace  and  Robert 
Bruce.  Both  families  belonged  to  the 
nobility,  owned  extensive  estates, 
and  had  a  large  following.  Misfor- 
tune ovt-r<aking  the  family,  George  Hayes  left  Scot- 
land in  i6<So,  and  settled  in  Windsor,  Conn.  His  son 
George  was.  born  in  Windsor,  and  remained  there 
during  his  life.  Daniel  Hayes,  son  of  the  latter,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Lee,  and  lived  from  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage until  his  death  in  Simsbury,  Conn.  Ezekiel, 
son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  1724,  and  was  a  manufac- 
turer of  scythe;!  at  Bradford,  Conn.  Rutherford  Hayes, 
son  of  Ezekiel  ai<d  grandfather  of  President  Hayes,  was 
born  inNewHaven,  in  August,  1756.  He  was  a  farmer, 
blacksmith  and  tavern-keeper.  He  emigrated  to 
Vermont  at  an  unknown  date,  settling  in  Brattleboro, 
where  he  established  a  hotel.  Here  his  son  Ruth- 
erford Hayes  the  father  of  President  Hayes,  was 


born.  He  was  married,  in  September,  1813,  to  Sophia 
Birchard,  of  Wilmington,  Vt.,  whose  ancestors  emi- 
grated thither  from  Connecticut,  they  having  been 
among  the  wealthiest  and  best  famlies  of  Norwich. 
Her  ancestry  on  the  male  side  are  traced  back  to 
1635,  to  John  Birchard,  one  of  the  principal  founders 
of  Norwich.  Both  of  her  grandfathers  were  soldiers 
in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

The  father  of  President  Hayes  was  an  industrious, 
frugal  and  opened-hearted  man.  He  was  of  a  me 
chanical  turn,  and  could  mend  a  plow,  knit  a  stock- 
ing, or  do  almost  anything  else  that  he  choose  to 
undertake.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Church,  active 
in  all  the  benevolent  enterprises  of  the  town,  and  con- 
ducted his  business  on  Christian  principles.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  of  1812,  for  reasons  inexplicable 
to  his  neighbors,  he  resolved  to  emigrate  to  Ohio. 

The  journey  from  Vermont  to  Ohio  in  that  day, 
when  there  were  no  canals,  steamers,  nor  railways, 
was  a  very  serious  affair.  A  tour  of  inspection  was 
first  made,  occupying  four  months.  Mr.  Hayes  deter- 
mined to  move  to  Delaware,  where  the  family  arrived 
in  1817.  He  died  July  22,  1822,  a  victim  of  malarial 
fever,  less  than  three  months  before  the  birth  of  the 
son,  of  whom  we  now  write.  Mrs.  Hayes,  in  her  sore  be- 
reavement, found  the  support  she  so  much  needed  in 
her  brother  Sardis,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the 
household  from  the  day  of  its  departure  from  Ver- 
mont, and  in  an  orphan  girl  whom  she  had  adopted 
some  time  before  as  an  act  of  charity. 

Mrs.  Hayes  at  this  period  was  very  weak,  and  the 


92 


RUTHERFORD  JB.  HAYES. 


subject  of  this  sketch  was  so  feeble  at  birth  that  he 
was  not  expected  to  live  beyond  a  month  or  two  at 
most.  As  the  months  went  by  he  grew  weaker  and 
weaker,  so  that  the  neighbors  were  in  the  habit  of  in- 
quiring from  time  to  time  "  if  Mrs.  Haves'  baby  died 
last  night."  On  one  occasion  a  neighbor,  who  was  on 
familiar  terms  with  the  family,  after  alluding  to  the 
boy's  big  head,  and  the  mother's  assiduous  care  of 
mm,  said  in  a  bantering  way,  "  That's  right !  Stick  to 
him.  You  have  got  him  along  so  far,  and  I  shouldn't 
wonder  if  he  would  really  come  to  something  yet." 

"  You  r.eed  not  laugh,"  said  Mrs.  Hayes.  "  You 
vait  and  see.  You  can't  tell  but  I  shall  make  him 
President  of  the  United  States  yet."  The  boy  lived, 
in  spite  of  the  universal  predictions  of  his  speedy 
death;  and  when,  in  1825,  his  older  brother  was 
drowned,  he  became,  if  possible,  still  dearer  to  his 
mother. 

The  boy  was  seven  years  old  before  he  went  to 
school.  His  education,  however,  was  not  neglected. 
He  probably  learned  as  much  from  his  mother  and 
sister  as  he  would  have  done  at  school.  His  sports 
were  almost  wholly  within  doors,  his  playmates  being 
his  sister  and  her  associates.  These  circumstances 
tended,  no  doubt,  to  foster  that  gentleness  of  dispo- 
sition, and  that  delicate  consideration  for  the  feelings 
of  others,  which  are  marked  traits  of  his  character. 

His  uncle  Sardis  Birchard  took  the  deepest  interest 
in  his  education ;  and  as  the  boy's  health  had  im- 
proved, and  he  was  making  good  progress  in  his 
studies,  he  proposed  to  send  him  to  college.  His  pre- 
paration commenced  with  a  tutor  at  home;  but  he 
was  afterwards  sent  for  one  year  to  a  professor  in  the 
Wesleyan  University,  in  Middletown,  Conn.  He  en- 
tered Kenyon  College  in  1838,  at  the  age  of  sixteen, 
and  was  graduated  at  the  head  of  his  class  in  1842. 

Immediately  after  his  graduation  he  began  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Thomas  Sparrow,  Esq., 
in  Columbus.  Finding  his  opportunities  for  study  in 
Columbus  somewhat  limited,  he  determined  to  enter 
the  Law  School  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years. 

In  1845,  after  graduating  at  the  Law  School,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  shortly 
afterward  went  into  practice  as  an  attorney-at-Iaw 
with  Ralph  P.  Buckland,  of  Fremont.  Here  he  re- 
mained three  years,  acquiring  but  a  limited  practice, 
and  apparently  unambitious  of  distinction  in  his  pro- 
fession. 

In  1849  he  moved  to  Cincinnati,  where  his  ambi- 
tion found  a  new  stimulus.  For  several  years,  how- 
ever, his  progress  was  slow.  Two  events,  occurring  at 
this  period,  had  a  powerful  influence  upon  his  subse- 
quent life.  One  of  these  was  his  marrage  with  Miss 
Lucy  Ware  Webb,  daughter  of  Dr.  James  Webb,  of 
Chilicothe;  the  other  was  his  introduction  to  the  Cin- 
cinnati Literary  Club,  a  body  embracing  among  its 
members  suck  men  as^hief  Justice  Salmon  P.  Chase, 


Gen.  John  Pope,  Gov.  Edward  F.  Noyes,  and  many 
others  hardly  less  distinguished  in  after  life.  The 
marriage  was  a  fortunate  one  in  every  respect,  as 
everybody  knows.  Not  one  of  all  the  wives  of  our 
Presidents  was  more  universally  admired,  reverenced 
and  beloved  than  was  Mrs.  Hayes,  and  no  one  did 
more  than  she  to  reflect  honor  upon  American  woman- 
hood. The  Literary  Cluo  brought  Mr.  Hayes  into 
constant  association  with  young  men  of  high  char- 
acter and  noble  aims,  and  lured  him  to  display  the 
qualities  so  long  hidden  by  his  bashfulness  and 
modesty. 

In  1856  he  was  nominated  to  the  office  of  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas;  but  he  declined  to  ac- 
cept the  nomination.  Two  years  later,  the  office  of 
city  solicitor  becoming  vacant,  the  City  Council 
elected  him  for  the  unexpired  term. 

In  1861,  when  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  he  was  at 
the  zenith  of  his  professional  life.  His  rank  at  the 
bar  was  among  the  the  first.  But  the  news  of  the 
attack  on  Fort  Sumpter  found  him  eager  to  take  up 
arms  for  the  defense  of  his  country. 

His  military  record  was  bright  and  illustrious.  In 
October,  1861,  he  was  made  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and 
in  August,  1862,  promoted  Colonel  of  the  791)1  Ohio 
regiment,  but  he"  refused  to  leave  his  old  comrades 
and  go  among  strangers.  Subsequently,  however,  he 
was  made  Colonel  of  his  old  regiment.  At  the  battle 
of  South  Mountain  he  received  a  wound,  and  while 
faint  and  bleeding  displayed  courage  and  fortitude 
that  won  admiration  from  all. 

Col.  Hayes  was  detached  from  his  regiment,  after 
his  recovery,  to  act  as  Brigadier-General,  and  placed 
in  command  of  the  celebrated  Kanawha  division, 
and  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  in  the  battles 
of  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek,  he  was 
promoted  Brigadier-General.  He  was  also  brevetted 
Major-General,  "for gallant  and  distinguished  services 
during  the  campaigns  of  1864,  in  West  Virginia."  In 
the  course  of  his  arduous  services,  four  horses  were 
shot  from  under  him,  and  he  was  wounded  four  times. 

In  1864,  Gen.  Hayes  was  elected  to  Congress,  from 
the  Second  Ohio  District,  which  had  long  been  Dem- 
ocratic. He  was  not  present  during  the  campaign, 
and  after  his  election  was  importuned  to  resign  his 
commission  in  the  army  ;  but  he  finally  declared,  "  I 
shall  never  corne  to  Washington  until  I  can  come  by 
the  way  of  Richmond."  He  was  re-elected  in  1866. 

In  1867,  Gen  Hayes  was  elected  Governor  of  Ohio, 
over  Hon.  Allen  G.  Thurman,  a  popular  Democrat. 
In  1869  was  re-elected  over  George  H.  Pendleton. 
He  was  elected  Governor  for  the  third  term  in  1875. 

In  1876  he  was  the  standard  bearer  of  the  Repub- 
lican Party  in  the  Presidential  contest,  and  after  a 
hard  long  contest  was  chosen  President,  and  was  in 
augurated  Monday,  March  5,  1875.  He  served  his 
full  term,  not,  hcwever,  with  satisfaction  to  his  party, 
but  his  administration  was  an  average  one, 


TWENTIETH  PRESIDENT. 


95 


AMES  A.  GARVIELD,  twen- 
tieth President  of  the  United 
States,    was    born   Nov.    19, 
1831,  in  the  woods  of  Orange, 
Cuyahoga  Co.,  O      His    par- 
ents were  Abram  and    Eliza 
(Ballou)   Garfield,   both  of  New 
England  ancestry  and  from  fami- 
lies well  known  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  that  section  of  our  coun- 
but  had  moved  to  the  Western 
Reserve,  in  Ohio,  early  in  its  settle- 
ment. 

The  house  in  which  James  A.  was 
born  was  not  unlike  the  houses  of 
poor  Ohio  farmers  of  that  day.  It 
..as  about  20x30  feet,  built  of  logs,  with  the  spaces  be- 
.ween  the  logs  filled  with  clay.  His  father  was  a 
:iard  working  farmer,  and  he  soon  had  his  fields 
cleared,  an  orchard  planted,  and  a  log  barn  built. 
The  household  comprised  the  father  and  mother  and 
heir  four  children — Mehetabel,  Thomas,  Mary  and 
ames.  In  May,  1823,  the  father,  from  a  cold  con- 
. /acted  in  helping  to  put  out  a  forest  fire,  died.  At 
ihis  time  James  was  about  eighteen  months  old,  and 
Thomas  about  ten  years  old.  No  one,  perhaps,  can 
(ell  how  much  James  was  indebted  to  his  biother's 
ceil  and  self-sacrifice  during  the  twenty  years  suc- 
ceeding his  father's  death,  but  undoubtedly  very 
much.  He  now  lives  in  Michigan,  and  the  two  sis- 
ters live  in  Solon,  O.,  near  their  birthplace. 

The  early  educational  advantages  young  Garfield 
enjoyed  were  very  limited,  yet  he  made  the  most  of 
them.  He  labored  at  farm  work  for  others,  did  car- 
penter work,  chopped  wood,  or  did  anything  that 
would  bring  in  a  few  dollars  to  aid  his  widowed 
mother  in  he'  struggles  to  keep  the  little  family  to- 


gether. Nor  was  Gen.  Garfield  ever  ashamed  of  his 
origin,  and  he  never  forgot  the  friends  of  his  strug- 
gling childhood,  youth  and  manhood,  neither  did  they 
ever  forget  him.  When  in  the  highest  seats  of  honor, 
the  humblest  friend  of  his  boyhood  was  as  kindly 
greeted  as  ever.  The  poorest  laborer  was  sure  of  the 
sympathy  of  one  who  had  known  all  the  bitterness 
of  want  and  the  sweetness  of  bread  earned  by  the 
sweat  of  the  brow.  He  was  ever  the  simple,  plain, 
modest  gentleman. 

The  highest  ambition  of  young  Garfield  until  he 
was  about  sixteen  years  old  was  to  be  a  captain  of 
a  vessel  on  Lake  Erie.     He  was  anxious  to  go  aboard 
a  vessel,  which  his  mother  strongly  opposed.     She 
finally  consented  to  his  going  to  Cleveland,  with  the 
understanding,  however,  that  he  should  try  to  obtain 
some  other  kind  of  employment.     He  walked  all  the 
way  to  Cleveland.   This  was  his  first  visit  to  the  city. 
After  making  many  applications  for  work,  and  trying 
to  get  aboard  a   lake  vessel,  and  not  meeting  with 
success,  he  engaged  as  a  driver  for  his  cousin,  Amos 
Letcher,  on  the  Ohio  &  Pennsylvania  Canal.     He  re- 
mained at  this  work  but  a  short  time  when  he  went 
home,    and  attended   the   seminary   at   Chester  for 
about  three  years,  when  he  entered  Hiram  and  the 
Eclectic  Institute,  teaching  a  few  terms  of  school  in 
the  meantime,  and  doing  other  work.     This  school 
was  started  by  the  Disciples  of  Christ  in   1850,  of 
which  church  he  was  then  a  member.     He  became 
janitor  and  bell-ringer  in  order  to  help  pay  his  way. 
He  then  became  both  teacher  and  pupil.     He  soon 
"  exhausted  Hiram  "  and  needed  more  ;  hence,  in  the 
fall  of  1854,  he  entered  Williams  College,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1856,  taking  one  of  the  highest  hon- 
ors of  his  class.     He  afterwards  returned  to  Hiram 
College  as  its  President.     As  above  slated,  he    early 
united   with   the   Christian   or   Diciples    Church    at 
Hiram,  and  was  ever  after  a  devoted,  zealous  mem- 
ber, often  preaching  in  its  pulpit  and    places  where 
he  happened  to  be.     Dr.  Noah  Porter,  President  of 
Yale  College,  says  of  him  in  reference  to  his  relicion ; 


JAMES  A.  GARFIELD. 


"  President  Garfield  was  more  than  a  man  of 
strong  moral  and  religious  convictions.  His  whole 
history,  from  boyhood  to  the  last,  shows  that  duty  to 
man  and  to  God,  and  devotion  to  Christ  and  life  and 
faith  and  spiritual  commission  were  controlling  springs 
of  his  being,  and  to  a  more  than  usual  degree.  In 
my  judgment  there  is  no  more  interesting  feature  of 
his  character  than  his  loyal  allegiance  to  the  body  of 
Christians  in  which  he  was  trained,  and  the  fervent 
sympathy  which  he  ever  showed  in  their  Christian 
communion.  Not  many  of  the  few  'wise  and  mighty 
and  noble  who  are  called '  show  a  similar  loyalty  to 
the  less  stately  and  cultured  Christian  communions 
in  which  they  have  been  reared.  Too  often  it  is  true 
that  as  they  step  upward  in  social  and  political  sig- 
nificance they  step  upward  from  one  degree  to 
another  in  some  of  the  many  types  of  fashionable 
Christianity.  President  Garfield  adhered  to  the 
church  of  his  mother,  the  church  in  which  he  was 
trained,  and  in  which  he  served  as  a  pillar  and  an 
evangelist,  and  yet  with  the  largest  and  most  unsec- 
tarian  charity  for  all  'who  loveour  Lord  in  sincerity.'" 

Mr.  Garfield  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lucretia  Rudolph,  Nov.  1 1,  1858,  who  proved  herself 
worthy  as  the  wife  of  one  whom  all  the  world  loved  and 
mourned.  To  them  were  born  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living,  four  boys  and  one  girl. 

Mr.  Garfield  made  his  first  political  speeches  in  1856, 
in  Hiram  and  the  neighboring  villages,  and  three 
years  later  he  began  to  speak  at  county  mass-meet- 
ings, and  became  the  favorite  speaker  wherever  he 
was.  During  this  year  he  was  elected  to  the  Ohio 
Senate.  He  also  began  to  study  law  at  Cleveland, 
and  in  1861  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  The  great 
Rebellion  broke  out  in  the  early  part  of  this  year, 
and  Mr.  Garfield  at  once  resolved  to  fight  as  he  had 
talked,  and  enlisted  to  defend  the  old  flag.  He  re- 
ceived his  commission  as  Lieut. -Colonel  of  the  Forty- 
second  Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Aug. 
14,  1861.  He  was  immediately  put  into  active  ser- 
vice, and  before  he  had  ever  seen  a  gun  fired  in  action, 
was  placed  in  command  of  four  regiments  of  infantry 
and  eight  companies  of  cavalry,  charged  with  the 
work  of  driving  out  of  his  native  State  the  officer 
(Humphrey  Marshall)  reputed  to  be  the  ablest  of 
those,  not  educated  to  war  whom  Kentucky  had  given 
to  the  Rebellion.  This  work  was  bravely  and  speed- 
ily accomplished,  although  against  great  odds.  Pres- 
ident Lincoln,  on  his  success  commissioned  him 
Brigadier-General,  Jan.  10,  1862;  and  as  "he  had 
been  the  youngest  man  in  the  Ohio  Senate  two  years 
before,  so  now  he  was  the  youngest  General  in  the 
army."  He  was  with  Gen.  Buell's  army  at  Shiloh, 
in  its  operations  around  Corinth  and  its  march  through 
Alabama.  He  was  then  detailed  as  a  member  of  the 
General  Court-Martial  for  the  trial  of  Gen.  Fitz-John 
Porter.  He  was  then  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Rose- 
crans,  and  was  assigned  to  the  "Chief  of  Staff." 

The  military  history  of  Gen.  Garfield  closed  with 


his  brilliant  services  at  Chickamauga,  where  he  won 
the  stars  of  the  Major-General. 

Without  an  effort  on  his  part  Geu  Garfield  was 
elected  to  Congress  in  the  fall  of  1862  from  the 
Nineteenth  District  of  Ohio.  This  section  of  Ohio 
had  been  represented  in  Congress  for  sixty  years 
mainly  by  two  men — Elisha  Whittlesey  and  Joshua 
R.  Giddings.  It  was  not  without  a  struggle  that  he 
resigned  his  place  in  the  army.  At  the  time  he  en- 
tered Congress  he  was  the  youngest  member  in  that 
body.  There  he  remained  by  successive  re- 
elections  until  he  was  elected  President  in  1880. 
Of  his  labors  in  Congress  Senator  Hoar  says :  "  Since 
the  year  1864  you  cannot  think  of  a  question  which 
has  been  debated  in  Congress,  or  discussed  before  a 
tribunel  of  the  American  people,  in  regard  to  which 
you  will  not  find,  if  you  wish  instruction,  the  argu- 
ment on  one  side  stated,  in  almost  every  instance 
better  than  by  anybody  else,  in  some  speech  made  in 
the  House  of  Representatives  or  on  the  hustings  by 
Mr.  Garfield." 

Upon  Jan.  14,  1880,  Gen.  Garfield  was  elected  to 
the  U.  S.  Senate,  and  on  the  eighth  of  June,  of  the 
same  year,  was  nominated  as  the  candidate  of  his 
party  for  President  at  the  great  Chicago  Convention- 
He  was  elected  in  the  following  November,  and  on 
March  4,  1881,  was  inaugurated.  Probably  no  ad- 
ministration ever  opened  its  existence  under  brighter 
auspices  than  that  of  President  Garfield,  and  every 
day  it  grew  in  favor  with  the  people,  and  by  the  first 
of  July  he  had  completed  all  the  initiatory  and  pre- 
liminary work  of  his  administration  and  was  prepar- 
ing to  leave  the  city  to  meet  his  friends  at  Williams 
College.  While  on  his  way  and  at  the  depot,  in  com- 
pany with  Secretary  Elaine,  a  man  stepped  behind 
him,  drew  a  revolver,  and  fired  directly  at  his  back. 
The  President  tottered  and  fell,  and  as  he  did  so  the 
assassin  fired  a  second  shot,  the  bullet  cutting  the 
left  coat  sleeve  of  his  victim,  but  inflicting  no  further 
injury.  It  has  been  very  truthfully  said  that  this  was 
"  the  shot  that  was  heard  round  the  world  "  Never 
before  in  the  history  of  the  Nation  had  anything  oc- 
curred which  so  nearly  froze  the  blood  of  the  people 
for  the  moment,  as  this  awful  deed.  He  was  smit- 
ten on  the  brightest,  gladdest  day  of  all  his  life,  and 
was  at  the  summit  of  his  power  and  hope.  For  eighty 
days,  all  during  the  hot  months  of  July  and  August, 
he  lingered  and  suffered.  He,  however,  remained 
master  of  himself  till  the  last,  and  by  his  magnificent 
bearing  was  teaching  the  country  and  the  world  the 
noblest  of  human  lessons — how  to  live  grandly  in  the 
very  clutch  of  death.  Great  in  life,  he  was  surpass- 
ingly great  in  death.  He  passed  serenely  away  Sept. 
19,  1883,  at  Elberon,  N.  J.,  on  the  very  bank  of  the 
ocean,  where  he  had  been  taken  shortly  previous.  The 
world  wept  at  his  death,  as  it  never  had  done  on  the 
death  of  any  other  man  who  had  ever  lived  upon  it. 
The  murderer  was  duly  tried,  found  guilty  and  exe- 
cuted, in  one  year  after  he  committed  the  foul  deed. 


TWENTY-FIRST  PRESIDENT. 


HESTER      A.      ARTHUR, 
twenty-first    Presi'4— ui   of  the 
United   States,    was    born    in 
Franklin  Courty,  Vermont,  on 
thefifthofOc'ober,  1830,  and  is 
the  oldest   of  a   family    of  two 
sons  and   five   daughters.     His 
father  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  William 
Arthur,  aBaptistc'',rgyman,who 
emigrated  to  tb.s  country  from 
the  county  Antrim,  Ireland,   in 
his  i8th  year,  and  died  in  1875,  'n 
Newtonville,   neai    Albany,   after  a 
long  and  successful  ministry. 

Young  Arthur  was  educated  at 
Union  College,  S(  henectady,  where 
he  excelled  in  all  his  studies.  Af- 
ter his  graduation  he  taught  school 
in  Vermont  for  two  years,  and  at 
the  expiration  of  that  time  came  to 
New  York,  with  $500  in  his  pocket, 
and  entered  the  office  of  ex-Judge 
E.  D.  Culver  as  student.  After 
I  being  admitted  to  the  bar  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  intimate  friend  and  room-mate, 
Henry  D.  Gardiner,  with  the  intention  of  practicing 
in  the  West,  and  for  three  months  they  roamed  about 
In  the  Western  States  in  search  of  an  eligible  site, 
but  in  the  end  returned  to  New  York,  where  they 
hung  out  their  shingle,  and  entered  upon  a  success- 
ful career  almost  from  the  start.  General  Arthur 
soon  afterward  marred  the  daughter  of  Lieutenant 


Herndon,  of  the  United  States  Navy,  who  was  lost  at 
sea.  Congress  voted  a  gold  medal  to  his  widow  in 
recognition  of  the  bravery  he  displayed  on  that  occa- 
sion. Mrs.  Arthur  died  shortly  before  Mr.  Arthur's 
nomination  to  the  Vice  Presidency,  leaving  two 
children. 

Gen.  Arthur  obtained  considerable  legal  celebrity 
in  his  first  great  case,  the  famous  Lemmon  suit, 
brought  to  recover  possession  of  eight  slaves  who  had 
been  declared  free  by  Judge  Paine,  of  the  Superioi 
Court  of  New  York  City.  It  was  in  1852  that  Jon- 
athan  Lemmon,  of  Virginia,  went  to  New  York  with 
his  slaves,  intending  to  ship  them  to  Texas,  when 
they  were  discovered  and  freed.  The  Judge  decided 
that  they  could  not  be  held  by  the  owner  under  the 
Fugitive  Slave  Law.  A  howl  of  rage  went  up  from 
the  South,  and  the  Virginia  Legislature  authorized  the 
Attorney  General  of  that  State  to  assist  in  an  appeal. 
Wm.  M.  Evarts  and  Chester  A.  Arthur  were  employed 
to  represent  the  People,  and  they  won  their  case, 
which  then  went  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States.  Charles  O'Conor  here  espoused  the  cause 
of  the  slave-holders,  but  he  too  was  beaten  by  Messrs 
Evarts  and  Arthur,  and  a  long  step  was  taken  toward 
the  emancipation  of  the  black  race. 

Another  great  service  was  rendered  by  General 
Arthur  in  the  same  cause  in  1856.  Lizzie  Jennings, 
a  respectable  colored  woman,  was  put  off  a  Fourth 
Avenue  car  with  violence  after  she  had  paid  her  fare. 
General  Arthur  sued  on  her  behalf,  and  secured  a 
verdict  of  $500  damages.  The  next  day  the  compa- 
ny issued  an  order  to  admit  colored  persons  to  ride 
on  their  cars,  and  the  other  car  companies  quickly 


100 


CHESTER  A.  ARTHUR. 


followed  their  example.  Before  that  the  Sixth  Ave- 
nue Company  ran  a  few  special  cars  for  colored  per- 
sons and  the  other  lines  refused  to  let  them  ride  at  all. 

General  Arthur  was  a  delegate  to  the  Convention 
at  Saratoga  that  founded  the  Republican  party. 
Previous  to  the  war  he  was  Judge-Advocate  of  the 
Second  Brigade  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  Gov- 
ernor Morgan,  of  that  State,  appointed  him  Engineer- 
in-Chief  of  his  staff.  In  1861,  he  was  made  Inspec- 
tor General,  and  soon  afterward  became  Quartermas- 
ter-General. In  each  of  these  offices  he  rendered 
great  service  to  the  Government  during  the  war.  At 
the  end  of  Governor  Morgan's  term  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  the  law,  forming  a  partnership  with  Mr. 
Ransom,  and  then  Mr.  Phelps,  the  District  Attorney 
of  New  York,  was  added  to  the  firm.  The  legal  prac- 
tice of  this  well-known  firm  was  very  large  and  lucra- 
tive, each  of  the  gentlemen  composing  it  were  able 
lawyers,  and  possessed  a  splendid  local  reputation,  if 
not  indeed  one  of  national  extent. 

He  always  took  a  leading  part  in  State  and  city 
politics.  He  was  appointed  Collector  of  the  Port  of 
New  York  by  President  Grant,  Nov.  21  1872,  to  suc- 
ceed Thomas  Murphy,  and  held  the  office  until  July, 
20,  1878,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Collector  Merritt. 

Mr.  Arthur  was  nominated  on  the  Presidential 
ticket,  with  Gen.  James  A.  Garfield,  at  the  famous 
National  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago  in 
June,  1880.  This  was  perhaps  the  greatest  political 
convention  that  ever  assembled  on  the  continent.  It 
was  composed  of  the  leading  politicians  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  all  able  men,  and  each  stood  firm  and 
fought  vigorously  and  with  signal  tenacity  for  their 
respective  candidates  that  were  before  the  conven- 
tion for  the  nomination.  Finally  Gen.  Garfield  re- 
ceived the  nomination  for  President  and  Gen.  Arthur 
for  Vice-President.  The  campaign  which  followed 
was  one  of  the  most  animated  known  in  the  history  of 
our  country.  Gen.  Hancock,  the  standard-bearer  of 
the  Democratic  party,  was  a  popular  man,  and  his 
party  made  a  valiant  fight  for  his  election. 

Finally  the  election  came  and  the  country's  choice 
.vas  Garfield  and  Arthur.  They  were  inaugurated 
iVlarch  4,  1881,  as  President  and  Vice-President. 
A  few  months  only  had  passed  ere  the  newly  chosen 
President  was  the  victim  of  the  assassin's  bullet.  Then 
came  terrible  weeks  of  suffering, — those  moments  of 
anxious  suspense,  when  the  hearts  of  all  civilized  na- 


tions were  throbbing  in  unison,  longing  for  the  re- 
covery of  the  noble,  the  good  President.  The  remark- 
able patience  that  he  manifested  during  those  hours 
and  weeks,  and  even  months,  of  the  most  terrible  suf- 
fering man  has  often  been  called  upon  to  endure,  was 
seemingly  more  than  human.  It  was  certainly  God- 
like. During  all  this  period  of  deepest  anxiety  Mr. 
Arthur's  every  move  was  watched,  and  be  it  said  to  his 
credit  that  his  every  action  displayed  only  an  earnest 
desire  that  the  suffering  Garfield  might  recover,  to 
serve  the  remainder  of  the  term  he  had  so  auspi- 
ciously begun.  Not  a  selfish  feeling  was  manifested 
in  deed  or  look  of  this  man,  even  though  the  most 
honored  position  in  the  world  was  at  any  moment 
likely  to  fall  to  him. 

At  last  God  in  his  mercy  relieved  President  Gar- 
field  from  further  suffering,  and  the  world,  as  never 
before  in  its  history  over  the  death  of  any  other 
man,  wept  at  his  bier.  Then  it  became  the  duty  of 
the  Vice  President  to  assume  the  responsibilities  of 
the  high  office,  and  he  took  the  oath  in  New  York. 
Sept.  20,  1881.  The  position  was  an  embarrassing 
one  to  him,  made  doubly  so  from  the  facts  that  all 
eyes  were  on  him,  anxious  to  know  what  he  would  do, 
what  policy  he  would  pursue,  and  who  he  would  se- 
lect as  advisers.  The  duties  of  the  office  had  been 
greatly  neglected  during  the  President's  long  illness, 
and  many  important  measures  were  to  be  immediately 
decided  by  him ;  and  still  farther  to  embarrass  him  he 
did  not  fail  to  realize  under  what  circumstances  he 
became  President,  and  knew  the  feelings  of  many  on 
this  point.  Under  these  trying  circumstances  President 
Arthur  took  the  reins  of  the  Government  in  his  own 
hands ;  and,  as  embarrassing  as  were  the  condition  of 
affairs,  he  happily  surprised  the  nation,  acting  so 
wisely  that  but  few  criticised  his  administration. 
He  served  the  nation  well  and  faithfully,  until  the 
close  of  his  administration,  March  4,  1885,  and  was 
a  popular  candidate  before  his  party  for  a  second 
term.  His  name  was  ably  presented  before  the  con- 
vention at  Chicago,  and  was  received  with  great 
favor,  and  doubtless  but  for  the  personal  popularity 
of  one  of  the  opposing  candidates,  he  would  have 
been  selected  as  the  standard-bearer  of  his  party 
for  another  campaign.  He  retired  to  private  life  car- 
rying with  him  the  best  wishes  of  the  American  peo- 
ple, whom  he  had  served  in  a  manner  satisfactory 
to  them  and  with  credit  to  himself. 


TWENTY-SECOND  PRESIDENT. 


TEPHEN  GROVER  CLEVE- 
LAND, the  twenty- second  Pres- 
ident of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  1837,  in  the  obscure 
town  of  Caldwell,  Essex  Co., 
N.  J.,  and  in  a  little  two-and-a- 
half-story  white  house  which  is  still 
standing,  characteristically  to  mark 
the  humble  birth-place  of  one  of 
America's  great  men  in  striking  con- 
trast with  the  Old  World,  where  all 
men  high  in  office  must  be  high  in 
origin  and  born  in  the  cradle  of 
wealth.  When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  three  years  of  age,  his 
father,  who  was  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, with  a  large  family  and  a  small  salary,  moved, 
by  way  of  the  Hudson  River  and  Erie  Canal,  to 
Fayetteville,  in  search  of  an  increased  income  and  a 
larger  field  of  work.  Fayetteville  was  then  the  most 
straggling  of  country  villages,  about  five  miles  from 
Pompey  Hill,  where  Governor  Seymour  was  born. 

At  the  last  mentioned  place  young  Grover  com- 
menced going  to  school  in  the  "  good,  old-fashioned 
way,"  and  presumably  distinguished  himself  after  the 
manner  of  all  village  boys,  in  doing  the  things  he 
ought  not  to  do.  Such  is  the  distinguishing  trait  of 
all  geniuses  and  independent  thinkers.  When  he 
arrived  at  the  age  of  14  years,  he  had  outgrown  the 
capacity  of  the  village  school  and  expressed  a  most 


emphatic  desire  to  be  sent  to  an  academy.  To  this 
his  father  decidedly  objected.  Academies  in  those 
days  cost  money;  besides,  his  father  wanted  him  to 
become  self-supporting  by  the  quickest  possible 
means,  and  this  at  that  time  in  Fayetteville  seemed 
to  be  a  position  in  a  country  store,  where  his  father 
and  the  large  family  on  his  hands  had  considerable 
influence.  Grover  was  to  be  paid  $50  for  his  services 
the  first  year,  and  if  he  proved  trustworthy  he  was  to 
receive  $100  the  second  year.  Here  the  lad  com- 
menced his  career  as  salesman,  and  in  two  years  he 
had  earned  so  good  a  reputation  for  trustworthiness 
that  his  employers  desired  to  retain  him  for  an  in- 
definite length  of  time.  Otherwise  he  did  not  ex- 
hibit as  yet  any  particular  "  flashes  of  genius  "  or 
eccentricities  of  talent.  He  was  simply  a  good  boy. 
But  instead  of  remaining  with  this  firm  in  Fayette- 
ville, he  went  with  the  family  in  their  removal  to 
Clinton,  where  he  had  an  opportunity  of  attending  a 
high  school.  Here  he  industriously  pursued  his 
studies  until  the  family  removed  with  him  to  a  point 
on  Black  River  known  as  the  "  Holland  Patent,"  a 
village  of  500  or  600  people,  15  miles  north  of  Utica, 
N.  Y.  At  this  place  his  father  died,  after  preaching 
but  three  Sundays.  This  event  broke  up  the  family, 
and  Grover  set  out  for  New  York  City  to  accept,  at  a 
small  salary,  the  position  of  "  under-teacher  "  in  an 
asylum  for  the  blind.  He  taught  faithfully  for  two 
years,  and  although  he  obtained  a  good  reputation  in 
this  capacity,  he  concluded  that  teaching  was  not  his 


104 


5.    G ROVER   CLEVELAND. 


calling  for  life,  and,  reversing  the  traditional  order, 
he  left  the  city  to  seek  his  fortune,  instead  of  going 
to  a  city.  He  first  thought  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  as 
there  was  some  charm  in  that  name  for  him ;  but 
before  proceeding  to  that  place  he  went  to  Buffalo  to 
»sk  the  advice  of  his  uncle,  Lewis  F.  Allan,  a  noted 
stock-breeder  of  that  place.  The  latter  did  not 
speak  enthusiastically.  "  What  is  it  you  want  to  do, 
my  boy?"  he  asked.  "Well,  sir,  I  want  to  study 
law,"  was  the  reply.  "  Good  gracious !  "  remarked 
ihe  old  gentleman ;  "  do  you,  indeed  ?  What  ever  put 
that  into  your  head  ?  How  much  money  have  you 
got?"  "Well,  sir,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  haven't  got 
anv." 

After  a  long  consultation,  his  uncle  offered  him  a 
place  temporarily  as  assistant  herd-keeper,  at  $50  a 
year,  while  he  could  "look  around."  One  day  soon 
afterward  he  boldly  walked  into  the  office  of  Rogers, 
Bowen  &  Rogers,  of  Buffalo,  and  told  them  what  he 
wanted.  A  number  of  young  men  were  already  en- 
gaged in  the  office,  but  Graver's  persistency  won,  and 
ne  was  finally  permitted  to  come  as  an  office  boy  and 
have  the  use  of  the  law  library,  for  the  nominal  sum 
of  $3  or  $4  a  week.  Out  of  this  he  had  to  pay  for 
his  board  and  washing.  The  walk  to  and  from  his 
uncle's  was  a  long  and  rugged  one ;  and,  although 
the  first  winter  was  a  memorably  severe  one,  his 
shoes  were  out  of  repair  and  his  -overcoat — he  had 
none — yet  he  was  nevertheless  prompt  and  regular. 
On  the  first  day  of  his  service  here,  his  senior  em- 
ployer threw  down  a  copy  of  Blackstone  before  him 
with  a  bang  that  made  the  dust  fly,  saying  "That's 
where  they  all  begin."  A  titter  ran  around  the  little 
circle  of  clerks  and  students,  as  they  thought  that 
was  enough  to  scare  young  Grover  out  of  his  plans  ; 
but  in  due  time  he  mastered  that  cumbersome  volume. 
Then,  as  ever  afterward,  however,  Mr.  Cleveland 
exhibited  a  talent  for  executiveness  rather  than  for 
chasing  principles  through  all  their  metaphysical 
possibilities.  "  Let  us  quit  talking  and  go  and  do 
"t,"  was  practically  his  motto. 

The  first  public  office  to  which  Mr.  Cleveland  was 
eiected  was  that  of  Sheriff  of  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
which  Buffalo  is  situated ;  and  in  such  capacity  it  fell 
to  his  duty  to  inflict  capital  punishment  upon  two 
criminals.  In  1881  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the 
City  of  Buffalo,  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  with  es- 
pecial reference  to  the  bringing  about  certain  reforms 


in  the  administration  of  the  municipal  affairs  of  that 
city.  In  this  office,  as  well  as  that  of  Sheriff,  his 
performance  of  duty  has  generally  been  considered 
fair,  with  possibly  a  few  exceptions  which  were  fer- 
reted out  and  magnified  during  the  last  Presidential 
campaign.  As  a  specimen  of  his  plain  language  in 
a  veto  message,  we  quote  ftom  one  vetoing  an  iniqui- 
tous street-cleaning  contract:  "This  is  a  time  for 
plain  speech,  and  my  objection  to  your  action  shall 
be  plainly  stated.  I  regard  it  as  the  culmination  of 
a  mos  bare-faced,  impudent  and  shameless  scheme 
to  betray  the  interests  of  the  people  and  to  worse 
than  squander  the  people's  money."  The  New  York 
Sun  afterward  very  highly  commended  Mr.  Cleve- 
land's administration  as  Mayor  of  Buffalo,  and  there- 
upon recommended  him  for  Governor  of  the  Empire 
State.  To  the  latter  office  he  was  elected  ia  1882, 
and  his  administration  of  the  affairs  of  State  was 
generally  satisfactory.  The  mistakes  he  made,  if 
any,  were  made  very  public  throughout  the  nation 
after  he  was  nominated  for  President  of  the  United 
States.  For  this  high  office  he  was  nominated  July 
ii,  1884,  by  the  National  Democratic  Convention  at 
Chicago,  when  other  competitors  were  Thomas  F. 
Bayard,  Roswell  P.  Flower,  Thomas  A.  Hendricks, 
Benjamin  F.  Butler,  Allen  G.  Thurman,  etc.;  and  lie 
was  elected  by  the  people,  by  a  majority  of  about  a 
thousand,  over  the  brilliant  and  long-tried  Repub- 
lican statesman,  James  G.  Elaine.  President  Cleve- 
land resigned  his  office  as  Governor  of  New  York  in 
January,  1885,  in  order  to  prepare  for  his  duties  as 
the  Chief  Executive  of  the  United  States,  in  which 
capacity  his  term  commenced  at  noon  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1885.  For  his  Cabinet  officers  he  selected 
the  following  gentlemen:  For  Secretary  of  State, 
Thomas  F.  Bayard,  of  Delaware ;  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  Daniel  Manning,  of  New  York  ;  Secretary 
of  War,  William  C.  Endicott,  of  Massachusetts ; 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  William  C.  Whitney,  of  New 
York ;  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  L.  Q.  C.  Lamar,  of 
Mississippi;  Postmaster-General,  William  F.  Vilas, 
of  Wisconsin ;  Attorney-General,  A.  H.  Garland,  of 
Arkansas. 

The  silver  question  precipitated  a  controversy  be- 
tween those  who  were  in  favor  of  the  continuance  of 
silver  coinage  and  those  who  were  opposed,  Mr. 
Cleveland  answering  for  the  latter,  even  before  his 
inauguration. 


I 


TWENTY-THIRD  PRESIDENT. 


107 


BENJAMIN  HARRISON,  the 
twenty-third  President,  is 
the  descendant  of  one  of  the 
historical  families  of  this 
country.  The  head  of  the 
f.imily  was  a  Major  General 
Harrison,  one  of  Oliver 
Cromwell's  trusted  follow- 
ers and  fighters.  In  the  zenith  of  Crom- 
well's power  it  became  the  duty  of  this 
Harrison  to  participate  in  the  trial  of 
Charles  I,  and  afterward  to  sign  the 
death  warrant  of  the  king.  He  subse- 
quently paid  for  this  with  his  life,  being 
hung  Oct.  13,  1660.  His  descendants 
came  to  America,  and  the  next  of  the 
family  that  appears  in  history  is  Benja- 
min I-Iarrison,  of  Virginia,  great-grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and 
after  whom  he  was  named.  Benjamin  Harrison 
was  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress  during 
the  years  1774-5-6,  and  was  one  of  the  original 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  He 
was  three  times  elected  Governor  of  Virginia. 
Gen  William  Henry  Harrison,  the  son  of  the 


distinguished  patriot  of  the  Revolution,  after  a  suc- 
cessful career  as  a  soldier  during  the  War  of  1812, 
and  with -a  clean  record  as  Governor  of  the  North- 
western Territory,  was  elected  President  of  the 
United  States  in  1840.  His  career  was  cut  short, 
by  death  within  one  month  after  his  inauguration. 
President  Harrison  wap  born  at  North  Bend, 
Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  -?0, 1833.  His  life  up  to 
the  time  of  his  graduation  by  the  Miami  University, 
at  Oxford,  Ohio,  was  the  uneventful  one  of  a  coun- 
try lad  of  a  family  of  small  means.  His  father  was 
able  to  give  him  a  good  education,  and  nothing 
more.  He  became  engaged  while  at  college  to  tha 
daughter  of  Dr.  Scott,  Principal  of  a  female  schoo! 
at  Oxford.  After  graduating  he  determined  to  en- 
ter upon  the  study  of  the  law.  He  went  to  Cin 
cinnati  and  then  read  law  for  two  years.  At  tht 
expiration  of  that  time  young  Harrison  received  th'; 
only  inheritance  of  his  life ;  his  aunt  dying  left  ilia: 
a  lot  valued  at  $800.  He  regarded  this  legacy  as  t 
fortune,  and  decided  to  get  married  at  once,  laks 
this  money  and  go  to  some  Eastern  town  an!  be- 
gin the  practice  of  law.  He  sold  his  lot,  and  with 
the  money  in  his  pocket,  he  started  out  witu  his 
young  wife  to  fight  for  a  place  in  the  world.  lie 


108 


BENJAMIN  HARRISON. 


decided  to  go  to  Indianapolis,  which  was  even  at 
that  time  a  town  of  promise.  He  met  with  slight 
encouragement  at  first,  making  scarcely  anything 
the  first  year.  He  worked  diligently,  applying  him- 
self closely  to  his  calling,  built  up  an  extensive 
practice  and  took  a  leading  rank  in  the  legal  pro- 
fession. He  is  the  father  of  two  children. 

In  1860  Mr.  Harrison  was  nominated  for  the 
position  of  Supreme  Court  Reporter,  and  then  be- 
gan his  experience  as  a  stump  speaker.  He  can- 
vassed the  State  thoroughly,  and  was  elected  by  a 
handsome  majority.  In  1862  he  raised  the  17th 
Indiana  Infantry,  and  was  chosen  its  Colonel.  His 
regiment  was  composed  of  the  rawest  of  material, 
but  Col.  Harrison  employed  all  his  time  at  first 
mastering  military  tactics  and  drilling  his  men, 
when  he  therefore  came  to  move  toward  the  East 
witli  Sherman  his  regiment  was  one  of  the  best 
drilled  and  organized  in  the  army.  At  Resaca  he 
especially  distinguished  himself,  and  for  his  bravery 
at  Peachtree  Creek  he  was  made  a  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral, Gen.  Hooker  speaking  of  him  in  the  most 
complimentar3r  terms. 

During  the  absence  of  Gen.  Harrison  in  the  field 
lie  Supreme  Court  declared  the  office  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  Reporter  vacant,  and  another  person 
was  elected  to  the  position.  From  the  time  of  leav- 
ing Indiana  with  his  regiment  until  the  fall  of  1864 
he  had  taken  no  leave  of  absence,  but  having  been 
nominated  that  year  for  the  same  office,  he  got  a 
thirty-day  leave  of  absence,  and  during  that  time 
made  a  brilliant  canvass  of  the  State,  and  was  elected 
for  another  term.  He  then  started  to  rejoin  Sher- 
man, but  on  the  way  was  stricken  down  with  scarlet 
^ever,  and  after  a  most  trying  siege  made  his  way 
to  the  front  in  time  to  participate  in  the  closing 
jicidents  of  the  war. 

In  1868  Gen.  Harrison  declined  o,  re-election  as 
reporter,  and  resumed  the  practice  of  law.  In  1876 
£e  was  a  candidate  for  Governor.  Although  de- 
feated, the  brilliant  campaign  he  made  won  for  him 
a  National  reputation,  and  he  was  much  sought,  es- 
pecial.y  in  the  East,  to  make  speeches.  In  1880, 
as  usual,  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  campaign, 
and  wac  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate.  Here 
we  served  six  years,  and  was  known  as  one  of  the 
ablest  men,  best  lawyers  and  strongest  debaters  in 


that  body.  With  the  expiration  of  his  Senatorial 
term  he  returned  to  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
becoming  the  head  of  one  of  the  strongest  firms  in 
the  State. 

The  political  campaign  of  1888  was  one  of  the 
most  memorable  in  the  history  of  our  country.  The 
convention  which  assembled  in  Chicago  in  June  and 
named  Mr.  Harrison  as  the  chief  standard  bearer 
of  the  Republican  party,  was  great  in  every  partic- 
ular, and  on  this  account,  and  the  attitude  it  as- 
sumed upon  the  vital  questions  of  the  day,  chief 
among  which  was  the  tariff,  awoke  a  deep  interest 
in  the  campaign  throughout  the  Nation.  Shortly 
after  the  nomination  delegations  began  to  visit  Mr. 
Harrison  at  Indianapolis,  his  home.  This  move- 
ment became  popular,  and  from  all  sections  of  the 
country  societies,  clubs  and  delegations  journeyed 
thither  to  pay  their  respects  to  the  distinguished 
statesman.  The  popularity  of  these  was  greatly 
increased  on  account  of  the  remarkable  speeches 
made  by  Mr.  Harrison.  He  spoke  daily  all  through 
the  summer  and  autumn  to  these  visiting  delega- 
tions, and  so  varied,  masterly  and  eloquent  were 
his  speeches  that  they  at  once  placed  him  in  the 
foremost  rank  of  American  orators  and  statesmen. 

On  account  of  his  eloquence  as  a  speaker  and  his 
power  as  a  debater,  he  was  called  upon  at  an  un- 
commonly early  age  to  take  part  in  the  discussion 
of  the  great  questions  that  then  began  to  agitate 
the  country.  He  was  an  uncompromising  ant: 
slavery  man,  and  was  matched  against  some  of  ilie 
most  eminent  Democratic  speakers  of  his  State. 
No  man  who  felt  the  touch  of  his  blade  desired  to 
be  pitted  with  him  again.  With  all  his  eloquence 
as  an  orator  he  never  spoke  for  oratorical  effect, 
but  his  words  always  went  like  bullets  to  the  mark 
lie  is  purely  American  in  his  ideas  and  is  a  spier 
did  type  of  the  American  statesman.  Gifted  witU 
quick  perception,  a  logical  mind  and  a  ready  tongue, 
he  is  one  of  the  most  distinguished  impromptu 
speakers  in  the  Nation.  Many  of  these  speeches 
sparkled  with  the  rarest  of  eloquence  and  contained 
arguments  of  greatest  weight.  Many  of  his  terse 
statements  have  already  become  aphorisms.  Origi- 
nal in  thought,  precise  in  logic,  terse  in  statement, 
yet  withal  faultless  in  eloquence,  he  is  recognized  as 
the  sound  statesman  and  brilliant  orator  of  the  day 


GOVERNORS  OF   ILLINOIS. 


in 


HADRACH  BOND,  the  first 
Governor  of  Illinois  after  its 
organization  as  a  State,  serving 
from  1818  to  1822,  was  bom  in 
Frederick  County,  Maryland, 
in  the  year  1773,  and  was 
raised  a  farmer  on  his  father's 
plantation,  receiving  only  a  plain 
English  education.  He  emigrated 
to  this  State  in  1794,  when  it  was  a 
part  of  the  "Northwest  Territory," 
continuing  in  the  vocation  in  which 
he  had  been  brought  up  in  his  native 
State,  in  the  "  New  Design,"  near 
Eagle  -Creek,  in  what  is  now  Monroe 
County.  He  served  several  terms  as 
a  member  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  Indiana  Territory,  after  it  was  organized  as  such, 
and  in  1812—14  he  was  a  Delegate  to  the  Twelfth 
and  Thirteenth  Congresses,  taking  his  seat  Dec.  3, 
1812,  and  serving  until  Oct.  3,  (814.  These  were 
the  times,  the  reader  will  recollect,  when  this  Gov- 
ernment had  its  last  struggle  with  Great  Britain. 
The  year  r8i2  is  also  noted  in  the  history  of  this 
State  as  that  in  which  the  first  Territorial  Legislature 
was  held.  It  convened  at  Kaskaskia,  Nov.  25,  and 
adjourned  Dec.  26,  following. 

While  serving  as  Delegate  to  Congress,  Mr.  Bond 
was  instrumental  in  procuring  the  right  of  pre-emp- 
tion on  the  public  domain.  On  the  expiration  of  his 
term  at  Washington  he  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
Public  Moneys  at  Kaskaskia,  then  the  capital  of  the 
Territory.  In  company  with  John  G.  Comyges, 


Thomas  H.  Harris,  Charles  Slade,  Michael  Jones, 
Warren  Brown,  Edward  Humphries  and  Charles  W 
Hunter,  he  became  a  proprietor  of  the  site  of  the 
initial  city  of  Cairo,  which  they  hoped,  from  its  favor- 
able location  at  the  junction  of  the  two  great 
rivers  near  the  center  of  the  Great  West,  would 
rapidly  develop  into  a  metropolis.  To  aid  the  enter- 
prise, they  obtained  a  special  charter  from  the  Legis- 
lature, incorporating  both  the  City  and  the  Bank  of 
Cairo. 

In  1818  Mr.  Bond  was  elected  the  first  Governor 
of  the  State  of  Illinois,  being  inaugurated  Oct.  6 
that  year,  which  was  several  weeks  before  Illinois 
was  actually  admitted.  The  facts  are  these:  In 
January,  1818,  the  Territorial  Legislature  sent  a  peti- 
tion to  Congress  for  the  admission  of  Illinois  as  a 
State,  Nathaniel  Pope  being  then  Delegate.  The 
petition  was  granted,  fixing  the  northern  line  of  the 
State  on  the  latitude  of  the  southern  extremity  of 
Lake  Michigan ;  but  the  bill  was  afterward  so  amend- 
ed as  to  extend  this  line  to  its  present  latitude.  In 
July  a  convention  was  called  at  Kaskaskia  to  draft  a 
constitution,  which,  however,  was  not  submitted  to 
the  people.  By  its  provisions,  supreme  judges,  pros 
ecuting  attorneys,  county  and  circuit  judges,  record- 
ers and  justices  of  the  peace  were  all  to  be  appointed 
by  the  Governor  or  elected  by  the  Legislature.  This 
constitution  was  accepted  by  Congress  Dec.  30.  At 
that  time  Illinois  comprised  but  eleven  counties, 
namely,  Randolph,  Madison,  Gallatin,  Johnson, 
Pope,  Jackson,  Crawford,  Bond,  Union,  Washington 
and  Franklin,  the  northern  portion  of  the  State  be- 
ing mainly  in  Madison  County.  Thus  it  appears 
that  Mr.  Bond  was  honored  by  the  naming  of  a 


SHADRACH  BOND. 


county  before  he  was  elected  Governor.  The  present 
county  of  Bond  is  of  small  limitations,  about  60  to  80 
miles  south  of  Springfield.  For  Lieutenant  Governor 
the  people  chose  Pierre  Menard,  a  prominent  and 
worthy  Frenchman,  after  whom  a  county  in  this  State 
is  named.  In  this  election  there  were  no  opposition 
candidates,  as  the  popularity  of  these  men  had  made 
their  promotion  to  the  chief  offices  of  the  State,  even 
before  the  constitution  was  drafted,  a  foregone  con- 
clusion. 

The  principal  points  that  excited  the  people  in 
reference  to  political  issues  at  this  period  were  local 
or  "internal  improvements,"  as  they  were  called, 
State  banks,  location  of  the  capital,  slavery  and  the 
personal  characteristics  of  the  proposed  candidates. 
Mr.  Bond  represented  the  "  Convention  party,"  for 
introducing  slavery  into  the  State,  supported  by  Elias 
Keit  Kane,  his  Secretary  of  State,  and  John  Mc- 
Lean, while  Nathaniel  Pope  and  John  P.  Cook  led 
the  anti-slavery  element.  The  people,  however,  did 
not  become  very  much  excited  over  this  issue  until 
1820,  when  the  famous  Missouri  Compromise  was 
adopted  by  Congress,  limiting  slavery  to  the  south 
of  the  parallel  of  36°  30'  except  in  Missouri.  While 
this  measure  settled  the  great  slavery  controversy, 
so  far  as  the  average  public  sentiment  was  tempor- 
arily concerned,  until  1854,  when  it  was  repealed 
under  the  leadership  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  the  issue 
as  considered  locally  in  this  State  was  not  decided 
until  1824,  after  a  most  furious  campaign.  (See 
sketch  of  Gov.  Coles.)  The  ticket  of  1818  was  a 
compromise  one,  Bond  representing  (moderately)  the 
pro-slavery  sentiment  and  Menard  the  anti-slavery. 

An  awkward  element  in  the  State  government 
under  Gov.  Bond's  administration,  was  the  imperfec- 
tion of  the  State  constitution.  The  Convention 
wished  to  have  Elijah  C.  Berry  for  the  first  Auditor 
of  Public  Accounts,  but,  as  it  was  believed  that  the 
new  Governor  would  not  appoint  him  to  the  office, 
the  Convention  declared  in  a  schedule  that  "  an 
auditor  of  public  accounts,  an  attorney  general  and 
such  other  officers  of  the  State  as  may  be  necessary, 
may  be  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly."  The 
Constitution,  as  it  stood,  vested  a  very  large  appoint- 
ing power  in  the  Governor;  but  for  the  purpose  of 
getting  one  man  into  office,  a  total  change  was  made, 
and  the  power  vested  in  the  Legislature.  Of  this 
provision  the  Legislature  took  advantage,  and  de 


clared  that  State's  attorneys,  canal  commissioners, 
bank  directors,  etc.,  were  all  <;  officers  of  the  State  " 
and  must  therefore  be  appointed  by  itself  independ- 
ently of  the  Governor. 

During  Gov.  Bond's  administration  a  general  law 
was  passed  for  the  incorporation  of  academies  and 
towns,  and  one  authorizing  lotteries.  The  session  of 
1822  authorized  the  Governor  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners, to  act  in  conjunction  with  like  commissioners 
appointed  by  the  State  of  Indiana,  to  report  on  the 
practicability  and  expediency  of  improving  the  navi- 
gation of  the  Wabash  River;  also  inland  navigation 
generally.  Many  improvements  were  recommended, 
some  of  which  have  been  feebly  worked  at  even  till 
the  present  day,  those  along  the  Wabash  being  of  no 
value.  Also,  during  Gov.  Bond's  term  of  office,  the 
capital  of  the  State  was  removed  from  Kaskaskia  to 
Vandalia.  In  1820  a  law  was  passed  by  Congress 
authorizing  this  State  to  open  a  canal  through  the 
public  lands.  The  State  appointed  commissioners 
1o  explore  the  route  and  prepare  the  necessary  sur- 
veys and  estimates,  preparatory  to  its  execution; 
but,  being  unable  out  of  its  own  resources  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  the  undertaking,  it  was  abandoned 
until  some  time  after  Congress  made  the  grant  of 
land  for  the  purpose  of  its  construction. 

On  the  whole,  Gov.  Bond's  administration  was 
fairly  good,  not  being  open  to  severe  criticism  from 
any  party.  In  1824,  two  years  after  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  office,  he  was  brought  out  as  a  candi- 
date for  Congress  against  the  formidable  John  P. 
Cook,  but  received  only  4,374  votes  to  7,460  for  the 
latter.  Gov.  Bond  was  no  orator,  but  had  made 
many  fast  friends  by  a  judicious  bestowment  of  his 
gubernatorial  patronage,  and  these  worked  zealously 
for  him  in  the  campaign. 

In  1827  ex-Gov.  Bond  was  appointed  by  the  Leg- 
islature, with  Wm.  P.  McKee  and  Dr.  Gershom 
Jayne.  as  Commissioners  to  locate  a  site  for  a  peni- 
tentiary on  the  Mississippi  at  or  near  Alton. 

Mr.  Bond  was  of  a  benevolent  and  convivial  dis- 
position, a  man  of  shrewd  observation  and  clear  ap- 
preciation of  events.  His  person  was  erect,  stand- 
ing six  feet  in  height,  and  after  middle  life  became 
portly,  weighing  200  pounds.  His  features  were 
strongly  masculine,  complexion  dark,  hair  jet  and 
eyes  hazel ;  was  a  favorite  with  the  ladies.  He  died 
April  i  r,  1830,  in  peace  and  contentment. 


GOVERNORS  OF  JLLhVOJS. 


]££>war&  Coles* 


DWARD  COLES,  second 
Governor  of  Illinois,  1823- 
6,  was  born  Dec.  15,  1786, 
in  Albemarle  Co.,  Va.,  on 
the  old  family  estate  called 
"Enniscorthy,"  on  the 
Green  Mountain.  His  fath- 
er, John  Coles,  was  a  Colonel  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  Having  been  fit- 
ted for  college  by  private  tutors,  he 
was  sent  to  Hampden  Sidney,  where 
he  remained  until  the  autumn  of  1805, 
when  he  was  removed  to  William  and 
Mary  College,  at  Williamsburg,  Va. 
This  college  he  left  in  the  summer  of 
1807,  a  short  time  before  the  final  and  graduating 
examination.  Among  his  classmates  were  Lieut. 
Gen.  Scott,  President  John  Tyler,  Wni.  S.  Archer, 
United  States  Senator  from  Virginia,  and  Justice 
Baldwin,  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court.  The 
President  of  the  latter  college,  Bishop  Madison,  was 
a  cousin  of  President  James  Madison,  and  that  cir- 
cumstance was  the  occasion  of  Mr.  Coles  becoming 
personally  acquainted  with  the  President  and  re- 
ceiving a  position  as  his  private  secretary,  1809-15. 
The  family  of  Coles  was  a  prominent  one  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  their  mansion  was  the  seat  of  the  old- 
fashioned  Virginian  hospitality.  It  was  visited  by 
such  notables  as  Patrick  Henry,  Jefferson,  Madison, 
Monroe,  the  Randolphs,  Tazewell,  Wirt,  etc.  At  the 
age  of  23,  young  Coles  found  himself  heir  to  a  plant- 
ation and  a  considerable  number  of  slaves.  Ever 
since  his  earlier  college  days  his  attention  had  been 
drawn  to  the  question  of  slavery.  He  read  every- 


thing on  the  subject  that  came  in  his  way,  and 
listened  to  lectures  on  the  rights  of  man.  The  more 
he  reflected  upon  the  subject,  the  more  impossible 
was  it  for  him  to  reconcile  the  immortal  declaration 
"that  all  men  are  born  free  and  equal  "  with  the 
practice  of  slave-holding.  He  resolved,  therefore,  to 
free  his  slaves  the  first  opportunity,  and  even  remove 
his  residence  to  a  free  State.  One  reason  which  de- 
termined him  to  accept  the  appointment  as  private 
secretary  to  Mr.  Madison  was  because  he  believed 
that  through  the  acquaintances  he  could  make  at 
Washington  he  could  better  determine  in  what  part 
of  the  non-slaveholding  portion  of  the  Union  he  would 
prefer  to  settle. 

The  relations  between  Mr.  Coles  and  President 
Madison,  as  well  as  Jefferson  and  other  distinguished 
men,  were  of  a  very  friendly  character,  arising  from 
the  similarity  of  their  views  on  the  question  of  slavery 
and  their  sympathy  for  each  other  in  holding  doc- 
trines so  much  at  variance  with  the  prevailing  senti- 
ment in  their  own  State. 

In  1857,  he  resigned  his  secretaryship  and  spent  a 
portion  of  the  following  autumn  in  exploring  the 
Northwest  Territory,  for  the  purpose  of  finding  a  lo- 
cation and  purchasing  lands  on  which  to  settle  his 
negroes.  He  traveled  with  a  horse  and  buggy,  with 
an  extra  man  and  horse  for  emergencies,  through 
many  parts  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Missouri, 
determining  finally  to  settle  in  Illinois.  At  this  time, 
however,  a  misunderstanding  arose  between  our 
Government  and  Russia,  and  Mr.  Coles  was  selected 
to  repair  to  St.  Petersburg  on  a  special  mission,  bear- 
ing important  papers  concerning  the  matter  at  issue. 
The  result  was  a  conviction  of  the  Emperor  (Alex- 


u6 


EDWARD  COLES. 


ander)  of  the  error  committed  by  his  minister  at 
Washington,  and  the  consequent  withdrawal  of  the 
the  latter  from  the  post.  On- his  return,  Mr.  Coles 
visited  other  parts  of  Europe,  especially  Paris,  where 
he  was  introduced  to  Gen.  Lafayette. 

In  the  spring  of  1819,  he  removed  with  all  his 
negroes  from  Virginia  to  Edwardsville,  111.,  with  the 
intention  of  giving  them  their  liberty.  He  did  not 
make  known  to  them  his  intention  until  one  beautiful 
morning  in  April,  as  they  were  descending  the  Ohio 
River.  He  lashed  all  the  boats  together  and  called 
all  the  negroes  on  deck  and  made  them  a  short  ad- 
dress, concluding  his  remarks  by  so  expressing  him- 
self that  by  a  turn  of  a  sentence  he  proclaimed  in 
the  shortest  and  fullest  manner  that  they  were  no 
longer  slaves,  but  free  as  he  was  and  were  at  liberty 
to  proceed  with  him  or  go  ashore  at  their  pleas- 
ure. A  description  of  the  effect  upon  the  negroes  is 
best  described  in  his  own  language  : 

"The  effect  upon  them  was  electrical.  They  stared 
at  me  and  then  at  each  other,  as  if  doubting  the  ac- 
curacy or  reality  of  what  they  heard.  In  breathless 
silence  they  stood  before  me,  unable  to  utter  a  word, 
but  with  countenances  beaming  with  expression  which 
no  words  could  convey,  and  which  no  language 
can  describe.  As  they  began  to  see  the  truth  of 
what  they  had  heard,  and  realize  their  situation,  there 
came  on  a  kind  of  hysterical,  giggling  laugh.  After 
a  pause  of  intense  and  unutterable  emotion,  bathed 
in  tears,  and  with  tremulous  voices,  they  gave  vent  to 
their  gratitude  and  implored  the  blessing  of  God 
on  me." 

Before  landing  he  gave  them  a  general  certificate 
of  freedom,  and  afterward  conformed  more  particu- 
larly with  the  law  of  this  State  requiring  that  each 
individual  should  have  a  certificate.  This  act  of 
Mr.  Coles,  all  the  more  noble  and  heroic  considering 
the  overwhelming  pro-slavery  influences  surrounding 
him,  has  challenged  the  admiration  of  every  philan- 
thropist of  modern  times. 

March  5,  1819,  President  Monroe  appointed  Mr. 
Coles  Registrar  of  the  Land  Office  at  Edwardsvihe, 
at  that  time  one  of  the  principal  land  offices  in  the 
State.  While  acting  in  this  capacity  and  gaining 
many  friends  by  his  politeness  and  general  intelli- 
gence, the  greatest  struggle  that  ever  occurred  in 
Illinois  on  the  slavery  ques'ion  culminated  in  the 
furious  contest  characterizing  the  campaigns  and 
elections  of  1822-4.  In  the  summer  of  1823,  when  a 
new  Governor  was  to  be  elected  to  succeed  Mr. 
I  >ond,  the  pro-slavery  element  divided  into  factions, 
nulling  forward  for  Ihe  executive  office  Joseph 
I'hillips,  Chief  Justice  of  the  State,  Thomas  C. 
l.rowne  and  Gen.  James  B.  Moore,  of  the  State  Mil- 
i  ia.  The  anti-slavery  element  united  upon  Mr. 
Coles,  and,  after  one  of  the  most  bitter  campaigns, 
succeeded  in  electing  him  as  Governor.  His  plural- 
ity over  Judge  Phillips  was  only  59  in  a  total  vote  of 


over  8,000.  The  Lieutenant  Governor  was  elected 
by  the  slavery  men.  Mr.  Coles' inauguration  speech 
was  marked  by  calmness,  deliberation  and  such  a 
wise  expression  of  appropriate  suggestions  as  to 
elicit  the  sanction  of  all  judicious  politicians.  But 
he  compromised  not  with  evil.  In  his  message  to 
the  Legislature,  the  seat  of  Government  being  then 
at  Vandalia,  he  strongly  urged  the  abrogation  of  the 
modified  form  of  slavery  whi<:h  then  existed  in  this 
State,  contrary  to  the  Ordinance  of  1787.  His  posi- 
tion on  this  subject  seems  the  more  remarkable,  when 
it  is  considered  that  he  was  a  minority  Governor,  the 
population  of  Illinois  being  at  that  time  almost  ex- 
clusively from  slave-holding  States  and  by  a  large 
majority  in  favor  of  the  perpetuation  of  that  old  relic 
of  barbarism.  The  Legislature  itself  was,  of  course, 
a  reflex  of  the  popular  sentiment,  and  a  majority  of 
them  were  led  on  by  fiery  men  in  denunciations  of 
the  conscientious  Governor,  and  in  curses  loud  and 
deep  upon  him  and  all  his  friends.  Some  of  the 
public  men,  indeed,  went  so  far  as  to  head  a  sort  of 
mob,  or  "  shiveree  "  party,  who  visited  the  residence 
of  the  Governor  and  others  at  Vandalia  and  yelled 
and  groaned  and  spat  fire. 

The  Constitution,  not  establishing  or  permitting 
slavery  in  this  State,  was  thought  therefore  to  be 
defective  by  the  slavery  politicians,  and  they  desired 
a  State  Convention  to  be  elected,  to  devise  and  sub- 
mit a  new  Constitution;  and  the  dominant  politics 
of  the  day  was  "Convention"  and  "anti-Conven- 
tion." Both  parties  issued  addresses  to  Ihe  people, 
Gov.  Coles  himself  being  Ihe  author  of  the  address 
published  by  the  latter  party.  This  address  revealed 
the  schemes  of  the  conspirators  in  a  masterly  man- 
ner. It  is  difficult  for  us  at  this  distant  day  to  esti- 
mate the  critical  and  extremely  delicate  situation  in 
which  the  Governor  was  placed  at  that  time. 

Our  hero  maintained  himself  honorably  and  with 
supreme  dignity  throughout  his  administration,  and 
in  his  honor  a  county  in  this  State  is  named.  He 
was  truly  a  great  man,  and  those  who  lived  in 
this  State  during  his  sojourn  here,  like  those  who 
live  at  the  base  of  the  mountain,  were  too  near  to  see 
and  recognize  Ihe  greatness  that  overshadowed  them. 

Mr.  Coles  was  married  Nov.  28,  1833,  by  Bishop 
De  Lancey,  to  Miss  Sally  Logan  Roberts,  a  daughter 
of  Hugh  Roberts,  a  descendant  of  Welsh  ancestry, 
who  cami  to  this  country  with  Wm.  Penn  in  1682. 

After  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service,  Gov. 
Coles  continued  his  residence  in  Edwardsville,  sup- 
erintending his  farm  in  the  vicinity.  He  was  fond 
of  agriculture,  and  was  the  founder  of  the  first  agri- 
cultural society  in  the  State.  On  account  of  ill 
health,  however,  and  having  no  family  to  tie  him 
down,  he  spent  much  of  his  time  in  Eastern  cities. 
About  1832  he  changed  his  residence  to  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  died  July  7,  1868,  and  is  buried  at 
Woodland,  near  that  city. 


GO  VEKNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


119 


INI  AN  EDWARDS,  Governor 
from  1827  to  1830,  was  a  son 
of  Benjamin  Edwards,  and 
was  born  in  Montgomery 
(  County,  Maryland,  in  March, 
1775.  His  domestic  train- 
ing was  well  fitted  to  give 
his  mind  strength,  firmness  and 
honorable  principles,  and  a  good 
foundation  was  laid  for  the  elevated 
character  to  which  he  afterwards 
attained.  His  parents  were  Bap- 
tists, and  very  strict  in  their  moral 
principles.  His  education  in  early 
youth  was  in  company  with  and 
partly  under  the  tuition  of  Hon.  Wm. 
Wirt,  whom  his  father  patronized) 
and  who  was  more  than  two  years 
older.  An  intimacy  was  thus 
formjd  between  them  which  was  lasting  for  life.  He 
was  further  educated  at  Dickinson  College,  at  Car- 
lisle, Pa.  He  next  commenced  the  study  of  law,  but 
before  completing  his  course  he  moved  to  Nelson 
County,  Ky.,  to  open  a  farm  for  his  father  and  to 
purchase  homes  and  locate  lands  for  his  brothers  and 
sisters.  Here  he  fell  in  the  company  of  dissolute 
companions,  and  for  several  years  led  the  life  of  a 
spendthrift.  He  was,  however,  elected  to  the  Legis- 
lature of  Kentucky  as  the  Representative  of  Nelson 
county  before  he  was  21  years  of  age,  and  was  re- 
elected  by  an  almost  unanimous  vote. 


In  1798  he  was  licensed  to  practice  law,  and  the 
following  year  was  admitted  to  the  Courts  of  Tennes- 
see. About  this  time  he  left  Nelson  County  for 
Russellville,  in  Logan  County,  broke  away  from  his 
dissolute  companions,  commenced  a  reformation  and 
devoted  himself  to  severe  and  laborious  study.  He 
then  began  to  rise  rapidly  in  his  profession,  and  soon 
became  an  eminent  lawyer,  and  inside  of  four  years 
he  filled  in  succession  the  offices  of  Presiding  Judge 
of  the  General  Court,  Circuit  Judge,  fourth  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Appeals  and  Chief  Justice  of  the  State, 
— all  before  he  was  32  years  of  age  !  In  addition,  in 
1802,  he  received  a  commission  as  Major  of  a  battal- 
ion of  Kentucky  militia,  and  in  1804  was  chosen  a 
Presidential  Elector,  on  the  Jefferson  and  Clinton 
ticket.  In  1806  he  was  a  candidate  for  Congress, 
but  withdrew  on  being  promoted  to  the  Court  of 
Appeals. 

Illinois  was  organized  as  a  separate  Territory  in 
the  spring  of  1809,  when  Mr.  Edwards,  then  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  in  Kentucky,  received 
from  President  Madison  the  appointment  as  Gover- 
nor of  the  new  Territory,  his  commission  bearing  date 
April  24,  1809.  Edwards  arrived  at  Kaskaskia  in 
June,  and  on  the  i  ith  of  that  month  took  the  oath  of 
office.  At  the  same  time  he  was  appointed  Superin- 
tendent of  the  United  States  Saline,  this  Government 
interest  then  developing  into  considerable  proportions 
in  Southern  Illinois.  Although  during  the  first  three 
years  of  his  administration  he  had  the  power  to  make- 
new  counties  and  appoint  all  the  officers,  yet  he  always 
allowed  the  people  of  each  county,  by  an  informal 


120 


NINIAN  EDWARDS. 


vote,  to  select  their  own  officers,  both  civil  and  mili- 
tary. The  noted  John  J.  Crittenden,  afterward 
United  States  Senator  from  Kentucky,  was  appointed 
by  Gev.  Edwards  to  the  office  of  Attorney  General  of 
the  Territory,  which  office  was  accepted  for  a  short 
time  only. 

The  Indians  in  1810  committing  sundry  depreda- 
tions in  the  Territory,  crossing  the  Mississippi  from 
the  Territory  of  Louisiana,  a  long  correspondence  fol- 
lowed between  the  respective  Governors  concerning 
the  remedies,  which  ended  in  a  council  with  the  sav- 
ages at  Peoria  in  1812,  and  a  fresh  interpretation  of 
ihe  treaties.  Peoria  was  depopulated  by  these  de- 
predations, and  was  not  re-settled  for  many  vears 
afterward. 

As  Gov.  Edwards'  term  of  office  expired  by  law  in 
1812,  he  was  re-appointed  for  another  term  of  three 
years,  and  again  in  1815  for  a  third  term,  serving 
until  the  organization  of  the  State  in  the  fall  of  1818 
and  the  inauguration  of  Gov.  Bond.  At  this  time 
ex-Gov.  Edwards  was  sent  to  the  United  States 
Senate,  his  colleague  being  Jesse  B.  Thomas.  As 
Senator,  Mr.  Edwards  took  a  conspicuous  part,  and 
acquitted  himself  honorably  in  all  the  measures  that 
came  up  in  that  body,  being  well  posted,  an  able  de- 
Dater  and  a  conscientious  statesman.  He  thought 
seriously  of  resigning  this  situation  in  1821,  but  was 
ix;rsuaded  by  his  old  friend,  VVm.  VVirt,  and  others  to 
continue  in  office,  which  he  did  to  the  end  of  the 
term. 

He  was  then  appointed  Minister  to  Mexico  by 
President  Monroe.  About  this  time,  it  appears  that 
Mr.  Edwards  saw  suspicious  signs  in  the  conduct  of 
VVm.  H.  Crawford,  Secretary  of  the  United  States 
Treasury,  and  an  ambitious  candidate  for  the  Presi- 
dency, and  being  implicated  by  the  latter  in  some  of 
his  statements,  he  resigned  his  Mexican  mission  in 
order  fully  to  investigate  the  charges.  The  result 
was  the  exculpation  of  Mr.  Edwards. 

Pro-slavery  regulations,  often  termed  "Black  Laws," 
disgraced  the  statute  books  of  both  the  Territory  and 
.he  State  of  Illinois  during  the  whole  of  his  career  in 
.his  commonwealth,  and  Mr.  Edwards  always  main- 
tained the  doctrines  of  freedom,  and  was  an  important 
•:ctor  in  the  great  struggle  which  ended  in  a  victory 
for  his  party  in  1824. 

In  1826  7  the  Winnebago  and  other  Indians  com- 
mitted son-.e  depredations  in  the  northern  part  of  the 


State,  and  the  white  settlers,  who  desired  the  lands 
and  wished  to  exasperate  the  savages  into  an  evacu- 
ation of  the  country,  magnified  the  misdemeanors  of 
the  aborigines  and  thereby  produced  a  hostility  be- 
tween the  races  so  great  as  to  precipitate  a  little  war, 
known  in  history  as  the  "Winnebago  War."  A  few 
chases  and  skirmishes  were  had,  when  Gen.  Atkinson 
succeeded  in  capturing  Red  Bird,  the  Indian  chief, 
and  putting  him  to  death,  thus  ending  the  contest,  at 
least  until  the  troubles  commenced  which  ended  in 
the  "  Black  Hawk  War  "  of  1832.  In  the  interpre- 
tation of  treaties  and  execution  of  their  provisions 
Gov.  Edwards  had  much  vexatious  work  to  do.  The 
Indians  kept  themselves  generally  within  the  juris- 
diction of  Michigan  Territory,  and  its  Governor, 
Lewis  Cass,  was  at  a  point  so  remote  that  ready  cor- 
respondence with  him  was  difficult  or  impossible. 
Gov.  Edwards'  administration,  however,  in  regard  to 
the  protection  of  the  Illinois  frontier,  seems  to  have 
been  very  efficient  and  satisfactory. 

For  a  considerable  portion  of  his  time  after  his  re- 
moval to  Illinois,  Gov.  Edwards  resided  upon  his 
farm  near  Kaskaskia,  which  he  had  well  stocked  with 
horses,  cattle  and  sheep  from  Kentucky,  also  with 
fruit-trees,  grape-vines  and  shrubbery.  He  estab- 
lished saw  and  grist-mills,  and  engaged  extensively 
in  mercantile  business,  having  no  less  than  eight  or  ten 
stores  in  this  State  and  Missouri.  Notwithstanding 
the  arduous  duties  of  his  office,  he  nearly  always  pur- 
chased the  goods  himself  with  which  to  supply  the 
stores.  Although  not  a  regular  practitioner  of  medi- 
cine, he  studied  the  healing  art  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent, and  took  great  pleasure  in  prescribing  for,  and 
taking  care  of,  the  sick,  generally  without  charge. 
He  was  also  liberal  to  the  poor,  several  widows  and 
ministers  of  the  gospel  becoming  indebted  to  him 
even  for  their  homes. 

He  married  Miss  Elvira  Lane,  of  Maryland,  in 
1803,  and  they  became  the  affectionate  parents  of 
several  children,  one  of  whom,  especially,  is  well1 
known  to  the  people  of  the  "  Prairie  State,"  namely, 
Ninian  Wirt  Edwards,  once  the  Superintendent  c< 
Public  Instruction  and  still  a  resident  of  Springfield 
Gov.  Edwards  resided  at  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Kas- 
kaskia  from  1809  to  1818;  in  Edwardsville  (named 
after  him)  from  that  time  to  1824;  and  from  the  lat- 
ter date  at  Belleville,  St.  Clair  County,  until  his 
death,  July  20,  1833,  of  Asiatic  cholera.  Edwards 
County  is  also  named  in  his  honor. 


GO  VERNGRS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


127 


REYNOLDS,  Governor  1831- 

4,  was  born  in  Montgomery  Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  Feb.  26,  1788. 
His  father,  Robert  Reynolds  and 
his  mother,  nee  Margaret  Moore, 
were  both  natives  of  Ireland,  from 
which  country  they  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  in  1785,  land- 
ing at  Philadelphia.  The  senior 
Reynolds  entertained  an  undying 
hostility  to  the  British  Govern- 
ment. When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  about  six  months  old, 
his  parents  emigrated  with  him  to 
Tennessee,  where  many  of  their 
relatives  had  already  located,  at  the  base  of  the 
Copper  Ridge  Mountain,  about  14  miles  northeast  of 
the  present  city  of  Knoxville.  There  they  were  ex- 
uosed  to  Indian  depredations,  and  were  much  molest- 
ed by  them.  In  1794  they  moved  into  the  interior 
of  the  State.  They  were  poor,  and  brought  up  their 
children  to  habits  of  manual  industry. 

•In  1800  the  family  removed  to  Kaskaskia,  111.,  with 
eight  horses  and  two  wagons,  encountering  many 
Hardships  on  the  way.  Here  young  Reynolds  passed 
the  most  of  his  childhood,  while  his  character  began 
to  develop,  the  most  prominent  traits  of  which  were 
ambition  and  energy.  He  also  adopted  the  principle 
and  practice  of  total  abstinence  from  intoxicating 
liquors.  In  1807  the  family  made  another  removal, 


this  time  to  the  "  Goshen  Settlement,"  at  the  foot  of 
the  Mississippi  bluffs  three  or  four  miles  southwest 
of  Edwardsville. 

On  arriving  at  his  2oth  year,  Mr.  Reynolds,  seeing 
that  he  must  look  about  for  his  own  livelihood  and 
not  yet  having  determined  what  calling  to  pursue, 
concluded  first  to  attend  college,  and  he  accordingly 
went  to  such  an  institution  of  learning,  near  Knox- 
ville, Tenn.,  where  he  had  relatives.  Imagine  his 
diffidence,  when,  after  passing  the  first  20  years  of 
his  life  without  ever  having  seen  a  carpet,  a  papered 
wall  or  a  Windsor  chair,  and  never  having  lived  in  a 
shingle-roofed  house,  he  suddenly  ushered  himsel!' 
into  the  society  of  the  wealthy  in  the  vicinity  of 
Knoxville!  He  attended  college  nearly  two  years, 
going  through  the  principal  Latin  authors;  but  it 
seems  that  he,  like  the  rest  of  the  world  in  modern 
times,  had  but  very  little  use  for  his  Latin  in  after 
life.  He  always  failed,  indeed,  to  exhibit  any  good 
degree  of  literary  discipline.  He  commenced  the 
study  of  law  in  Knoxville,  but  a  pulmonary  trouble 
came  on  and  compelled  him  to  change  his  mode 
of  life.  Accordingly  he  returned  home  and  re- 
cuperated, and  in  1812  resumed  his  college  and 
law  studies  at  Knoxville.  In  the  fall  of  1812  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  at  Kaskaskia.  About  this  time 
he  also  learned  the  French  language,  which  he 
practiced  with  pleasure  in  conversation  with  his 
family  for  many  years.  He  regarded  this  language 
as  being  superior  to  all  others  for  social  intercourse. 


124 


JOHN  REYNOLDS. 


From  his  services  in  the  West,  in  the  war  of  1812, 
he  obtained  the  sobriquet  of  the  "  Old  Ranger."  He 
was  Orderly  Sergeant,  then  Judge  Advocate. 

Mr.  Reynolds  opened  his  first  law  office  in  the 
winter  and  spring  of  1814,  in  the  French  village  of 
Cahokia,  then  the  capital  of  St.  Clair  County. 

In  the  fall  of  1818  he  was  elected  an  Associate 
Justice  upon  the  Supreme  Bench  by  the  General 
Assembly.  In  1825  he  entered  more  earnestly  than 
ever  into  the  practice  of  law,  and  the  very  next  year 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  where  he 
acted  independently  of  all  cliques  and  private  inter- 
ests. In  1828  the  Whigs  and  Democrats  were  for 
the  first  time  distinctively  organized  as  such  in  Illi- 
nois, and  the  usual  party  bitterness  grew  up  and 
raged  on  all  sides,  while  Mr.  Reynolds  preserved  a 
"udicial  calmness  and  moderation.  The  real  animus 
of  the  campaign  was  "  Jackson  "  and  "  anti- Jackson," 
'he  former  party  carrying  the  State. 

In  August,  1830,  Mr.  Reynolds  was  elected  Gov- 
ornor,  amid  great  excitement.  Installed  in  office,  he 
did  all  within  his  power  to  advance  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation, internal  improvements,  the  Illinois  &  Mich- 
igan Canal,  the  harbor  at  Chicago,  settling  the  coun- 
try, etc.;  also  reccmmended  the  winding  up  of  the 
State  Bank,  as  its  affairs  had  become  dangerously 
complicated.  In  his  national  politics,  he  .  was  a 
moderate  supporter  of  General  Jackson.  But  the 
most  celebrated  event  of  his  gubernatorial  admin- 
istration was  the  Black  Hawk  War,  which  occurred 
in  1832.  He  called  out  the  militia  and  prosecuted 
the  contest  with  commendable  diligence,  appearing 
in  person  on  the  battle-grounds  during  the  most 
critical  periods.  He  was  recognized  by  the  President 
as  Major-General,  and  authorized  by  him  to  make 
treaties  with  the  Indians.  By  the  assistance  of  the 
gerr.ral  Government  the  war  was  terminated  without 
much  bloodshed,  but  after  many  serious  fights.  This 
war,  as  well  as  everything  else,  was  materially  re- 
tarded by  the  occurrence  of  Asiatic  cholera  in  the 
West.  This  was  its  first  appearance  here,  and  was 
the  next  event  in  prominence  during  Gov.  Reynolds' 
term. 

South  Carolina  nullification  coming  up  at  this  time, 
!:  was  heartily  condemned  by  both  President  Jackson 
,.nd  Gov.  Reynolds,  who  took  precisely  the  same 
grounds  as  the  Unionists  in  the  last  war. 

On  the  termination  of  his  gubernatorial  term  in 
.834,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  elected  a  Member  of  Con- 
gress, still  considering  himself  a  backwoodsman,  as 
'  e  had  scarcely  been  outside  of  the  State  since  he 
Became  of  age,  and  had  spent  nearly  all  his  youthful 
Jays  in  the  wildest  region  of  the  frontier.  His  firFt 
nove  in  Congress  was  to  adopt  a  resolution  that  in 
all  elections  made  by  the  House  for  officers  the  votes 
should  be  given  viva  voce,  each  member  in  his  place 
naming  aloud  the  person  for  whom  he  votes.  This 
created  considerable  heated  discussion,  but  was  es- 


sentially adopted,  and  remained  the  controlling  prin- 
ciple for  many  years.  The  ex  Governor  was  scarcely 
absent  from  his  seat  a  single  day,  during  eight  ses- 
sions of  Congress,  covering  a  period  of  seven  years, 
and  he  never  vacillated  in  a  party  vote;  but  he  failed 
to  get  the  Democratic  party  to  foster  his  "  National 
Road  "  scheme.  He  says,  in  "  My  Own  Times  "  (a 
large  autobiography  he  published),  that  it  was  only 
by  rigid  economy  that  he  avoided  insolvency  while  in 
Washington.  During  his  sojourn  in  that  city  he  was 
married,  to  a  lady  of  the  place. . 

In  1837,  while  out  of  Congress,  and  in  company 
with  a  few  others,  he  built  the  first  railroad  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  namely,  one  about  six  miles  long, 
leading  from  his  coal  mine  in  the  Mississippi  bluff  to 
the  bank  of  the  river  opposite  St.  Louis.  Having  not 
the  means  to  purchase  a  locomotive,  they. operated  it 
by  horse-power.  The  next  spring,  however,  the  com- 
pany sold  out,  at  great  sacrifice. 

In  1839  the  ex-Governor  was  appointed  one  of  the 
Canal  Commissioners,  and  authorized  to  borrow 
money  to  prosecute  the  enterprise.  Accord1' ngly,  he 
repaired  to  Philadelphia  and  succeeding  in  obtaining 
a  million  dollars,  which,  however,  was  only  a  fourth 
of  what  was  wanted.  The  same  year  he  and  his 
wife  made  at  our  of  Europe.  This  year,  also,  Mr. 
Reynolds  had  the  rather  awkward  little  responsibility 
of  introducing  to  President  Van  Buren  the  noted 
Mormon  Prophet,  Joseph  Smith,  as  a  "  Latter- Day 
Saint!  " 

In  1846  Gov.  Reynolds  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Legislature  from  St.  Clair  County,  more  particu- 
larly for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  feasible  charter 
for  a  macadamized  road  from  Belleville  to  St.  Louis, 
a  distance  of  nearly  14  miles.  This  was  immediately 
built,  and  was  the  first  road  of  the  kind  in  the  State. 
He  was  again  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1852,  when 
he  was  chosen  Speaker  of  the  House.  In  1860,  aged 
and  infirm,  he  attended  the  National  Democratic 
Convention  at  Charleston,  S.  C  ,  as  an  anti-Douglas 
Delegate,  where  he  received  more  attention  from  the 
Southern  Delegates  than  any  other  member.  He 
supported  Breckenridge  for  the  Presidency.  After 
the  October  elections  foreshadowed  the  success  of 
Lincoln,  he  published  an  address  urging  the  Demo- 
crats to  rally  to  the  support  of  Douglas.  Immedi- 
ately preceding  and  during  the  late  war,  his  corre- 
spondence evinced  a  clear  sympathy  for  the  Southern 
secession,  and  about  the  first  of  March,  1861,  he 
urged  upon  the  Buchanan  officials  the  seizure  of  the 
treasure  and  arms  in  the  custom-house  and  arsenal 
at  St.  Louis.  .  Mr.  Reynolds  was  a  rather  talkative 
man,  and  apt  in  all  the  Western  phrases  and  catch- 
words that  ever  gained  currency,  besides  many  cun- 
ning and  odd  ones  of  his  own  manufacture. 

He  was  married  twice,  but  had  no  children.  He 
died  in  Belleville,  in  May,  1865,  just  after  the  close 
of  the  war. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


127 


LIAM  LEE  D.  EWING, 
Governor  of  Illinois  Nov.  3 
to  17,  1834,  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  and  probably 
of  Scotch  ancestry.  He  had 
a  fine  education,  was  a  gentle- 
man of  polished  manners  and 
refined  sentiment.  In  1830  John  Rey- 
nolds was  elected  Governor  of  the  State, 
and  Zadok  Casey  Lieutenant  Governor, 
and  for  the  principal  events  that  followed, 
and  the  characteristics  of  the  times,  see 
sketch  of  Gov.  Reynolds.  The  first  we 
see  in  history  concerning  Mr.  Ewing,  in- 
forms us  that  he  was  a  Receiver  of  Public 
Mor.eys  at  Vandalia  soon  after  the  organization  of 
tftis  State,  and  that  the  public  moneys  in  his  hands 
v.'ere  deposited  in  various  banks,  as  they  are  usually 
••'-.  UK  -/resent  day.  In  1823  the  State  Bank  was 
obbed,  by  which  disaster  Mr.  Ewing  lost  a  thousand- 
dollar  deposit. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  had  a  commission  as 
Colonel  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  in  emergencies 
ne  acted  also  as  Major.  In  the  summer  of  1832, 
when  :'.i  ^as  rumored  among  the  whites  that  Black 
Hawk  ar.d  "iis  men  had  encamped  somewhere  on 
Rock  River,  Gen.  Henry  was  sent  on  a  tour  of 
reconnoisance,  and  with  orders  to  drive  the  Indians 
from  the  State.  After  some  opposition  from  his 
rubordinate  officers,  Henry  resolved  to  proceed  up 
Rock  River  in  search  of  the  enemy.  On  the  igth  of 
July,  early  in  the  morning,  five  baggage  wagons. 


camp  equipage  and  all  heavy,  and  cumbersome  arti- 
cles were  piled  up  and  left,  so  that  the  army  might 
make  speedy  and  forced  marches.  For  some  miles 
the  travel  was  exceedingly  bad,  crossing  swamps 
and  the  worst  thickets;  but  the  large,  fresh  trail 
gave  life  and  animation  to  the  Americans.  Gen. 
Dodge  and  Col.  Ewing  were  both  acting  as  Majors, 
and  composed  the  "  spy  corps  "  or  vanguard  of  the 
army.  It  is  supposed  the  army  marched  nearly  50 
miles  this  day,  and  the  Indian  trail  they  followed 
became  fresher,  and  was  strewed  with  much  property 
and  trinkets  of  the  red-skins  that  they  had  lost  or 
thrown  away  to  hasten  their  march.  During  the 
following  night  there  was  a  terrific  thunder-storm,  and 
the  soldiery,  with  all  their  appurtenances,  were  thor- 
oughly drenched. 

On  approaching  nearer  the  Indians  the  next  day. 
Gen.  Dodge  and  Major  Ewing,  each  commanding  a 
battalion  of  men,  were  placed  in  front  to  bring  on  the 
battle,  but  the  savages  were  not  overtaken  this  day 
Forced  marches  were  continued  until  they  reached. 
Wisconsin  River,  where  a  veritable  battle  ensued, 
resulting  in  the  death  of  about  68  of  Black  Hawk's 
men.  The  next  day  they  continued  the  chase,  and 
as  soon  as  he  discovered  the  trail  of  the  Indians 
leading  toward  the  Mississippi,  Maj.  Ewing  formed 
his  battalion  in  order  of  battle  and  awaited  the  order 
of  Gen.  Henry.  The  latter  soon  appeared  on  the 
ground  and  ordered  a  charge,  which  directly  resulted 
in  chasing  the  red  warriors  across  the  great  river. 
Maj.  Ewing  and  his  command  proved  particularly- 
efficient  in  war,  as  it  seems  they  were  the  chief  actors 
in  driving  the  main  body  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  in- 


128 


WILLIAM  L.  D.  E IV ING. 


eluding  Black  Hawk  himself,  across  the  Mississippi, 
while  Gen.  Atkinson,  commander-in-chief  of  the  ex- 
pedition, with  a  body  of  the  army,  was  hunting  for 
them  in  another  direction. 

In  the  above  affair  Maj.  Ewing  is  often  referred  to 
as  a  "  General,"  which  title  he  had  derived  from  his 
connection  with  the  militia. 

It  was  in  the  latter  part  of  the  same  year  (1832) 
that  Lieutenant  Governor  Casey  was  elected  to  Con- 
gress and  Gen.  Ewing,  who  had  been  elected  to  the 
Senate,  was  chosen  to  preside  over  that  body.  At 
the  August  election  of  1834,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  also 
elected  to  Congress,  more  than  a  year  ahead  of  the 
time  at  which  he  could  actually  take  his  seat,  as  was 
then  the  law.  His  predecessor,  Charles  Slade,  had 
just  died  of  Asiatic  cholera,  soon  after  the  elec- 
tion, and  Gov.  Reynolds  was  chosen  to  serve  out  his 
unexpired  term.  Accordingly  he  set  out  for  Wash- 
ington in  November  of  that  year  to  take  his  seat  in 
Congress,  and  Gen.  Ewing,  by  virtue  of  his  office  as 
President  of  the  Senate,  became  Governor  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  his  term  covering  only  a  period  of 
15  days,  namely,  from  the  3d  to  the  lyth  days,  in- 
clusive, of  November.  On  the  lyth  the  Legislature 
met,  and  Gov.  Ewing  transmitted  to  that  body  his 
message,  giving  a  Statement  of  the  condition  of  the 
affairs  of  the  State  at  that  time,  and  urging  a  contin- 
uance of  the  policy  adopted  by  his  predecessor;  and 
-jn  the  same  day  Governor  elect  Joseph  Duncan 
Tas  sworn  into  office,  thus  relieving  Mr.  Ewing  from 


the  responsible  situation.  This  is  the  only  time  that 
such  a  juncture  has  happened  in  the  history  of  Illi- 
nois. 

On  the  29th  of  December,  1835,  Gen.  Ewing  was 
elected  a  United  States  Senator  to  serve  out  the 
unexpired  term  of  Elias  Kent  Kane,  deceased.  The 
latter  gentleman  was  a  very  prominent  figure  in  the 
early  politics  of  Illinois,  and  a  county  in  this  State  is 
named  in  his  honor.  The  election  of  Gen.  Ewing  to 
the  Senate  was  a  protracted  struggle.  His  competi- 
tors were  James  Semple,  who  afterwards  held  several 
important  offices  in  this  State,  and  Richard  M. 
Young,  afterward  a  United  States  Senator  and  a 
Supreme  Judge  and  a  man  of  vast  influence.  On 
the  first  ballot  Mr.  Semple  had  25  votes,  Young  19 
and  Ewing  18.  On  the  eighth  ballot  Young  was 
dropped ;  the  ninth  and  tenth  stood  a  tie ;  but  on 
the  1 2th  Ewing  received  40,  to  Semple  37,  and  was 
accordingly  declared  elected.  In  1837  Mr.  Ewing 
received  some  votes  for  a  continuance  of  his  term  in 
Congress,  when  Mr.  Young,  just  referred  to,  was 
elected.  In  1842  Mr.  Ewing  was  elected  State 
Auditor  on  the  ticket  with  Gov.  Ford. 

Gen.  Ewing  was  a  gentleman  of  culture,  a  lawyer 
by  profession,  and  was  much  in  public  life.  In  person 
he  was  above  medium  height  and  of  heavy  build, 
with  auburn  hair,  blue  eyes,  large-sized  head  and 
short  face.  He  was  genial,  social,  friendly  and 
affable,  with  fair  talent,  though  of  no  high  degree  of 
originality.  He  died  March  25,  1846. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


I'M 


—467—*- 


OSEPH  DUNCAN,  Governor 
1834-8,  was  born  at  Paris, 
Ky.,  Feb.  23,  1794.  At  the 
tender  age  of  19  years  he  en- 
listed in  the  war  against  Greal 
Britain,  and  as  a  soldier  he 
acquitted  himself  with  credit.  He 
was  an  Ensign  under  the  daunt- 
less Croghan  at  Lower  Sandusky, 
or  Fort  Stephenson.  In  Illinois 
he  first  appeared  in  a  public  capa- 
city as  Major-General  of  the  Militia, 
a  position  which  his  military  fame 
had  procured  him.  Subsequently 
he  became  a  State  Senator  from 
Jackson  County,  and  is  honorably 
mentioned  for  introducing  the  first  bill  providing  for 
a  free-school  system.  In  1826,  when  the  redoubt- 
able John  P.  Cook,  who  had  previously  beaten  such 
men  as  John  McLean,  Elias  Kent  Kane  and  ex- 
Gov.  Bond,  came  up  for  the  fourth  time  for  Congress, 
Mr.  Duncan  was  brought  forward  against  him  by  his 
friends,  greatly  to  the  surprise  of  all  the  politicians. 
As  yet  he  was  but  little  known  in  the  State.  He  was 
an  original  Jackson  man  at  that  time,  being  attached 
to  his  political  fortune  in  admiration  of  the  glory  of 
his  militaiy  achievements.  His  chances  of  success 
against  Cook  were  generally  regarded  as  hopeless, 
but  he  entered  upon  the  campaign  undaunted.  His 
speeches,  though  short  and  devoid  of  ornament,  were 
full  of  good  sense.  He  made  a  diligent  canvass  of 
the  State,  Mr.  Cook  being  hindered  by  the  condition  of 
his  health.  The  most  that  was  expected  of  Mr. 
Duncan,  under  the  circumstances,  was  that  he  would 


obtain  a  respectable  vote,  but  without  defeating  Mr. 
Cook.  The  result  of  the  campaign,  however,  was  a 
source  of  surprise  and  amazement  to  both  friends 
and  foes,  as  Mr.  Duncan  came  out  641  votes  ahead! 
He  received  6,321  votes,  and  Mr.  Cook  5,680.  Un- 
til this  denouement,  the  violence  of  party  feeling 
smoldering  in  the  breasts  of  the  people  on  account 
of  the  defeat  of  Jackson,  was  not  duly  appreciated. 
Aside  from  the  great  convention  struggle  of  1824,  no 
other  than  mere  local  and  personal  considerations 
had  ever  before  controlled  an  election  in  Illinois. 

From  the  above  date  Mr.  Duncan  retained  his 
seat  in  Congress  until  his  election  as  Governor  in 
August,  1834.  The  first  and  bloodless  year  of  the 
Black  Hawk  War  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Rey- 
nolds to  the  position  of  Brigadier-General  of  the 
volunteers,  and  he  conducted  his  brigade  to  Rock 
Island.  But  he  was  absent  from  the  State,  in  Wash- 
ington, during  the  gubernatorial  campaign,  and  did 
not  personally  participate  in  it,  but  addressed  circu- 
lars to  his  constituents.  His  election  was,  indeed, 
attributed  to  the  circumstance  of  his  absence,  be- 
cause his  estrangement  from  Jackson,  formerly  his 
political  idol,  and  also  from  the  Democracy,  largely 
in  ascendency  in  the  State,  was  complete ;  but  while 
his  defection  was  well  known  to  his  Whig  friends, 
and  even  to  the  leading  Jackson  men  of  this  State, 
the  latter  were  unable  to  carry  conviction  of  that  fact 
to  the  masses,  as  mail  and  newspaper  facilities  at 
that  day  were  far  inferior  to  those  of  the  present 
time.  Of  course  the  Governor  was  much  abused 
afterward  by  the  fossilized  Jackson  men  who  re- 
garded party  ties  and  affiliations  as  above  all 
other  issues  that  could  arise;  but  he  was  doubtless 


I32 


JOSEPH  DUNCAN. 


sincere  in  his  opposition  to  the  old  hero,  as  the  latter 
j;ad  vetoed  several  important  western  measures 
which  were  dear  to  Mr.  Duncan.  In  his  inaugural 
message  he  threw  off  the  mask  and  took  a  bold  stand 
ngainst  the  course  of  the  President.  The  measures 
r.e  recommended  in  his  message,  however,  were  so 
desirable  that  the  Legislature,  although  by  a  large 
majority  consisting  of  Jackson  men,  could  not  refrain 
from  endorsing  them.  These  measures  related 
raainly  to  barks  and  internal  improvements. 

It  was  while  Mr.  Duncan  was  Governor  that  the 
people  of  Illinois  went  whirling  on  with  bank  and  in- 
ternal improvement  schemes  that  well  nigh  bank- 
*upted  the  Slate.  The  hard  times  of  1837  came  on, 
and  the  disasters  that  attended  the  inauguration  of 
:hese  plans  and  the  operation  of  the  banks  were  mu- 
tually charged  upon  the  two  political  parties.  Had 
any  one  man  autocratic  power  to  introduce  and 
carry  on  any  one  of  these  measures,  he  would  proba- 
bly have  succeeded  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  public; 
Lut  as  many  jealous  men  had  hold  of  the  same  plow 
handle,  no  success  followed  and  each  blamed  the  other 
ror  the  failure.  In  this  great  vortex  Gov.  Duncan 
was  carried  along,  suffering  the  like  derogation  of 
character  with  his  fellow  citizens. 

At  the  height  of  the  excitement  the  Legislature 
"  provided  for  "  railroads  from  Galena  to  Cairo,  Alton 
to  Shawneetown,  Alton  to  Mount  Carmel,  Alton  to  the 
eastern  boundary  of  the  State  in  the  direction  of 
Tcrre  Haute,  Quincy  via  Springfield  to  the  Wabash, 
Bloomington  to  Pekin,  and  Peoria  to  Warsaw, — in  all 
about  1,300  miles  of  road.  It  also  provided  for  the 
improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  Kaskaskia, 
Illinois,  Great  and  Little  Wabash  and  Rock  Rivers  ; 
also  as  a  placebo,  $200,000  in  money  were  to  be  dis- 
tributed to  the  various  counties  wherein  no  improve- 
ments were  ordered  to  be  made  as  above.  The 
estimate  for  the  expenses  for  all  these  projects  was 
:laced  at  a  little  over  $10,000,000,  which  was  not 
more  man  half  enough!  That  would  now  be  equal  to 
saddling  upon  the  State  a  debt  of  $225,000,000!  It 
was  sufficient  to  bankrupt  the  State  several  times 
over,  even  counting  all  the  possible  benefits. 

One  of  the  most  exciting  events  that  ever  occurred 
<n  this  fair  State  was  the  murder  of  Elijah  P.  Love- 
<oy  in  the  fall  of  1837,  at  Alton,  during  Mr.  Duncan's 
term  as  Governor.  Lovejoy  was  an  "  Abolitionist," 
editing  the  Observer  at  that  place,  and  the  pro- 
slavery  slums  there  formed  themselves  into  a  mob, 


and  after  destroying  successively  three  presses  be- 
longing to  Mr.  Lovejoy,  surrounded  the  warehouse 
where  the  fourth  press  was  stored  away,  endeavoring 
to  destroy  it,  and  where  Lovejoy  and  his  friends 
were  entrenching  themselves,  and  shot  and  killed  the 
brave  reformer! 

About  this  time,  also,  the  question  of  removing  the 
State  capital  again  came  up,  as  the  20  years'  limit  for 
its  existence  at  Vandalia  was  drawing  to  a  close. 
There  was,  of  course,  considerable  excitement  over 
the  matter,  the  two  main  points  competing  for  it  be- 
ing Springfield  and  Peoria.  The  jealousy  of  the  lat- 
ter place  is  not  even  yet,  45  years  afterward,  fully 
allayed. 

Gov.  Duncan's  term  expired  in  1838.  In  1842 
he  was  again  proposed  as  a  candidate  for  the  Execu- 
tive chair,  this  time  by  the  Whig  party,  against  Adam 
W.  Snyder,  of  St.  Clair  County,  the  nominee  of  the 
Democrats.  Charles  W.  Hunter  was  a  third  candi- 
date for  the  same  position.  Mr.  Snyder,  however,  died 
before  the  campaign  had  advanced  very  far,  and  his 
party  substituted  Thomas  Ford,  who  was  elected, 
receiving  46,901  votes,  to  38,584  for  Duncan,  and 
909  for  Hunter.  The  cause  of  Democratic  success 
at  this  time  is  mainly  attributed  to  the  temporary 
support  of  the  Mormons  which  they  enjoyed,  and  the 
want  of  any  knowledge,  on  the  part  of  the  masses, 
i hat  Mr.  Ford  was  opposed  to  any  given  jjolicy  en- 
leitained  in  the  respective  localities. 

Gov.  Duncan  was  a  man  of  rather  limited  educa- 
tion, but  with  naturally  fine  abilities  he  profited 
greatly  by  his  various  public  services,  and  gathered 
a  store  of  knowledge  regarding  public  affairs  which 
served  him  a  ready  purpose.  He  possessed  a  clear 
judgment,  decision,  confidence  in  himself  and  moral 
courage  to  carry  out  his  convictions  of  right.  In  his 
deportment  he  was  well  adapted  to  gain  the  admira- 
tion of  the  people.  His  intercourse  with  them  was 
both  affable  and  dignified.  His  portrait  at  the  Gov- 
ernor's mansion,  from  which  the  accompanying  was 
made,  represents  him  as  having  a  swarthy  complex- 
ion, high  cheek  bones,  broad  forehead,  piercing  black 
eyes  and  straight  black  hair. 

He  was  a  liberal  patron  of  the  Illinois  College  at 
Jacksonville,  a  member  of  its  Board  of  Trustees,  and 
died,  after  a  short  illness,  Jan.  15,  1844,  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  leaving  a  wife 
but  no  children.  Two  children,  born  to  them,  had 
died  in  infancy. 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'35 


tHOMAS  CARLIN,  the  sixth 
Governor  of  the  State  of 
Illinois,  serving  from  1838 
to  1842,  was  also  a  Ken- 
tuckian,  being  born  near 
Frankfort,  that  State,  July 
18,  1789,  of  Irish  paternity. 
The  opportunities  for  an  education 
being  very  meager  in  his  native 
place,  he,  on  approaching  years  of 
judgment  and  maturity,  applied 
himself  to  those  branches  of  learn- 
ing that  seemed  most  important, 
and  thus  became  a  self-made  man  ; 
and  his  taste  for  reading  and 
study  remained  with  him  through 
life.  In  1803  his  father  removed 
10  Missouri,  then  a  part  of  "  New  Spain,"  where  he 
died  in  1810. 

In  1812  young  Carlin  came  to  Illinois  and  partici- 
pated in  all  the  "ranging"  service  incident  to  the 
war  of  that  .period,  proving  himself  a  soldier  of  un- 
daunted bravery.  In  1814  he  married  Rebecca 
Huitt,  and  lived  for  four  years  on  the  bank  of  the 
Mississippi  River,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Mis- 
sc.'.vi,  where  he  followed  farming,  and  then  removed 
to  Greene  County.  He  located  the  town  site  of  Car- 
ro':ton,  in  that  county,  and  in  ^25  made  a  liberal 
donation  of  land  for  county  building  purposes.  He 
was  the  first  Sheriff  of  that  county  after  its  separate 
organization,  and  afterward  was  twice  elected,  as  a 
] .11  kson  Democrat,  to  the  Illinois  Senate.  In  the 
IVuick  Hawk  War  he  commanded  a  spy  battalion,  a 
po.^t  of  considerable  danger.  In  1834  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Jackson  to  the  position  of 
Receiver  of  Public  Moneys,  and  to  fulfill  the  office 


more  conveniently  he  removed  to  the  city  of  Quincy. 
While,  in  r838,  the  unwieldy  internal  improvement 
system  of  the  State  was  in  full  operation,  with  all  its 
expensive  machinery,  amidst  bank  suspensions 
throughout  the  United  States,  a  great  stringency  in 
the  money  market  everywhere,  and  Illinois  bonds 
forced  to  sale  at  a  heavy  discount,  and  the  "  hardest 
times  "  existing  that  the  people  of  the  Prairie  State 
ever  saw,  the  general  election  of  State  officers  was 
approaching.  Discreet  men  who  had  cherished  the 
hope  of  a  speedy  subsidence  of  the  public  infatua- 
tion, met  with  disappointment.  A  Governor  and 
Legislature  were  to  be  elected,  and  these  were  now 
looked  forward  to  for  a  repeal  of  the  ruinous  State 
policy.  But  the  grand  scheme. had  not  yet  lost  its 
dazzling  influence  upon  the  minds  of  the  people. 
Time  and  experience  had  not  yet  fully  demonstrated 
its  utter  absurdity.  Hence  the  question  of  arresting 
its  career  of  profligate  expenditures  did  not  become 
a  leading  one  with  the  dominant  party  during  the 
campaign,  and  most  of  the  old  members  of  the  Leg- 
islature were  returned  at  this  election. 

Under  these  circumstances  the  Democrats,  in  State 
Convention  assembled,  nominated  Mr.  Carlin  for  the 
office  of  Governor,  and  S.  H.  Anderson  for  Lieuten- 
ant Governor,  while  the  Whigs  nominated  Cyrus  Ed- 
wards, brother  of  Ninian  Edwards,  formerly  Governor, 
and  W.  H.  Davidson.  Edwards  came  out  strongly 
for  a  continuance  of  the  State  policy,  while  Carlin 
remained  non-committal.  This  was  the  first  time 
*that  the  two  main  political  parties  in  this  State  were 
unembarrassed  by  any  third  party  in  the  field.  The 
result  of  the  election  was:  Carlin,  35,573;  Ander- 
son, 30,335  ;  Edwards,  29,629 ;  and  Davidson,  28,- 

Upon  the  meeting  of  the  subsequent   Legislature 
(1839),  the  retiring  Governor  CDuncan')  in    his  mes- 


i36 


THOMAS  CARL1N. 


sage  spoke  in  emphatic  terms  of  the  impolicy  of  the 
internal  improvement  system,  presaging  the  evils 
threatened,  and  mged  that  body  to  do  their  utmost 
to  correct  the  great  error ;  yet,  on  the  contrary,  the 
Legislature  not  only  decided  to  continue  the  policy 
but  also  added  to  its  burden  by  voting  more  appro- 
priations and  ordering  more  improvements.  Although 
the  money  market  was  still  stringent,  a  further  loan 
of  $4,000,000  was  ordered  for  the  Illinois  &  Mich- 
igan Canal  alone.  Ch'cago  at  that  time  began  to 
loom  up  and  promise  to  be  an  important  city,  even 
the  great  emporium  of  the  West,  as  it  has  since  in- 
deed came  to  be.  Ex-Gov.  Reynolds,  an  incompe- 
tent financier,  was  commissioned  to  effect  the  loan, 
and  accordingly  hastened  to  the  East  on  this  respons- 
ible errand,  and  negotiated  the  loans,  at  considera- 
ble sacrifice  to  the  State.  Besides  this  embarrassment 
to  Carlin's  administration,  the  Legislature  also  de- 
clared that  he  had  no  authority  to  appoint  a  Secretary 
of  State  until  a  vacancy  existed,  and  A.  P.  Field,  a 
Whig,  who  had  already  held  the  post  by  appointment 
through  three  administrations,  was  determined  to 
keep  the  place  a  while  longer,  in  spite  of  Gov.  Car- 
lin's preferences.  The  course  of  the  Legislature  in 
this  regard,  however,  was  finally  sustained  by  the 
Supreme  Court,  in  a  quo  warranto  case  brought  up 
before  it  by  John  A.  McClernand,  whom  the  Gov- 
ernor had  nominated  for  the  office.  Thereupon  that 
dignified  body  was  denounced  as  a  "Whig  Court!" 
endeavoring  to  establish  the  principle  of  life-tenure 
of  office. 

A  new  law  was  adopted  re-organizing  the  Judici- 
ary, and  under  it  five  additional  Supreme  Judges 
were  elected  by  the  Legislature,  namely,  Thomas 
Ford  (afterward  Governor),  Sidney  Breese,  Walter  B. 
Scales,  Samuel  H.  Treat  and  Stephen  A.  Douglas — 
all  Democrats. 

It  was  during  Cov.  Carlin's  administration  that  the 
noisy  campaign  of  "  Tippecanoe  and  Tyler  too  "  oc- 
curred, resulting  in  a  Whig  victory.  This,  however, 
did  not  affect  Illinois  politics  very  seriously. 

Another  prominent  event  in  the  West  during  Gov. 
Carlin's  term  of  office  was  the  excitement  caused  by 
the  Mormons  and  their  removal  from  Independence, 
Mo.,  to  Nauvoo,  111.,  in  1840.  At  the  same  time 
they  began  to  figure  somewhat  in  State  politics.  On 
account  of  their  believing — as  they  thought,  accord- 
ing to  the  New  Testament — that  they  should  have 


"  all  things  common,"  and  that  consequently  "  all 
the  earth  "  and  all  that  is  upon  it  were  the"  Lord's  " 
and  therefore  the  property  of  his  "  saints,"  they 
were  suspected,  and  correctly,  too,  of  committing 
many  of  the  deeds  of  larceny,  robbery,  etc.,  that 
were  so -rife  throughout  this  country  in  those  days. 
Hence  a  feeling  of  violence  grew  up  between  the 
Mormons  and  "anti-Mormons."  In  the  State  of 
Missouri  the  Mormons  always  supported  the  Dem- 
ocracy until  they  were  driven  out  by  the  Democratic 
government,  when  they  turned  their  support  to  the 
Whigs.  They  were  becoming  numerous,  and  in  the 
Legislature  of  1840-1,  therefore,  it  became  a  matter 
of  great  interest  with  both  parties  to  conciliate  these 
people.  Through  the  agency  of  one  John  C.  Ben- 
nett, a  scamp,  the  Mormons  succeeded  in  rushing 
through  the  Legislature  (both  parties  not  daring  io 
oppose)  a  charter  for  the  city  of  Nauvoo  which  /ir- 
tually  erected  a  hierarchy  co-ordinate  with  the  Fed  • 
eral  Government  itself.  In  the  fall  of  1841  the 
Governor  of  Missouri  made  a  demand  upon  Gov. 
Carlin  for  the  body  of  Joe  Smith,  the  Mormon  leader, 
as  a  fugitive  from  justice.  Gov.  Carlin  issued  the 
writ,  but  for  some  reason  it  was  returned  unserved. 
It  was  again  issued  in  1842,  and  Smith  was  arrested, 
but  was  either  rescued  by  his  followers  or  discharged 
by  the  municipal  court  on  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus. 

In  December,  i84t,  the  Democratic  Convention 
nominated  Adam  W.  Snyder,  of  Belleville,  for  Gov- 
ernor. As  he  had  been,  as  a  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, rather  friendly  to  the  Mormons,  the  latter 
naturally  turned  their  support  to  the  Democratic 
party.  The  next  spring  the  Whigs  nominated  Ex- 
Gov.  Duncan  for  the  same  office.  In  the  meantime 
the  Mormons  began  to  grow  more  odious  to  the 
masses  of  the  people,  and  the  comparative  prospects 
of  the  respective  parties  for  success  became  very 
problematical.  Mr.  Snyder  died  in  May,  and 
Thomas  Ford,  a  Supreme  Judge,  was  substituted  as 
a  candidate,  and  was  elected. 

At  the  close  of  his  gubernatorial  term,  Mr.  Carlin 
removed  back  to  his  old  home  at  Carrollton,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  as  before  his  ele- 
vation to  office,  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1849 
he  served  out  the  unexpired  term  of  J.  D.  Fry  in  the 
Illinois  House  of  Representatives,  and  died  Feb.  4, 
1852,  at  his  residence  at  Carrollton,  leaving  a  wife 
and  seven  children. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


139 


JHOMAS  FORD,  Governor 
from  1842  to  1846,  and  au- 
thor of  a  very  interesting 
history  of  Illinois,  was  born 
at  Uniontown,  Pa.,  in  the 
year  1 800.  His  mother,  after 
the  death  of  her  first  hus- 
band (Mr.  Forquer),  married  Rob- 
ert Ford,  who  was  killed  in  1802, 
by  the  Indians  in  the  mountains 
of  Pennsylvania.  She  was  conse- 
quently left  in  indigent  circum- 
stances, with  a  large  family,  mostly 
girls.  With  a  view  to  better  her 
condition,  she,  in  1804,  removed  to 
Missouri,  where  it  had  been  cus- 
tomary by  the  Spanish  Govern- 
ment to  give  land  to  actual  settlers;  but  upon  her 
arrival  at  St.  Louis  she  found  the  country  ceded  to 
the  United  States,  and  the  liberal  policy  toward  set- 
tlers changed  by  the  new  ownership.  After  some 
sickness  to  herself  and  family,  she  finally  removed  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  some  three  miles  south  of  Water- 
loo, but  the  following  year  moved  nearer  the  Missis- 
sippi bluffs.  Here  young  Ford  received  his  first  i 


schooling,  under  the  instructions  of  a  Mr.  Humphrey, 
for  which  he  had  to  walk  three  miles.  His  mother, 
though  lacking  a  thorough  education,  was  a  woman 
of  superior  mental  endowments,  joined  to  energy 
and  determination  of  character.  She  inculcated  in 
her  children  those  high-toned  principles  which  dis- 
tinguished her  sons  in  public  life.  She  exercised  a 
rigid  economy  to  provide  her  children  an  education ; 
but  George  Forquer,  her  oldest  son  (six  years  older 
than  Thomas  Ford),  at  an  early  age  had  to  quit 
school  to  aid  by  his  labor  in  the  support  of  the  family. 
He  afterward  became  an  eminent  man  in  Illinois 
affairs,  and  but  for  his  early  death  would  probably 
have  been  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

Young  Ford,  with  somewhat  better  opportunities, 
received  a  better  education,  though  limited  to  the 
curriculum  of  the  common  school  of  those  pioneer 
times.  His  mind  gave  early  promise  of  superior  en- 
dowments, with  an  inclination  for  mathematics.  His 
proficiency  attracted  the  attention  of  Hon.  Daniel  P. 
Cook,  who  became  his  efficient  patron  and  friend. 
The  latter  gentleman  was  an  eminent  Illinois  states- 
man who,  as  a  Member  of  Congress,  obtained  a  grant 
of  300,000  acres  of  land  to  aid  in  completing  the 
Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal,  and  after  whom  the 
county  of  Cook  was  named.  Through  the  advice  of 


140 


THOMAS  FORD. 


this  gentleman,  Mr.  Ford  turned  his  attention  to  the 
study  of  law;  but  Forquer,  then  merchandising,  re- 
garding his  education  defective,  sent  him  to  Transyl- 
vania University,  where,  however,  he  remained  but 
one  term,  owing  to  Forquer's  failure  in  business.  On 
his  return  he  alternated  his  law  reading  with  teach- 
ing school  for  support. 

In  1829  Gov.  Edwards  appointed  him  Prosecuting 
Attorney,  and  in  i83r  he  was  re-appointed  by  Gov. 
Reynolds,  and  after  that  he  was  four  times  elected  a 
Judge  by  the  Legislature,  without  opposition,  twice  a 
Circuit  Judge,  once  a  Judge  of  Chicago,  and  as  As- 
sociate Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  when,  in  1841, 
the  latter  tribunal  was  re-organized  by  the  addition 
of  five  Judges,  all  Democrats.  Ford  was  assigned  to 
the  Ninth  Judicial  Circuit,  and  while  in  this  capacity 
he  was  holding  Court  in  Ogle  County  he  received  a. 
notice  of  his  nomination  by  the  Democratic  Conven- 
tion for  the  office  of  Governor.  He  immediately  re- 
signed his  place  and  entered  upon  the  canvass.  In 
August,  1842,  he  was  elected,  and  on  the  8th  of  De- 
cember following  he  was  inaugurated. 

AH  the  offices  which  he  had  held  were  unsolicited 
by  him.  He  received  them  upon  the  true  Jefferson- 
ian  principle, — Never  to  ask  .ind  never  to  refuse 
office.  Both  as  a  lawyer  and  as  a  Judge  he  stood 
deservedly  high,  but  his  cast  of  intellect  fitted  him 
rather  for  a  writer  upon  law  than  a  practicing  advo- 
cate in  the  courts.  In  the  latter  capacity  he  was  void 
of  the  moving  power  of  eloquence,  so  necessary  to 
success  with  juries.  As  a  Judge  his  opinions  were 
round,  lucid  and  able  expositions  of  the  law.  In 
practice,  he  was  a  stranger  to  the  tact,  skill  and  in- 
sinuating address  of  the  politician,  but  he  saw  through 
ihe  arts  of  demagogues  as  well  as  any  man.  He  was 
plain  in  his  demeanor,  so  much  so,  indeed,  that  at 
one  time  after  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office, 
during  a  session  of  the  Legislature,  lie  was  taken  by 
a  stranger  to  be  a  seeker  for  the  position  of  door- 
keeper, and  was  waited  upon  at  his  hotel  near  mid- 
night by  a  knot  of  small  office-seekers  with  the  view 
of  effecting  a  "  combination  !  " 

Mr.  Ford  had  not  the  "  brass  "  of  the  ordinary 
politician,  nor  that  impetuosity  which  characterizes  a 
political  leader.  He  cared  little  for  money,  and 
hardly  enough  for  a  decent  support.  In  person  he 
was  of  small  stature,  slender,  of  dark  complexion, 
with  black  hair,  sharp  features,  deep-set  eyes,  a 
pointed,  aquiline  nose  having  a  decided  twist  to  one 
side,  and  a  small  mouth. 

The  three  most  important  events  in  Gov.  Ford's 
administration  were  the  establishment  of  the  high 
financial  credit  of  the  State,  the  "  Mormon  War  "and 
the  Mexican  War. 

In  the  first  of  these  the  Governor  proved  himself 
to  be  eminently  wise.  On  coming  into  office  he  found 
the  State  badly  paralyzed  by  the  ruinous  effects  of 
the  notorious  "internal  improvement"  schemes  of 


the  preceding  decade,  with  scarcely  anything  to 
show  by  way  of  "improvement."  The  enterprise 
that  seemed  to  be  getting  ahead  more  than  all  the 
rest  was  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  As  this 
promised  to  be  the  most  important  thoroughfare, 
feasible  to  the  people,  it  was  well  under  headway  in 
its  construction.  Therefore  the  State  policy  was 
almost  concentrated  upon  it,  in  order  to  rush  it  on  tc 
completion.  The  bonded  indebtedness  of  the  State 
was  growing  so  large  as  to  frighten  the  people,  and 
they  were  about  ready  to  entertain  a  proposition  for 
repudiation.  But  the  Governor  had  the  foresight  to 
recommend  such  measures  as  would  maintain  the 
public  credit,  for  which  every  citizen  to-day  feels 
thankful. 

But  perhaps  the  Governor  is  remembered  more  for 
his  connection  with  the  Mormon  troubles  than  for 
anything  else;  for  it  was  during  his  term  of  office 
that  the  "  Latter- Day  Saints  "  became  so  strong  at 
Nauvoo,  built  their  temple  there,  increased  their  num- 
bers throughout  the  country,  committed  misdemean- 
ors, taught  dangerous  doctrines,  suffered  the  loss  of 
their  leader,  Jo  Smith,  by  a  violent  death,  were  driven 
out  of  Nauvoo  to  the  far  West,  etc.  Having  been  a 
Judge  for  so  many  years  previously,  Mr.  Ford  of 
course  was  no  i-committal  concerning  Mormon  affairs, 
and  was  therefore  claimed  by  both  parties  and  also 
accused  by  each  of  sympathizing  too  greatly  with  the 
other  side.  Mormonism  claiming  to  be  a  system  of 
religion,  the  Governor  no  doubt  was  "  between  two 
fires,"  and  felt  compelled  to  touch  the  matter  rather 
"  gingerly,"  and  doubtless  felt  greatly  relieved  when 
that  pestilential  people  left  the  State.  Such  compli- 
cated matters,  especially  when  religion  is  mixed  up 
with  them,  expose  every  person  participating  in 
them  to  criticism  from  all  parties. 

The  Mexican  War  was  begun  in  the  spring  of 
1845,  and  was  continued  into  the  gubernatorial  term 
of  Mr.  Ford's  su  :cessor.  The  Governor's  connection 
with  this  war,  however,  was  not  conspicuous,  as  it 
was  only  administrative,  commissioning  officers,  etc. 

Ford's  "  History  of  Illinois  "  is  a  veiy  readable  and 
entertaining  work,  of  450  small  octavo  pages,  and  is 
destined  to  increase  in  value  with  the  lapse  of  time. 
It  exhibits  a  natural  flow  of  compact  and  forcible 
thought,  never  failing  to  convey  the  nicest  sense.  In 
tracing  with  his  trenchant  pen  the  devious  operations 
of  the  professional  politician,  in  which  he  is  inimit- 
able, his  account  is  open,  perhaps,  to  the  objection 
that  all  his  contemporaries  are  treated  as  mere  place- 
seekers,  while  many  of  them  have  since  been  judged 
by  the  people  to  be  worthy  statesmen.  His  writings 
seem  slightly  open  to  the  criticism  that  they  exhibit 
a  little  splenetic  partiality  against  those  of  his  con- 
temporaries who  were  prominent  during  his  term  of 
office  as  Governor. 

The  death  of  Gov.  Ford  took  place  at  Peoria,  111., 
Nov.  2,  1850. 


G.)VERi\ORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


143 


K+MEMRMKMJMMMHBNI 

C.  French, 


AUGUSTUS  C.    FRENCH, 
Governor  of  Illinois  from 
1846  to  1852,  was  born  in 
the    town  of  Hill,  in    the 
State  of  New  Hampshire, 
Aug.  2,  1808.     He  was  a 
descendant   in    the  fourth 
generation  of  Nathaniel 
French,  who  emigrated  from   England 
in  1687  and  settled  in  Saybury,  Mass. 
In  early  life  young  French  lost  his 
father,    but  continued   to   receive   in- 
struction   from    an     exemplary     and 
Christian  mother  until  he  was  19  years 
old,  when  she  also  died,  confiding  to 
his  care  and  trust  four  younger  broth- 
ers and  one  sister.     He  discharged   his  trust  with 
parental  devotion.     His  education  in  early  life  was 
such  mainly  as  a  common  school   afforded.     For  a 
brief  period   he   attended    Dartmouth   College,   but 
from   pecuniary  causes  and  the  care  of  his  brothers 
and  sister,  he  did  not  graduate.     He  subsequently 
read  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in   1831,  and 
shortly  afterward  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  first  at 
Albion,  Edwards  County,  where  he  established  him- 
self in  the  practice  of  law.     The  following  year  he 
removed  to  Paris,  Edgar  County.     Here  he  attained 
eminence  in  his  profession,  and  entered  public  life 
by  representing  that  county  in  the  Legislature.     A 
strong  attachment  sprang  up  between  him  and  Ste- 
phen A.  Douglas. 

In  1839,  Mr.  French  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
the  United  States  Land  Office  at  Palestine,  Craw- 
ford County,  at  which  place  he  was  a  resident  when 


elevated  to  the  gubernatorial  chair.  In  1844  he  was 
a  Presidential  Elector,  and  as  such  he  voted  for 
James  K.  Polk. 

The  Democratic  State  Convention  of  1 846,  meet- 
ing at  Springfield  Feb.  10,  nominated  Mr.  French 
for  Governor.  Other  Democratic  candidates  were 
Lyraan  Trumbull,  John  Calhoun  (subsequently  of 
Lecompton  Constitution  notoriety),  Walter  B.  Scales, 
Richard  M.  Young  and  A.  W.  Cavarly, — an  array  of 
very  able  and  prominent  names.  Trumbull  was  per- 
haps defeated  in  the  Convention  by  the  rumor  that 
he  was  opposed  to  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal, 
as  he  had  been  a  year  previously.  For  Lieutenant 
Governor  J.  B.  Wells  was  chosen,  while  other  candi- 
dates were  Lewis  Ross,  Win.  McMurlry,  Newton 
Cloud,  J.  B.  Hamilton  and  W.  W.  Thompson.  The 
resolutions  declared  strongly  against  the  resuscita- 
tion of  the  old  State  Banks. 

The  Whigs,  who  were  in  a  hopeless  minority,  held 
their  convention  June  8,  at  Peoria,  and  selected 
Thomas  M.  Kilpatrick,  of  Scott  County,  for  Governor, 
and  Gen.  Nathaniel  G.  Wilcox,  of  Schuyler,  for 
Lieutenant  Governor. 

In  the  campaign  the  latter  exposed  Mr.  French's 
record  and  connection  with  the  passage  of  the  in- 
ternal improvement  system,  urging  it  against  his 
election ;  but  in  the  meantime  the  war  with  Mexico 
broke  out,  regarding  which  the  Whig  record  was  un- 
popular in  this  State.  The  war  was  the  absorbing 
and  dominating  question  of  the  period,  sweeping 
every  other  political  issue  in  its  course.  The  elec- 
tion in  August  gave  Mr.  French  58,700  votes,  and 
Kilpatrick  only  36,775.  Richard  Eells,  Abolitionist 
candidate  for  the  same  office,  received  5,152  vot*s, 


144 


AUGUSTUS  C.  FRENCH. 


By  the  new  Constitution  of  1848,  a  new  election  for 
State  officers  was  ordered  in  November  of  that  year, 
before  Gov.  French's  term  was  half  out,  and  he  was 
re-elected  for  the  term  of  four  years.  He  was  there- 
fore the  incumbenl:  for  six  consecutive  years,  the 
only  Governor  of  this  State  who  has  ever  served  in 
that  capacity  so  long  at  one  time.  As  there  was  no 
organized  opposition  to  his  election,  lie  received  67,- 
453  votes,  to  5,639  for  Pierre  Menard  (son  of  the 
first  Lieutenant  Governor),  4,748  for  Charles  V. 
Dyer,  3,834  for  W.  L.  D.  Morrison,  and  1,361  for 
James  L.  D.  Morrison.  But  Wm.  McMurtry,  of 
Knox  County,  was  elected  Lieutenant  Governor,  in 
place  of  Joseph  B.  Wells,  who  was  before  elected 
and  did  not  run  again. 

Governor  French  was  inaugurated  into  office  dur- 
ing the  progress  of  the  Mexican  War,  which  closed 
during  the  summer  of  1847,  although  the  treaty  of 
Guadalupe  Hidalgo  was  not  made  until  Feb.  2, 
1848.  The  policy  of  Gov.  French's  party  was  com- 
mitted to  that  war,  but  in  connection  with  that  affair 
he  was,  of  course,  only  an  administrative  officer. 
During  his  term  of  office,  Feb.  19,  1847,  the  Legisla- 
ture, by  special  permission  of  Congress,  declared  that 
all  Government  lands  sold  to  settlers  should  be  im- 
mediately subject  to  State  taxation;  before  this  they 
were  exempt  for  five  years  after  sale.  By  this  ar- 
rangement the  revenue  was  materially  increased. 
About  the  same  time,  the  distribution  of  Government 
land  warrants  among  the  Mexican  soldiers  as  bounty 
threw  upon  the  market  a  great  quantity  of  good 
lands,  and  this  enhanced  the  settlement  of  the  State. 
The  same  Legislature  authorized,  with  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Governor,  the  sale  of  the  Northern 
Cross  Railroad  (from  Springfield  to  Meredosia,  the 
first  in  the  State  and  now  a  section  of  the  Wabash, 
St.  Louis  &  Pacific)  It  sold  for  $100,000  in  bonds, 
although  it  had  cost  the  State  not  less  than  a  million. 
The  salt  wells  and  canal  lands  in  the  Saline  reserve 
in  Gallatin  County,  granted  by  the  general  Govern- 
ment to  the  State,  were  also  authorized  by  the 
Governor  to  be  sold,  to  apply  on  the  State  debt.  In 
1850,  for  the  first  time  since  1839,  the  accruing  State 
revenue,  exclusive  of  specific  appropriations,  was 
sufficient  to  meet  the  current  demands  upon  the 
treasury.  The  aggregate  taxable  property  of  the 
State  at  this  time  was  over  $100,000,000,  and  the 
population  851,470. 


In  1849  the  Legislature  adopted  the  township  or- 
ganization law,  which,  however,  proved  defective, 
and  was  properly  amended  in  1851.  At  its  session 
in  the  latter  year,  the  General  Assembly  also  passed 
a  law  to  exempt  homesteads  from  sale  on  executions 
This  beneficent  measure  had  been  repeatedly  urged 
upon  that  body  by  Gov.  French. 

In  1850  some  business  men  in  St.  Louis  com- 
menced to  build  a  dike  opposite  the  lower  part  of 
their  city  on  the  Illinois  side,  to  keep  the  Mississippi 
in  its  channel  near  St.  Louis,  instead  of  breaking 
away  from  them  as  it  sometimes  threatened  to  do. 
This  they  undertook  without  permission  from  the 
Legislature  or  Executive  authority  of  this  State  ;  and 
as  many  of  the  inhabitants  therft  complained  that 
the  scheme  would  inundate  and  ruin  much  valuable 
land,  there  was  a  slight  conflict  of  jurisdictions,  re- 
sulting in  favor  of  the  St.  Louis  project ;  and  since 
then  a  good  site  has  existed  there  for  a  city  (East  St. 
Louis),  and  now  a  score  of  railroads  center  there. 

It  was  in  September,  1850,  that  Congress  granted 
to  this  State  nearly  3,000,000  acres  of  land  in  aid  of 
the  completion  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
which  constituted  the  most  important  epoch  in  the 
railroad — we  might  say  internal  improvement — his- 
tory of  the  State.  The  road  was  rushed  on  to  com- 
pletion, which  accelerated  the  settlement  of  the  in- 
terior of  the  State  by  a  good  class  of  industrious  citi- 
zens, and  by  the  charter  a  good  income  to  the  State 
Treasury  is  paid  in  from  the  earnings  of  the  road. 

In  1851  the  Legislature  passed  a  law  authorizing 
free  stock  banks,  which  was  the  source  of  much  leg- 
islative discussion  for  a  number  of  years. 

But  we  have  not  space  further  to  particularize 
concerning  legislation.  Gov.  French's  administra- 
tion was  not  marked  by  any  feature  to  be  criticised, 
while  the  country  was  settling  up  as  never  before. 

In  stature,  Gov.  French  was  of  medium  height, 
squarely  built,  light  complexioned,  with  ruddy  face 
and  pleasant  countenance.  In  manners  he  was 
plain  and  agreeable.  By  nature  he  was  somewhat 
diffident,  but  he  was  often  very  outspoken  in  his  con- 
victions of  duty.  In  public  speech  he  was  not  an 
orator,  but  was  chaste,  earnest  and  persuasive.  In 
business  he  was  accurate  and  methodical,  and  in  his 
administration  he  kept  up  the  credit  of  the  State. 

He  died  in  1865,  at  his  home  in  Lebanon,  St 
Clair  Co  .  111. 


CO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


i47 


:OEL  A.  MATTESON,  Governor 
1853-6,  was  bora  Aug.  8,  1808, 
in  Jefferson  County,  New  York, 
to  which  place  his  father  had  re- 
moved from  Vermont  three  years 
before.  His  father  was  a  farmer 
in  fair  circumstances,  but  a  com- 
mon English  education  was  all 
that  his  only  son  received.  Young 
Joel  first  tempted  fortune  as  a 
small  tradesman  in  Prescott, 
Canada,  before  he  was  of  age. 
He  returned  from  that  place  to 
his  home,  entered  an  academy, 
taught  school,  visited  the  prin- 
cipal Eastern  cities,  improved  a  farm  his  father  had 
given  him,  made  a  tour  in  the  South,  worked  there 
in  building  railroads,  experienced  a  storm  on  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  visited  the  gold  diggings  of  Northern 
Georgia,  and  returned  via  Nashville  to  St.  Louis  and 
through  Illinois  to  his  father's  home,  when  he  mar- 
ried. In  1833,  having  sold  his  farm,  he  removed, 
with  his  wife  and  one  child,  to  Illinois,  and  entered 
a  claim  on  Government  land  near  the  head  of  An 
Sable  River,  in  what  is  now  Kendall  County.  At 
that  time  there  were  not  more  than  two  neighbors 
within  a  range  of  ten  miles  of  his  place,  and  only 
three  or  four  houses  between  him  and  Chicago.  He 
opened  a  large  farm.  His  family  was  boarded  1 2 


miles  away  while  he  erected  a  house  on  his  claim, 
sleeping,  daring  this  time,  under  a  rude  pole  shed. 
Here  his  life  was  once  placed  in  imminent  peril  by 
a  huge  prairie  rattlesnake  sharing  his  bed. 

In  1835  he  bought  largely  at  the  Government  land 
sales.  During  the  speculative  real-estate  mania  which 
broke  out  in  Chicago  in  1836  and  spread  over  the  State, 
he  sold  his  lands  under  the  inflation  of  that  period 
and  removed  to  Joliet.  In  1838  he  became  a  heavy 
contractor  on  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  Upon 
the  completion  of  his  job  in  1841,  when  hard  times 
prevailed,  business  at  a  stand,  contracts  paid  in  State 
scrip;  when  all  the  public  works  except  the  canal 
were  abandoned,  the  State  offered  for  sale  700  tons 
of  railroad  iron,  which  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Mat- 
teson  at  a  bargain.  This  he  accepted,  shipped  and 
sold  at  Detroit,  realizing  a  very  handsome  profit, 
enough  to  pay  off  all  his  canal  debts  and  leave  him  a 
surplus  of  several  thousand  dollars.  His  enterprise 
next  prompted  him  to  start  a  woolen  mill  at  Joliet, 
in  which  he  prospered,  and  which,  after  successive 
enlargements,  became  an  enormous  establishment. 

In  1842  he  was  first  elected  a  State  Senator,  but, 
by  a  bungling  apportionment,  John  Pearson,  a  Senator 
holding  over,  was  found  to  be  in  the  same  district, 
and  decided  to  be  entitled  to  represent  it.  Mat- 
teson's  seat  was  declared  vacant.  Pearson,  however 
with  a  nobleness  difficult  to  appreciate  in  this  day  of 


148 


JOEL  A.  MATTESON. 


greed  for  office,  unwilling  to  represent  his  district 
under  the  circumstances,  immediately  resigned  his 
unexpired  term  of  two  years.  A  bill  was  passed  in  a 
few  hours  ordering  a  new  election,  and  in  ten  days' 
time  Mr.  Matteson  was  returned  re-elected  and  took 
his  seat  as  Senator.  From  his  well-known  capacity 
as  a  business  man,  he  was  made  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Finance,  a  position  he  held  during 
this  half  and  two  full  succeeding  Senatorial  terms, 
discharging  its  important  duties  with  ability  and  faith- 
fulness. Besides  his  extensive  woolen-mill  interest, 
when  work  was  resumed  on  the  canal  under  the  new 
loan  of  $1,600,000  he  again  became  a  heavy  con- 
tractor, and  also  subsequently  operated  largely  in 
building  railroads.  Thus  he  showed  himself  a  most 
energetic  and  thorough  business  man. 

He  was  nominated  for  Governor  by  the  Demo- 
cratic State  Convention  which  met  at  Springfield 
April  20,  1852.  Other  candidates  before  the  Con- 
vention were  D.  L.  Gregg  and  F.  C.  Sherman,  of 
Cook ;  John  Dement,  of  Lee  ;  Thomas  L.  Harris,  of 
Menard;  Lewis  W.  Ross,  of  Fulton ;  and  D.  P.  Bush, 
of  Pike.  Gustavus  Koerner,  of  St.  Clair,  was  nom- 
inated for  Lieutenant  Governor.  For  the  same  offices 
the  Whigs  nominated  Edwin  B.  Webb  and  Dexter  A. 
Knowlton.  Mr.  Matteson  received  80,645  votes  at 
the  election,  while  Mr.  Webb  received  64,408.  Mat- 
teson's  forte  was  not  on  the  stump;  he  had  not  cul- 
tivated the  art  of  oily  flattery,  or  the  faculty  of  being 
all  tilings  to  all  men.  His  intellectual  qualities  took 
rather  the  direction  of  efficient  executive  ability.  His 
turn  consisted  not  so  much  in  the  adroit  manage- 
ment of  party,  or  the  powerful  advocacy  of  great  gov- 
ernmental principles,  as  in  those  more  solid  and 
enduring  operations  which  cause  the  physical  devel- 
opment and  advancement  of  a  State, — of  commerce 
and  business  enterprise,  into  which  he  labored  with 
success  to  lead  the  people.  As  a  politician  he  was 
just  and  liberal  in  his  views,  and  both  in  official  and 
private  life  he  then  stood  untainted  and  free  from 
blemish.  As  a  man,  in  active  benevolence,  social 
rirtues  and  all  the  amiable  qualities  of  neighbor  or 
citizen,  he  had  few  superiors.  His  messages  present 
n  perspicuous  array  of  facts  as  to  the  condition  of  the 
State,  and  are  often  couched  in  forcible  and  elegant 
diction. 

The  greatest  excitement  during  his  term  of  office 
\va;  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  by  Con- 


gress, under  the  leadership  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in 
1854,  when  the  bill  was  passed  organizing  the  Terri- 
tory of  Kansas  and  Nebraska.  A  large  portion  of 
the  Whig  party  of  the  North,  through  their  bitter  op- 
position to  the  Democratic  party,  naturally  drifted 
into  the  doctrine  of  anti-slavery,  and  thus  led  to  what 
was  temporarily  called  the  "Anti-Nebraska"  party, 
while  the  followers  of  Douglas  were  known  us  "  Ne- 
braska or  Douglas  Democrats."  It  was  during  thi; 
embryo  stage  of  the  Republican  party  that  Abraham 
Lincoln  was  brought  forward  as  the  "Anti-Nebraska  " 
candidate  for  the  United  States  Senatorship,  while 
Gen.  James  Shields,  the  incumbent,  was  re-nom- 
inated by  the  Democrats.  But  after  a  few  ballotings 
in  the  Legislature  (1855),  these  men  were  dropped, 
and  Lyman  Trumbull,  an  Anti-Nebraska  Democrat, 
was  brought  up  by  the  former,  and  Mr.  Matteson, 
then  Governor,  by  the  latter.  On  the  nth  ballot 
Mr.  Trumbull  obtained  one  majority,  and  was  ac- 
cordingly declared  elected.  Before  Gov.  Matteson 's 
term  expired,  the  Republicans  were  fully  organized 
as  a  national  party,  and  in  1856  put  into  the  field  a 
full  national  and  State  ticket,  carrying  the  State,  but 
not  the  nation. 

The  Legislature  of  1855  passed  two  very  import- 
ant measures, — the  present  free-school  system  and  a 
submission  of  the  Maine  liquor  law  to  a  vote  of  the 
people.  The  latter  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority 
of  the  popular  vote. 

During  the  four  years  of  Gov.  Matteson's  admin- 
istration the  taxable  wealth  of  the  State  was  about 
trebled,  from  $137,818,079  to  $349,95  r, 272;  the  pub- 
lic debt  was  reduced  from  $17,398,985  to  $12,843,- 
144;  taxation  was  at  the  same  time  reduced,  and  the 
State  resumed  paying  interest  on  its  debt  in  New 
York  as  fast  as  it  fell  due ;  railroads  were  increased 
in  their  mileage  from  something  les,s  than  400  to 
about  3,000 ;  and  the  population  of  Chicago  was 
nearly  doubled,  and  its  commerce  more  than  quad- 
rupled. 

Before  closing  this  account,  we  regret  that  we  have 
to  say  that  Mr.  Matteson,  in  all  other  respects  an 
upright  man  and  a  good  Governor,  was  implicated 
in  a  false  re-issue  of  redeemed  canal  scrip,  amount- 
ing to  $224,182.66.  By  a  suit  in  the  Sangamon  Cir- 
cuit Court  the  State  recovered  the  principal  and  all 
the  interest  excepting  $27,500. 

He   died  in    the  winter  of  1872—3,  at  Chicago. 


GO  VKRXORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'•»•!)'-'.• •i'.; i1.; i'.;;.'.;  i'J •I'v.v'.'-.'  v .'  •'  ."•'  •'<'":>  ••>•'••'>  ; 


ILLIAM  H.  BISSELL,  Gov- 
ernor 1857-60,  was  born 
April  25,  1811,  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  near 
Painted  Post,  Yates  County. 
His  parents  were  obscure, 
honest,  God-fearing  people, 
who  reared  their  children  under  the  daily 
example  of  industry  and  frugality,  accord- 
ing to  the  custom  of  that  class  of  Eastern 
society.  Mr.  Bissell  received  a  respecta- 
ble but  not  thorough  academical  education. 
By  assiduous  application  he  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  medicine,  and  in  his  early 
manhood  came  West  and  located  i-n  Mon- 
roe County,  this  State,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  that  profession.  But  he  was  not  enam- 
ored of  his  calling:  he  was  swayed  by  a  broader 
ambition,  to  such  an  extent  that  the  mysteries  of  the 
healing  art  and  its  arduous  duties  failed  to  yield  him 
further  any  charms.  In  a  few  years  he  discovered 
his  choice  of  a  profession  to  be  a  mistake,  and  when 
he  approached  the  age  of  30  he  sought  to  begin 
anew.  Dr.  Bissell,  no  doubt  unexpectedly  to  him- 
self, discovered  a  singular  facility  and  charm  of 
speech,  the  exercise  of  which  acquired  for  him  a 
ready  local  notoriety.  It  soon  came  to  be  under- 


stood that  he  desired  to  abandon  his  profession  and 
take  up  that  of  the  law.  During  terms  of  Court  he 
would  spend  his  time  at  the  county  seat  among  the 
members  of  the  Bar,  who  extended  to  him  a  ready 
welcome. 

It  was  not  strange,  therefore,  that  he  should  drift 
into  public  life.  In  1840  he  was  elected  as  a  Dem- 
ocrat to  the  Legislature  from  Monroe  County,  and 
was  an  efficient  member  of  that  body.  On  his  re- 
turn home  he  qualified  himself  for  admission  to  the 
Bar  and  speedily  rose  to  the  front  rank  as  an  advo- 
cate. His  powers  of  oratory  were  captivating.  With  a 
pure  diction,  charming  and  inimitable  gestures, 
clearness  of  statement,  and  a  remarkable  vein  of  sly 
humor,  his  efforts  before  a  jury  told  with  irresistible 
effect.  He  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  Prosecut- 
ing Attorney  for  the  Circuit  in  which  he  lived,  and 
in  that  position  he  fully  discharged  his  duty  to  the 
State,  gained  the  esteem  of  the  Bar,  and  seldom 
failed  to  convict  the  offender  of  the  law. 

In  stature  he  was  somewhat  tall  and  slender,  and 
with  a  straight,  military  bearing,  he  presented  a  dis- 
tinguished appearance.  His  complexion  was  dark, 
his  head  well  poised,  though  not  large,  his  address 
pleasant  and  manner  winning.  He  was  exemplary 
in  his  habits,  a  devoted  husband  and  kind  parent. 
He  was  twice  married,  the  first  time  to  Miss  Tames, 


'S2 


WILLIAM  If.  BfSSELL. 


of  Monroe  County,  by  whom  he  had  two  children, 
both  daughters.  She  died  soon  after  the  year  1840, 
and  Mr.  B.  married  for  his  second  wife  a  daughter 
of  Elias  K.  Kane,  previously  a  United  States  Senator 
from  this  State.  She  survived  him  but  a  short  time, 
and  died  without  issue. 

When  the  war  with  Mexico  was  declared  in  1846, 
Mr.  Bissell  enlisted  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  his 
regiment,  over  Hon.  Don  Morrison,  by  an  almost 
unanimous  vote, — 807  to  6.  Considering  the  limited 
opportunities  he  had  had,  he  evinced  a  high  order  of 
military  talent.  On  the  bloody  field  of  Buena  Vista 
he  acquitted  himself  with  intrepid  and  distinguished 
ability,  contributing  with  his  regiment,  the  Second 
Illinois,  in  no  small  degree  toward  saving  the  waver- 
ing fortunes  of  our  arms  during  that  long  and  fiercely 
contested  battle. 

After  his  return  home,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
was  elected  to  Congress,  his  opponents  being  the 
Hons.  P.  B.  Fouke  and  Joseph  Gillespie.  He  served 
two  terms  in  Congress.  He  was  an  ardent  politician. 
During  the  great  contest  of  1850  he  voted  in  favor 
of  the  adjustment  measures;  but  in  1854  he  opposed 
the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  act  and 
therefore  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  of  Douglas,  and 
thus  became  identified  with  the  nascent  Republican 
party. 

During  his  first  Congressional  term,  while  the 
Southern  members  were  following  their  old  practice 
of  intimidating  the  North  by  bullying  language, 
and  claiming  most  of  the  credit  for  victories  in  the 
Mexican  War,  and  Jefferson  Davis  claiming  for  the 
Mississippi  troops  all  the  credit  for  success  at  Buena 
Vista,  Mr.  Bissell  bravely  defended  the  Northern 
troops ;  whereupon  Davis  challenged  Bissell  to  a  duel, 
which  was  accepted.  This  matter  was  brought  up 
against  Bissell  when  he  was  candidate  for  Governor 
and  during  his  term  of  office,  as  the  Constitution  of 
this  State  forbade  any  duelist  from  holding  a  State 
office. 

In  1856,  when  the  Republican  party  first  put  forth 
a  candidate,  John  C.  Fremont,  for  President  of  the 
United  States,  the  same  party  nominated  Mr.  Bissell 
for  Governor  of  Illinois,  and  John  Wood,  of  Quincy, 
for  Lieutenant  Governor,  while  the  Democrats  nomi- 
nated Hon.  W.  A.  Richardson,  of  Adams  County, 
for  Governor,  and  Col.  R.  J.  Hamilton,  of  Cook 
Counlv,  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The  result  of  the 


election  was  a  plurality  of  4,729  votes  over  Richard- 
son. The  American,  or  Know-Nothing,  party  had  a 
ticket  in  the  field.  The  Legislature  was  nearly  bal- 
anced, but  was  politically  opposed  to  the  Governor. 
His  message  to  the  Legislature  was  short  and  rather 
ordinary,  and  was  criticised  for  expressing  the  sup- 
posed obligations  of  the  people  to  the  incorporators 
of  the  Illinois  Genual  Railroad  Company  and  for  re- 
opening the  slavery  question  by  allusions  to  the 
Kansas  troubles.  Late  in  the  session  an  apportion- 
ment bill,  based  upon  the  State  census  of  1855,  was 
passed,  amid  much  partisan  strife.  The  Governor 
at  first  signed  the  bill  and  then  vetoed  it.  A  furious 
debate  followed,  and  the  question  whether  the  Gov- 
ernor had  the  authority  to  recall  a  signature  was 
referred  to  the  Courts,  that  of  last  resort  deciding  in 
favor  of  the  Governor.  Two  years  afterward  another 
outrageous  attempt  was  made  for  a  re-apportionment 
and  to  gerrymander  the  Stale,  but  the  Legislature 
failed  to  pass  the  bill  over,  the  veto  of  the  Governor. 

It  was  during  Gov.  Bissell's  administration  that 
the  notorious  canal  scrip  fraud  was  brought  to  light, 
implicating  ex-Gov.  Matteson  and  other  prominent 
State  officials.  The  principal  and  interest,  aggregat- 
ing $255,500,  was  all  recovered  by  the  State  except- 
ing $27,500.  (See  sketch  of  Gov.  Matteson.) 

In  1859  an  attempt  was  discovered  to  fraudu- 
lently refund  the  Macalister  and  Stebbins  bonds  and 
thus  rob  the  State  Treasury  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
million  dollars.  The  State  Government  was  impli- 
cated in  this  affair,  and  to  this  day  remains  unex- 
plained or  unatoned  for.  For  the  above,  and  other 
matters  previously  mentioned,  Gov.  Bissell  has  been 
severely  criticised,  and  he  has  also  been  most  shame- 
fully libelled  and  slandered. 

On  account  of  exposure  in  the  army,  the  remote 
cause  of  a  nervous  form  of  disease  gained  entrance 
into  his  system  and  eventually  developed  paraplegia, 
affecting  his  lower  extremities,  which,  while  it  left 
his  body  in  comparative  health,  deprived  him  of  loco- 
motion except  by  the  aid  of  crutches.  While  he  was 
generally  hopeful  of  ultimate  recovery,  this  myste- 
rious disease  pursued  him,  without  once  relaxing  its 
stealthy  hold,  to  the  close  of  his  life,  March  18, 
1860,  over  nine  months  before  the  expiration  of  hi; 
gubernatorial  term,  at  the  early  age  of  48  years.  He 
died  in  the  faith  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  o/ 
which  he  hao  lieen  a  member  since  1854. 


,••". 


Gl,  VERNOR^  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'55 


-S— 


j:OHN  WOOD,  Governor  i86o-i,and 
the  first  settler  of  Quincy,  111., 
was  bom  in  the  town  of  Sempro- 
nius  (now  Moravia),  Cayuga  Co.( 
N.  Y.,  Dec.  20,  1798.  He  was 
the  second  child  and  only  son  of 
Dr.  Daniel  Wood.  His  mother, 
nee  Catherine  Crause,  was  of 
German  parentage,  and  died 
while  he  was  an  infant.  Dr. 
Wood  was  a  learned  and  skillful 
physician,  of  classical  attain- 
ments and  proficient  in  several 
modern  languages,  who,  after 
serving  throughout  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  as  a  Surgeon,  settled  on  the  land  granted 
him  by  the  Government,  and  resided  there  a  re- 
spected and  leading  influence  in  his  section  until  his 
death,  at  the  ripe  age  of  92  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  impelled  by  the  spirit 
of  Western  adventure  then  pervading  everywhere, 
left  his  home,  Nov.  2,  1818,  and  passed  the  succeed- 
ing winter  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  The  following  sum- 
mer he  pushed  on  to  Illinois,  landing  at  Shawneetown, 
and  spent  the  fall  and  following  winter  in  Calhoun 
County.  In  1820,  in  company  with  Willard  Keyes, 
he  settled  in  Pike  County,  about  30  miles  southeast 
of  Quincy,  where  for  the  next  two  years  he  pursued 
farming.  In  1821  he  visited  "the  Bluffs"  (as  the 
present  site  of  Quincy  was  called,  then  uninhabited) 
and,  pleased  with  its  prospects,  soon  after  purchased 
a  quarter-section  of  land  near  by,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing fall.  (1822)  erected  near  the  river  a  small  cabin, 


1 8  x  20  feet,  the  first  building  in  Quincy,  of  whirl; 
he  then  became  the  first  and  for  some  months  the 
only  occupant. 

About  this  time  he  visited  his  old  friends  in  Pike 
County,  chief  of  whom  was  William  Ross,  the  lead- 
ing man  in  building  up  the  village  of  Atlas,  of  that 
county,  which  was  thought  then  to  be  the  possible 
commencement  of  a  city.  One  day  they  and  others 
were  traveling  together  over  the  country  between  the 
two  points  named,  making  observations  on  the  com- 
parative merits  of  the  respective  localities.  On  ap- 
proaching the  Mississippi  near  Mr.  Wood's  place, 
the  latter  told  his  companions  to  follow  him  and  he 
would  show  them  where  he  was  going  to  build  a  city. 
They  went  about  a  mile  off  the  main  trail,  to  a  high 
point,  from  which  the  view  in  every  direction  was 
most  magnificent,  as  it  had  been  for  ages  and  as  ye; 
untouched  by  the  hand  of  man.  Before  them  swept 
by  the  majestic  Father  of  Waters,  yet  unburdened  by 
navigation.  After  Mr.  Wood  had  expatiated  at 
length  on  the  advantages  of  the  situation,  Mr.  Ross 
replied,  "  But  it's  too  near  Atlas  ever  to  amount  to 
anything!" 

Atlas  is  still  a  cultivated  farm,  and  Quincy  is  a 
city  of  over  30,000  population. 

In  1824  Mr.  Wood  gave  a  newspaper  notice, 
as  the  law  then  prescribed,  of  his  intention  to  apply 
to  the  General  Assembly  for  the  formation  of  a  new 
county.  This  was  done  the  following  winter,  result- 
ing in  the  establishment  of  the  present  Adam-; 
County.  During  the  next  summer  Quincy  was  se- 
lected as  the  county  seat,  it  and  the  vicinity  then 
containing  but  four  adult  male  residents  and  half 


JOHN  WOOD. 


that  number  of  females.  Since  that  period  Mr. 
Wood  resided  at  the  place  of  his  early  adoption  un- 
til his  death,  and  far  more  than  any  other  man  was 
he  identified  with  every  measure  of  its  progress  and 
history,  and  almost  continuously  kept  in  public  posi- 
tions. 

He  was  one  of  the  early  town  Trustees,  and  after 
the  place  became  a  city  he  was  often  a  member  of 
the  City  Council,  many  times  elected  Mayor,  in  the 
face  of  a  constant  large  opposition  political  majority. 
In  1850  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate.  In  1856, 
on  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party,  he  was 
chosen  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  State,  on  the 
ticket  with  Wm.  H.  Bissell  for  Governor,  and  on  the 
death  of  the  latter,  March  18,  1860,  he  succeeded  to 
the  Chief  Executive  chair,  which  he  occupied  until 
Gov.  Yates  was  inaugurated  nearly  ten  months  after- 
ward. 

Nothing  very  marked  characterized  the  adminis- 
tration of  Gov.  Wood.  The  great  anti-slavery  cam- 
paign of  1860,  resulting  in  the  election  of  the  honest 
Illinoisan,  Abraham  Lincoln,  to  the  Presidency  of  the 
United  States,  occurred  during  the  short  period 
while  Mr.  Wood  was  Governor,  and  the  excitement 
and  issues  of  that  struggle  dominated  over  every 
other  consideration, — indeed,  supplanted  them  in  a 
great  measure.  The  people  of  Illinois,  during  all 
that  time,  were  passing  the  comparatively  petty  strifes 
under  Bissell's  administration  to  the  overwhelming 
issue  of  preserving  the  whole  nation  from  destruction. 

In  1 86  r  ex-Gov.  Wood  was  one  of  the  five  Dele- 
gates from  Illinois  to  the  "  Peace  Convention  "  at 
Washington,  and  in  April  of  the  same  year,  on  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion,  he  was  appointed 


Quartermaster-General  of  the  State,  which  position 
he  held  throughout  the  war.  In  1864  he  took  com- 
mand as  Colonel  of  the  137th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  with 
whom  he  served  until  the  period  of  enlistment  ex- 
pired. 

Politically,  Gov.  Wood  was  always  actively  identi- 
fied with  the  Whig  and  Republican  parties.  Few 
men  have  in  personal  experience  comprehended  so 
many  surprising  and  advancing  local  changes  as 
vested  in  the  more  than  half  century  recollections  of 
Gov.  Wood.  Sixty-four  years  ago  a  solitary  settler 
on  the  "Bluffs,"  with  no  family,  and  no  neighbor 
within  a  score  of  miles,  the  world  of  civilization  away 
behind  him,  and  the  strolling  red-man  almost  his 
only  visitant,  he  lived  to  see  growing  around  him, 
and  under  his  auspices  and  aid,  overspreading  the 
wild  hills  and  scraggy  forest  a  teaming  city,  second 
only  in  size  in  the  State,  and  surpassed  nowhere  in 
beauty,  prosperity  and  promise;  whose  people  recog- 
nize as  with  a  single  voice  the  proverbial  honor  and 
liberality  that  attach  to  the  name  and  lengthened 
life  of  their  pioneer  settler,  "the  old  Governor." 

Gov.  Wood  was  twice  married, — first  in  January, 
1826,  to  Ann  M.  Streeter,  daughter  of  Joshua  Streeter, 
formerly  of  Salem,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  had 
eight  children.  Mrs.  W.  died  Oct.  8,  1863,  and  in 
June,  1865,  Gov.  Wood  married  Mrs.  Mary  A.,  widow 
of  Rev.  Joseph  T.  Holmes.  Gov.  Wood  died  June  4, 
1 880,  at  his  residence  in  Quincy.  Four  of  his  eight 
children  are  now  living,  namely:  Ann  E.,  wife  of 
Gen.  John  Tillson;  Daniel  C.,  who  married  Mary  J. 
Abernethy;  John,  Jr.,  who  married  Josephine  Skinner, 
and  Joshua  S.,  who  married  Annie  Bradley.  The 
last  mentioned  now  resides  at  Atchison,  Kansas,  and 
all  the  rest  are  still  at  Quincy. 


'f*     (^  <3~~*a- 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'59 


HCHARD  YATES,  the  "War 
Governor,"  1861-4,  was  born 
Jan.  1 8,  1818,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Ohio  River,  at  Warsaw, 
Gallatin  Co.,  Ky.  His  father 
moved  in  1831  to  Illinois,  anc^ 
after  stopping  for  a  time  in 
Springfield,  settled  at  Island 
Grove,  Sangamon  County.  Here, 
after  attending  school,  Richard  joined 
the  family.  Subsequently  he  entered 
Illinois  College  at  Jacksonville, 
where,  in  1837,  he  graduated  with 
first  honors.  He  chose  for  his  pro- 
fession the  law,  the  Hon.  J.  J.  Har- 
din  being  his  instructor.  After  ad- 
mission to  the  Bar  he  soon  rose  to  distinction  as  an 
advocate. 

Gifted  with  a  fluent  and  ready  oratory,  he  soon 
appeared  in  the  political  hustings,  and,  being  a 
passionate  admirer  of  the  great  Whig  leader  of  the 
West.  Henry  Clay,  he  joined  his  political  fortunes  to 
he  party  of  his  idol.  In  1840  he  engaged  with  great 
^rdor  in  the  exciting  "  hard  cider  "  campaign  for 
Garrison.  Two  years  later  he  was  elected  to  the 
Legislature  from  Morgan  County,  a  Democratic 
stronghold.  He  served  three  or  four  terms  in  the 
Legislature,  and  such  was  the  fascination  of  his  ora- 
rory  that  by  1850  his  large  Congressional  District, 
extending  from  Morgan  and  Sangamon  Counties 
.  orth  to  include  LaSalle,  unanimously  tendered  him 
tne  Whig  nomination  for  Congress.  His  Democratic 
opponent  was  Maj.  Thomas  L.  Harris,  a  very  pop- 
v.lar  man  who  had  won  distinction  at  the  battle  of 
Cerro  Gordo,  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  who  had 
jeateu  Hon.  Stephen  T.  Logan  for  the  same  position, 


two  years  before,  by  a  large  majority.  Yates  wa,1 
elected.  Two  years  later  he  was  re-elected,  over 
John  Calhoun. 

It  was  during  Yates  second  term  in  Congress  that 
the  great  question  of  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Com- 
promise was  agitated,  and  the  bars  laid  down  for  re- 
opening the  dreaded  anti-slavery  question.  He  took 
strong  grounds  against  the  repeal,  and  thus  became 
identified  with  the  rising  Republican  party.  Conse- 
quently he  fell  into  the  minority  in  his  district,  which 
was  pro-slavery.  Even  then,  in  a  third  contest,  he 
fell  behind  Major  Harris  only  zoo  votes,  after  the 
district  had  two  years  before  given  Pierce  2,000 
majority  for  President. 

The  Republican  State  Convention  of  1860  met  at 
Decatur  May  9,  and  nominated  for  the  office  of  Gov- 
ernor Mr.  Yates,  in  preference  to  Hon.  Norman  B. 
Judd,  of  Chicago,  and  Leonard  Svvett,  of  Blooming- 
ton,  two  of  the  ablest  men  of  the  State,  who  were 
also  candidates  before  the  Convention.  Francis  A. 
Hoffman,  of  Du-Page  County,  was  nominated  for 
Lieutenant  Governor.  This  was  the  year  when  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  a  candidate  for  President,  a  period  re- 
membered as  characterized  by  the  great  whirlpool 
which  precipitated  the  bloody  War  of  the  Rebellion. 
The  Douglas  Democrats  nominated  J.  C.  Allen  of 
Crawford  County,  for  Governor,  and  Lewis  W.  Ross, 
of  Fulton  County,  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The 
Breckenridge  Democrats  and  the  Bell-Everett  party 
had  also  full  tickets  in  the  field.  After  a  most  fear- 
ful campaign,  the  result  of  the  election  gave  Mr. 
Yates  172,196  votes,  and  Mr.  Allen  159,253.  Mr. 
Yates  received  over  a  thousand  more  votes  than  did 
Mr.  Lincoln  himself. 

Gov.  Yates  occupied  the  chair  of  State  during  the 


i6o 


RICHARD    YATES. 


most  critical  period  of  our  country's  history.  In  the 
fate  of  the  nation  was  involved  that  of  each  State. 
The  life  struggle  of  the  former  derived  its  sustenance 
from  the  loyalty  of  the  latter;  and  Gov.  Yates 
seemed  to  realize  the  situation,  and  proved  himself 
both  loyal  and  wise  in  upholding  the  Government. 
He  had  a  deep  hold  upon  the  affections  of  the 
people,  won  by  his  moving  eloquence  and  genial 
manners.  Erect  and  symmetrical  in  person,  of  pre- 
possessing appearance,  with  a  winning  address  and  a 
magnetic  power,  few  men  possessed  more  of  the  ele- 
ments of  popularity.  His  oratory  was  scholarly  and 
captivating,  his  hearers  hardly  knowing  why  they 
were  transported.  He  was  social  and  convivial.  In 
the  latter  respect  he  was  ultimately  carried  too  far. 

The  very  creditable  military  efforts  of  this  State 
during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  in  putting  into  the 
field  the  enormous  number  of  about  200,000  soldiers, 
were  ever  promptly  and  ably  seconded  by  his  excel- 
lency ;  and  the  was  ambitious  to  deserve  the  title  of 
"the  soldier's  friend."  Immediately  after  the  battle  of 
Shiloh  he  repaired  to  the  field  of  carnage  to  look 
after  the  wounded,  and  his  appeals  for  aid  were 
promptly  responded  to  by  the  people.  His  procla- 
mations calling  for  volunteers  were  impassionate 
appeals,  urging  upon  the  people  the  duties  and  re- 
quirements of  patriotism;  and  his  special  message 
in  1863  to  the  Democratic  Legislature  of  this  State 
pleading  for  material  aid  for  the  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers  of  Illinois  regiments,  breathes  a  deep  fervor 
of  noble  sentiment  and  feeling  rarely  equaled  in 
beauty  or  felicity  of  expression.  Generally  his  mes- 
sages on  political  and  civil  affairs  were  able  and  com- 
prehensive. During  his  administration,  however, 
there  were  no  civil  events  of  an  engrossing  character, 
although  two  years  of  his  time  were  replete  with 
partisan  quarrels  of  great  bitterness.  Military  ar- 
rests, Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,  riot  in  Fulton 
County,  attempted  suppression  of  the  Chicago  Times 
and  the  usurping  State  Constitutional  Convention  of 
1862,  were  the  chief  local  topics  that  were  exciting 
during  the  Governor's  term.  This  Convention  assem- 
bled Jan.  7,  and  at  once  took  the  high  position  that 
'he  law  calling  it  was  no  longer  binding,  and  that  it 
ad  supreme  power;  that  it  represented  a  virtual 
assemblage  of  the  whole  people  of  the  State,  and  was 
sovereign  in  the  exercise  of  all  power  necessary  to 
effect  a  peaceable  revolution  of  the  State  Government 


and  to  the  re-establishment  of  one  for  the  "happiness, 
prosperity  and  freedom  of  the  citizens,"  limited  only 
by  the  Federal  Constitution.  Notwithstanding  the 
law  calling  the  Convention  required  its  members  to 
take  an  oath  to  support  the  Constitution  of  the  State 
as  well  as  that  of  the  general  Government,  they 
utterly  refused  to  take  such  oath.  They  also  as- 
sumed legislative  powers  and  passed  several  import- 
ant "laws!"  Interfering  with  the  (then)  present 
executive  duties,  Gov.  Yates  was  provoked  to  tell 
them  plainly  that  "  he  did  not  acknowledge  the  right 
of  the  Convention  to  instruct  him  in  the  performance 
of  his  duty." 

In  1863  the  Governor  astonished  the  Democrats 
by  "  proroguing  "  their  Legislature.  This  body,  after 
a  recess,  met  June  2,  that  year,  and  soon  began  to 
waste  time  upon  various  partisan  resolutions;  and, 
while  the  two  houses  were  disagreeing  upon  the 
question  of  adjourning  sine  die,  the  Governor,  having 
the  authority  in  such  cases,  surprised  them  all  by 
adjourning  them  "  to  the  Saturday  next  preceding  the 
first  Monday  in  January,  1865  !  "  This  led  to  great 
excitement  and  confusion,  and  to  a  reference  of  the 
Governor's  act  to  the  Supreme  Court,  who  decided  in 
his  favor.  Then  it  was  the  Court's  turn  to  receive 
abuse  for  weeks  and  months  afterward. 

During  the  autumn  of  1864  a  conspiracy  was  de- 
tected at  Chicago  which  had  for  its  object  the  liber- 
ation of  the  prisoners  of  war  at  Camp  Douglas,  the 
burning  of  the  city  and  the  inauguration  of  rebellion 
in  the  North.  Gen.  Sweet,  who  had  charge  of  the 
camp  at  the  time,  first  had  his  suspicions  of  danger 
aroused  by  a  number  of  enigmatically  worded  letters 
which  passed  through  the  Camp  postoffice.  A  de- 
tective afterward  discovered  that  the  rebel  Gen. 
Marmaduke  was  in  the  city,  under  an  assumed 
name,  and  he,  with  other  rebel  officers — Grenfell, 
Morgan,  Cantrell,  Buckner  Morris,  and  Charles 
Walsh — was  arrested,  most  of  whom  were  convicted 
by  a  court-martial  at  Cincinnati  and  sentenced  to 
imprisonment, — Grenfell  to  be  hung.  The  sentence 
of  the  latter  was  afterward  commuted  to  imprison- 
ment for  life,  and  all  the  others,  after  nine  months' 
imprisonment,  were  pardoned. 

In  March,  1873,  Gov.  Yates  was  appointed  a  Gov- 
ernment Director  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  in 
which  office  he  continued  until  his  decease,  at  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  on  the  27111  of  November  following. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'63 


Michard  J.  Ogles 


lICHARD  J.  OGLESBY,  Gov- 
ernor 1865-8,  and  re-elected 
in  1872  and  1884,  was  born 
July  25,  1824,  in  Oldham  Co., 
Ky., — the  State  which  might 
be  considered  the  "  mother  of 
Illinois  Governors."  Bereft  of 
~°  his  parents  at  the  tender  age 
of  eight  years,  his  early  education 
was  neglected.  When  12  years  of 
age,  and  after  he  had  worked  a  year 
and  a  half  at  the  carpenter's  trade, 
he  removed  with  an  uncle,  Willis 
Oglesby,  into  whose  care  he  had 
been  committed,  to  Decatur,  this 
State,  where  he  continued  his  ap- 
prenticeship as  a  mechanic,  working  six  months  for 
Hon.  E.  O.  Smith. 

In  1844  he  commenced  studying  law  at  Spring- 
field, with  Judge  Silas  Robbins,  and  read  with  him 
one  year.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1845,  alld 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  at 
Sullivan,  the  county  seat  of  Moultrie  County. 

The  next  year  the  war  with  Mexico  was  com- 
menced, and  in  June,  1846,  Mr.  Oglesby  volunteered, 
was  elected  First  Lieutenant  of  Co.  C,  Fourth  Illinois 
Regiment  of  Volunteers,  and  participated  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Vera  Cruz  and  Cerro  Gordo. 

On  his  return  he  sought  to  perfect  his  law  studies 
by  attending  a  course  of  lectures  at  Louisville,  but 
on  the  breaking  out  of  the  California  "gold  fever  "  in 
1849,  he  crossed  the  plains  and  mountains  to  the 
new  Eldorado,  driving  a  six-mule  team,  with  a  com- 


pany of  eight  men,  Henry  Prather  being  the  leader. 

In  1852  he  returned  home  to  Macon  County,  and 
was  placed  that  year  by  the  Whig  party  on  the  ticket 
of  Presidential  Electors.  In  1856  he  visited  Europe, 
Asia  and  Africa,  being  absent  20  months.  On  his 
return  home  he  resu  ned  the  practice  of  law,  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Gallagher,  Wait  &  Oglesby. 
In  1858  he  was  the  Republican  no.ainee  for  the 
Lower  House  of  Congress,  but  was  defeated  by  the 
Hon.  James  C.  Robinson,  Democrat.  In  1860  he 
was  elected  to  the  Illinois  State  Senate ;  and  on.  the 
evening  the  returns  of  this  election  were  coining  in, 
Mr.  Oglesby  had  a  fisticuff  encounter  with  "  Cerro 
Gordo  Williams,"  in  which  he  came  out  victorious, 
and  which  was  regarded  as  "  the  first  fight  of  the 
Rebellion."  The  following  spring,  when  the  war 
had  commenced  in  earnest,  his  ardent  nature 
quickly  responded  to  the  demands  of  patriotism  and 
he  enlisted.  The  extra  session  of  the  Legislature 
elected  him  Colonel  of  the  Eighth  Illinois  Infantry, 
the  second  one  in  the  State  raised  to  suppress  the 
great  Rebellion. 

He  was  shortly  entrusted  with  important  com- 
mands. For  a  time  he  was  stationed  at  Bird's  Point 
and  Cairo;  in  April  he  was  promoted  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral ;  at  Fort  Donelson  his  brigade  was  in  the  van, 
being  stationed  on  the  right  of  General  Grant's  army 
and  the  first  brigade  to  be  attacked.  He  lost  500 
men  before  re-inforcements  arrived.  Many  of  these 
men  were  from  Macon  County.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Corinth,  and,  in  a  brave  charge  at  this 
place,  was  shot  in  the  left  lung  with  an  ounce  ball, 
and  was  carried  from  the  field  in  expectation  of  iro- 


164 


RICHARD  J.    OGLESBY. 


mediate  death.  That  rebel  ball  he  carries  to  this 
day.  On  his  partial  recovery  he  was  promoted  as 
Major  General,  for  gillantry,  his  commission  to  rank 
from  November,  1862.  In  the  spring  of  1863  he 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  i6th  Army 
Corps,  but,  owing  to  inability  fro;n  the  effects  of  his 
wound,  he  relinquished  this  command  in  July,  that 
year.  Gen.  Grant,  however,  refused  to  accept  his 
resignation,  and  he  was  detailed,  in  December  follow- 
ing, to  court-martial  a:id  try  the  Surgeon  General  of 
the  Army  at  Washington,  where  he  remained  until 
May,  1864,  when  he  returned  home. 

The  Republican,  or  Union,  State  Convention  of 

1864  was  held  at  Springfield,  May   25,   when  Mr. 
Oglesby  was  nominated  for  the  office  of  Governor, 
while  other  candidates  before  the  Convention  were 
Allen  C.  Fuller,  of  Boone,  Jesse  K.  Dubois,  of  Sanga- 
mon,   and    John   M.    Palmer,  of  Macoupin.     Wm. 
Bross,  of  Chicago,    was   nominated  for  Lieutenant 
Governor.      On  the  Democratic   State  ticket  were 
James  C.   Robinson,  of  Clark,  for  Governor,  and  S. 
Corning  Judd,  of  Fulton,  for  Lieutenant  Governor. 
The  general  election  gave  Gen.  Oglesby  a  majority 
of  about  31,000  votes.     The  Republicans  had  also  a 
majority  in  both  tha  Legislature   and  in  the  repre- 
sentation in  Congress. 

Gov.  Oglesby  was  duly  inaugurated  Jan.  if,  1865. 
The  day  before  the  first  time  set  for  his  installation 
death  visited  his  home  at  Decatur,  and  took  from  it 
his  only  son,  an  intelligent  and  sprightly  lad  of  six 
years,  a  great  favorite  of  the  bereaved  parents.  This 
caused  the  inauguration  to  be  postponed  a  week. 

The  political  events  of  the  Legislative  session  of 

1865  were   the   election   of  ex-Gov.    Yates   to  the 
United  States  Senate,  and  the  ratification  of  the  131)1 
amendment  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
abolishing  slavery.      This   session    also    signalized 
itself  by  repealing  the  notorious  "black  laws,"  part 
of  which,  although  a  dead  letter,  had  held  their  place 
upon  the  statute  books  since  1819.     Also,  laws  re- 
quiring the  registration  of  voters,  and  establishing  a 
State  Board  of  Equalization,  were  passed  by  this  Leg- 
islature.    But  the  same  body  evinced  that  it  was  cor- 
ruptly influenced  by  a  mercenary  lobby,  as  it  adopted 
some  bad  legislation,  over  the  Governor's  veto,  nota- 
bly an  amendment  to  a  charter  for  a  Chicago  horse 
railway,   granted    in    1859  for  25   years,   and   now 
sought  to  be  extended  99  years.     As   this  measure 
was  promptly  passed  over  his  veto  by  both  branches 
of  the  Legislature,  he  deemed  it  useless  further  to 
attempt   to   check  their  headlong  career.     At   this 
session  no  law  of  a  general  useful  character  or  public 
interest   was  perfected,  unless   we  count  such  the 
turning  over  of  the  canal  to  Chicago  to  be  deepened. 
The  session  of  1867   was  still  more   productive  of 
orivnte  and  special  acts.     Many  omnibus  bills  were 
proposed,  and  some  passed.     The  contests  over  the 
.Dcation  of  the   Industrial  College,  the  Capital,  the 


Southern  Penitentiary,  and  the  canal  enlargement 
and  Illinois  River  improvement,  dominated  every- 
thing else. 

During  the  year  1872,  it  became  evident  that  if 
the  Republicans  could  re-elect  Mr.  Oglesby  to  the, 
office  of  Governor,  they  could  also  elect  him  to  the 
United  States  Senate,  which  they  desired  to  do. 
Accordingly  they  re-nominated  him  for  the  Execu- 
tive chair,  and  placed  upon  the  ticket  with  him  for 
Lieutenant  Governor,  John  L.  Beveridge,  of  Cook 
County.  On  the  other  side  the  Democrats  put  into 
the  field  Gustavus  Koerner  for  Governor  and  John 
C.  Black  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The  election 
gave  the  Republican  ticket  majorities  ranging  from 
35,334  to  56,174, — the  Democratic  defection  being 
caused  mainly  by  their  having  an  old-time  Whig  and 
Abolitionist,  Horace  Greeley,  on  the  national  ticket 
for  President.  According  to  the  general  understand- 
ing had  beforehand,  as  soon  as  the  Legislature  met 
it  elected  Gov.  Oglesby  to  the  United  States  Senate, 
whereupon  Mr.  Beveridge  became  Governor.  Sena- 
tor Oglesby 's  term  expired  March  4,  1879,  having 
served  his  party  faithfully  and  exhibited  an  order  of 
statesmanship  beyond  criticism. 

During  the  campaign  of  1884  Mr.  Oglesby  was 
nominated  for  a  "third  term"  as  Executive  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  against  Carter  H.  Harrison,  Mayor 
of  Chicago,  nominated  by  the  Democrats.  Both 
gentlemen  "  stumped  "  the  State,  and  while  the  peo- 
ple elected  a  Legislature  which  was  a  tie  on  a  joint 
ballot,  as  between  the  two  parties,  they  gave  the 
jovial  "  Dick"  Oglesby  a  majority  of  15,018  for  Gov- 
ernor, and  he  was  inaugurated  Jan.  30,  1885.  The 
Legislature  did  not  fully  organize  until  this  date,  on 
account  of  its  equal  division  between  the  two  main 
parties  and  the  consequent  desperate  tactics  of  each 
party  to  checkmate  the  latter  in  the  organization  of 
the  House. 

Gov.  Oglesby  is  a  fine-appearing,  affable  man,  with 
regular,  well  defined  features  and  rotund  face.  In 
stature  he  is  a  little  above  medium  height,  of  a  large 
frame  and  somewhat  fleshy.  His  physical  appear- 
ance is  striking  and  prepossessing,  while  his  straight- 
out,  not  to  say  bluff,  manner  and  speech  are  well 
calculated  favorably  to  impress  the  average  masses. 
Ardent  in  feeling  and  si rongly  committed  to  the  pol- 
icies of  his  party,  he  intensifies  Republicanism 
among  Republicans,  while  at  the  same  time  his  jovial 
and  liberal  manner  prevents  those  of  the  opposite 
party  from  hating  him. 

He  is  quite  an  effective  stump  orator.  With  vehe- 
ment, passionate  and  scornful  tone  and  gesturer,, 
tremendous  physical  power,  which  in  speaking  he 
exercises  to  the  utmost;  with  frequent  descents  to 
the  grotesque;  and  with  abundant  homely  compari- 
sons or  frontier  figures,  expressed  in  the  broadest 
vernacular  and  enforced  with  stentorian  emphasis, 
he  delights  a  promiscuous  a-idience  beyond  measure. 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


"7 


JOHN  M.  PAL  MEM 


Me  AULEY  PALMER,  Gov- 
ernor  1869-72,  was  born  on 
Eagle  Creek,  Scott  Co.,  Ky., 
Sept.  13,  1817.  During  his  in- 
fancy, his  father,  who  had  been 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  re- 
moved to  Christian  Co.,  Ky., 
where  lands  were  cheap.  Here 
the  future  Governor  of  the  great 
Prairie  State  spent  his  childhood 
and  received  such  meager  school- 
ing as  the  new  and  sparsely  set- 
tled country  afforded.  To  this 
he  added  materially  by  diligent 
reading,  for  which  he  evinced  an 
early  aptitude.  His  father,  an  ardent  Jackson  man, 
was  also  noted  for  his  anti-slavery  sentiments,  which 
he  thoroughly  impressed  upon  his  children.  In  1831 
he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Madison  County. 
Here  the  labor  of  improving  a  farm  was  pursued  for 
about  two  years,  when  the  death  of  Mr.  Palmer's 
mother  broke  up  the  family.  About  this  time  Alton 
College  was  opened,  on  the  "manual  labor  "  system, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1834  young  Palmer,  with  his 
elder  brother,  Elihu,  entered  this  school  and  remained 
1 8  months.  Next,  for  over  three  years,  he  tried 
variously  coopering,  peddling  and  school-teaching. 

During   the   summer  of   1838  he  formed  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Stephen  A    Douglas,  then   making  his 


first  canvass  for  Congress.  Young,  eloquent  and  in 
political  accord  with  Mr.  Palmer,  he  won  his  confi- 
dence, fired  his  ambition  and  fixed  his  purpose.  The 
following  winter,  while  teaching  near  Canton,  he  be- 
gan to  devote  his  spare  time  to  a  desultory  reading 
of  law,  and  in  the  spring  entered  a  law  office  at  Car- 
linville,  making  his  home  with  his  elder  brother, 
Elihu.  (The  latter  was  a  learned  clergyman,  of  con- 
siderable orginality  of  thought  and  doctrine.)  On 
the  next  meeting  of  the  Supreme  Court  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar,  Douglas  being  one  of  his  examiners. 
He  was  not  immediately  successful  in  his  profession, 
and  would  have  located  elsewhere  than  Carlinville 
had  he  the  requisite  means.  Thus  his  early  poverty 
was  a  blessing  in  disguise,  for  to  it  he  now  attributes 
the  success  of  his  life. 

From  1839  on,  while  he  diligently  pursued  his 
profession,  he  participated  more  or  less  in  local 
politics.  In  1843  he  became  Probate  Judge.  IP 
1847  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Constitutional  Con- 
vention,  where  he  took  a  leading  part.  In  1852  he 
was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  and  at  the  special 
session  of  February,  1854,  true  to  the  anti-slaver) 
sentiments  bred  in  him,  he  took  a  firm  stand  in  op 
position  to  the  repeal  of  the 'Missouri  Compromise, 
and  when  the  Nebraska  question  became  a  party 
issue  he  refused  to  receive  a  re-nomination  for  tin 
Senatorship  at  the  hands  of  the  Democracy,  issuinf 
a  circular  to  that  effect.  A  few  weeks  afterward 


1 68 


JOHN  MC  AULEY  PALMER. 


however,  hesitating  to  break  with  his  party,  he  par- 
ticipated in  a  Congressional  Convention  which  nomi- 
T.  L.  Harris  against  Richard  Yates,  and  which 
unqualifiedly  approved  the  principles  of  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  act.  But  later  in  the  campaign  he  made 
the  plunge,  ran  for  the  Senate  as  an  Anti-Nebraska 
Democrat,  and  was  elected.  The  following  winter 
he  put  in  nomination  for  the.  ^United  States  Senate 
Mr.  Trumbull,  and  was  one  of  the  five  steadfast  men 
who  voted  for  him  until  all  the  Whigs  came  to  their 
support  and  elected  their  man. 

In  1856  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Republican  State 
Convention  at  Bloomington.  He  ran  for  Congress  in 
1859,  but  was  defeated.  In  1860  he  was  Republican 
Presidential  Elector  for  the  State  at  large.  In  1861 
he  was  appointed  one  of  the  five  Delegates  (all  Re- 
publicans) sent  by  Illinois  to  the  peace  congress  at 
Washington. 

When  the  civil  conflict  broke  out,  he  offered  his 
services  to  his  country,  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  the 
i4th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  participated  in  the  engagements 
at  Island  No.  10;  at  Farmington,  where  he  skillfully 
extricated  his  command  from  a  dangerous  position  ; 
at  Stone  River,  where  his  division  for  several  hours, 
Dec.  31,  1862,  held  the  advance  and  stood  like  a 
rock,  and  for  his  gallantry  there  he  was  made  Major 
General;  at  Chickamauga,  where  his  and  Van  Cleve's 
divisions  for  two  hours  maintained  their  position 
when  they  were  cut  off  by  overpowering  numbers 
Under  Gen.  Sherman,  he  was  assigned  to  the  i4th 
Army  Corps  and  participated  in  the  Atlanta  campaign. 
At  Peach-Tree  Creek  his  prudence  did  much  to  avert 
disaster.  In  February,  1865,  Gen.  Palmer  was  as- 
signed to  the  military  administration  of  Kentucky, 
which  was  a  delicate  post.  That  State  was  about 
half  rebel  and  half  Union,  and  those  of  the  latter 
element  were  daily  fretted  by  the  loss  of  their  slaves. 
He,  who  had  been  bred  to  the  rules  of  common  law, 
trembled  at  the  contemplation  of  his  extraordinary 
power  over  the  persons  and  property  of  his  fellow 
men,  with  which  he  was  vested  in  his  capacity  as 
military  Governor ;  and  he  exhibited  great  caution  in 
the  execution  of  the  daties  of  his  post. 

Gen.  Palmer  was  nominated  for  Governor  of  Illi- 
nois by  the  Republican  State  Convention  which  met 
at  Peoria  May  6,  1868,  and  his  nomination  would 
probably  have  been  made  by  acclamation  had  he  not 
persistently  declared  that  he  could  not  accept  a  can- 


didature for  the  office.  The  result  of  the  ensuing 
election  gave  Mr.  Palmer  a  majority  of  44,707  over 
John  R.  Eden,  the  Democratic  nominee. 

On  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature  in  January, 
1 869,  the  first  thing  to  arrest  public  attention  was 
that  portion  of  the  Governor's  message  which  took 
broad  Slate's  rights  ground.  This  and  some  minor 
points,  which  were  more  in  keeping  with  the  Demo- 
cratic sentiment,  constituted  the  entering  wedge  fir 
the  criticisms  and  reproofs  he  afterward  received 
from  the  Republican  party,  and  ultimately  resulted 
in  his  entire  aleniation  from  the  latter  element.  The 
Legislature  just  referred  to  was  noted  for  the  intro- 
duction of  numerous  bills  in  the  interest  of  private 
parties,  which  were  embarrassing  to  the  Governor. 
Among  the  public  acts  passed  was  that  which  limited 
railroad  charges  for  passenger  travel  to  a  maximum 
of  three  cents  per  mile ;  and  it  was  passed  over  the 
Governor's  veto.  Also,  they  passed,  over  his  veto, 
the  "tax-grabbing  law"  to  pay  railroad  subscriptions, 
the  Chicago  Lake  Front  bill,  etc.  The  new  State 
Constitution  of  1870,  far  superior  to  the  old,  was  a 
peaceful  "revolution"  which  took  place  during  Gov. 
Palmer's  term  of  office.  The  suffering  caused  by  the 
great  Chicago  Fire  of  October,  1871,  was  greatly 
alleviated  by  the  prompt  responses  of  his  excellency. 
Since  the  expiration  of  Gov.  Palmers 's  term,  he  has 
been  somewhat  prominent  in  Illinois  politics,  and 
has  been  talked  of  by  many,  especially  in  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  as  the  best  man  in  the  State  for  a 
United  States  Senator.  His  business  during  life  has 
been  that  of  the  law.  Few  excel  him  in  an  accurate 
appreciation  of  the  depth  and  scope  of  its  principles- 
The  great  number  of  his  able  veto  messages  abun- 
dantly testify  not  only  this  but  also  a  rare  capacity  to 
point  them  out.  He  is  a  logical  and  cogent  reasoner 
and  an  interesting,  forcible  and  convincing  speaker, 
though  not  fluent  or  ornate.  Without  brilliancy,  his 
'dealings  are  rather  with  facts  and  ideas  than  with 
appeals  to  passions  and  prejudices.  He  is  a  patriot 
and  a  statesman  of  very  high  order.  Physically  he  is 
above  the  medium  height,  of  robust  frame,  ruddy 
complexion  and  sanguine-nervous  temperament.  He 
has  a  large  cranial  development,  is  vivacious,  social 
in  disposition,  easy  of  approach,  unostentatious  in  his 
habits  of  life,  democratic  in  his  habits  and  manners 
and  is  a  true  American  in  his  fundamental  principles 
of  statesmanship. 


'  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'7' 


OHN   LOWRiE  BEVER- 
IDGE,  Governor  1873-6,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Green- 
wich, Washington  Co.,  N.  Y., 
July   6,    1824.      His   parents 
were  George  and  Ann  Bever- 
idge.     His  father's  parents,  An- 
drew and  Isabel  Beveridge,  be- 
fore  their    marriage    emigrated 
from   Scotland  just   before   the 
Revolutionary  War,  settling   in 
Washington  County.    His  father 
was  the  eldest  of  eight  brothers,  the 
youngest  of  whom  was  60  years  of 
age  when  the  first  one  of  the  num- 
ber died.     His   mother's   parents, 
lames  and  Agnes  Hoy,  emigrated 
from  Scotland  at  the  close  of  the 

0  Revolutionary  War,  settling  also  in 
'  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  with  their 
first-born,  whose  "  native  land  "was 
the  wild  ocean.  His  parents  and 
grandparents  lived  beyond  the  time 
allotted  to  man,  their  average  age 
being  over  80  years.  They  belonged  to  the  "  Asso- 
ciate Church,"  a  seceding  Presbyterian  body  of 


America  from  the  old  Scotch  school ;  and  so  rig  d 
was  the  training  of  young  Beveridge  that  he  never 
heard  a  sermon  from  any  other  minister  except  that 
of  his  own  denomination  until  he  was  in  his  191)1 
year.  Later  in  life  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  which  relation  he  still 
holds. 

Mr.  Beveridge  received  a  good  common-school  ed- 
ucation, but  his  parents,  who  could  obtain  a  livelihood 
only  by  rigid  economy  and  industry,  could  not  send 
him  away  to  college.  He  was  raised  upon  a  farm, 
and  was  in  his  i8th  year  when  the  family  removed 
to  De  Kalb  County,  this  State,  when  that  section  was 
very  sparsely  settled.  Chicago  had  less  than  7,000 
inhabitants.  In  this  wild  West  he  continued  as  a 
farm  laborer,  teaching  school  during  the  winter 
months  to  supply  the  means  of  an  education.  In  the 
fall  of  1842  he  attended  one  term  at  the  academy  at 
Granville,  Putnam  Co.,  111.,  and  subsequently  several 
terms  at  the  Rock  River  Seminary  at  Mount  Morris, 
Ogle  Co.,  111.,  completing  the  academic  course.  At 
this  time,  the  fall  of  1845,  his  parents  and  brothers 
were  anxious  to  have  him  go  to  college,  even  though 
he  had  not  money  sufficient;  but,  njt  willing  to  bur- 
den the  family,  he  packed  his  trunk  and  with  only 
$40  in  money  started  South  to  seek  his  fortune 


I72 


JOHN  L.  BE  VE RIDGE. 


Poor,  alone,  without  friends  and  influence,  he  thus 
entered  upon  the  battle  of  life. 

First,  he  taught  school  in  Wilson,  Overton  and 
Jackson  Cos.,  Tenn.,  in  which  experience  he  under- 
wont  considerable  mental  drill,  both  in  book  studies 
and  in  the  ways  of  the  world.  He  read  law  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar,  in  the  South,  but  did  not  learn 
to  love  the  institution  of  slavery,  although  he  ad- 
mired many  features  of  Southern  character.  In  De- 
cember, 1847,  he  returned  North,  and  Jan.  20,  1848, 
he  married  Miss  Helen  M.  Judson,  in  the  old  Clark- 
Street  M.  E.  church  in  Chicago,  her  father  at  that 
lime  being  Pastor  of  the  society  there.  In  the  spring 
of  1848  he  returned  with  his  wife  to  Tennessee, 
where  his  two  children,  Alia  May  and  Philo  Judson, 
were  born. 

In  the  fall  of  1849,  through  the  mismanagement 
of  an  associate,  he  lost  what  little  he  had  accumu- 
lated and  was  left  in  debt.  He  soon  managed  to 
earn  means  to  pay  his  debts,  returned  to  De  Kalb 
Co.,  111.,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Sycamore,  the  county  seat.  On  arrival 
from  the  South  he  had  but  one-quarter  of  a  dollar  in 
money,  and  scanty  clothing  and  bedding  for  himself 
and  family.  He  borrowed  a  little  money,  practiced 
law,  worked  in  public  offices,  kept  books  for  some  of 
the  business  men  of  the  town,  and  some  railroad  en- 
gineering, till  the  spring  of  1854,  when  he  removed 
to  Evanston,  12  miles  north  of  Chicago,  a  place  then 
but  recently  laid  out,  under  the  supervision  of  the 
Northwestern  University,  a  Methodist  institution. 
Of  the  latter  his  father-in-law  was  then  financial 
agent  and  business  manager.  Here  Mr.  Beveridge 
prospered,  and  the  next  year  (1855)  opened  a  law 
office  in  Chicago,  where  he  found  the  battle  some- 
what hard;  but  he  persevered  with  encouragement 
and  increasing  success. 

Aug.  12,  1861,  his  law  partner,  Gen.  John  F. 
Farnsworth,  secured  authority  to  raise  a  regiment  of 
cavalry,  and  authorized  Mr.  Beveridge  to  raise  a 
company  for  it.  He  succeeded  in  a  few  days  in  rais- 
ing the  company,  of  course  enlisting  himself  along 
with  it.  The  regiment  rendezvoused  at  St.  Charles, 
111.,  was  mustered  in  Sept.  1 8,  and  on  its  organiza- 
tion Mr.  B.  was  elected  Second  Major.  It  was  at- 
tached, Oct.  n,  to  the  Eighth  Cavalry  and  to  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  served  with  the  regiment 
until  November,  1863,  participating  in  some  40  bat- 


tles and  skirmishes  :  was  at  Fair  Oaks,  the  seven  days 
fight  around  Richmond,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellors- 
ville  and  Gettysburg.  He  commanded  the  regiment 
the  greater  part  of  the  summer  of  1 863,  and  it  was  while 
lying  in  camp  this  year  that  he  originated  the  policy 
of  encouraging  recruits  as  well  as  the  fighting  capac- 
ity of  the  soldiery,  by  the  wholesale  furlough  system. 
It  worked  so  well  that  many  other  officers  adopted 
it.  In  the  fall  of  this  year  he  recruited  another  com- 
pany, against  heavy  odds,  in  January,  1864,  was 
commissioned  Colonel  of  the  i7th  111.  Cav.,  and 
skirmished  around  in  Missouri,  concluding  with  the 
reception  of  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Kirby  Smith's 
army  in  Arkansas.  In  1865  he  commanded  various 
sub-districts  in  the  Southwest.  He  was  mustered 
out  Feb.  6,  1866,  safe  from  the  casualties  of  war  and 
a  stouter  man  than  when  he  first  enlisted.  His  men 
idolized  him. 

He  then  returned  to  Chicago,  to  practice  law,  with 
no  library  and  no  clientage,  and  no  political  experi- 
ence except  to  help  others  into  office.  In  the  fall  of 
1866  he.was  elected  Sheriff  of  Cook  County,  serving 
one  term;  next,  until  November,  1870,  he  practiced 
law  and  closed  up  the  unfinished  business  of  his 
office.  He  was  then  elected  State  Senator;  in  No- 
vember, 187  i,  he  was  elected  Congressman  at  large  ; 
in  November,  1872,  he  was  elected  Lieutenant  Gov- 
ernor on  the  ticket  with  Gov.  Oglesby;  the  latter  be- 
ing elected  to  the  U.  S.  Senate,  Mr.  Beveridge  became 
Governor,  Jan.  21,  1873.  Thus,  inside  of  a  few 
weeks,  he  was  Congressman  at  large,  Lieutenant 
Governor  and  Governor.  The  principal  events  oc- 
curring during  Gov.  Beveridge's  administration  were: 
The  completion  of  the  revision  of  the  statutes,  begun 
in  1869;  the  partial  success  of  the  "farmers'  move- 
ment;" "  Haines'  Legislature  "  and  Illinois'  exhibit  at 
the  Centennial. 

Since  the  close  of  his  gubernatorial  term  ex-Gov 
Beveridge  has  been  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Bever- 
idge &  Dewey,  bankers  and  dealers  in  commercial 
paper  at  7 1  Dearborn  Street  (McCormick  Block), 
Chicago,  and  since  November,  1 88 1,  he  has  also  been 
Assistant  United  States  Treasurer :  office  in  the 
Government  Building.  His  residence  is  still  at  Ev- 
anston. 

He  has  a  brother  and  two  sisters  yet  residing  in 
De  Kail)  County — James  H.  Beveridge,  Mrs.  Jennet 
Henry  and  Mrs.  Isabel  French. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


175 


&HELB  Y  M.  CULLOM. 


HELBY  M.  CULLOM,  Gover- 
nor 1877-83,13  the  sixth  child 
of  the  late  Richard  N.  Cullom, 
and  was  born  Nov.  22,  1829,111 
Wayne  Co.,  Ky.,  where  his  fa- 
ther then  resided,  and  whence 
both  the  Illinois  and  Tennessee 
branches  of  the  family  originated.  In 
the  following  year  the  family  emi- 
grated to  the  vicinity  of  Washington, 
Taze well  Co.,  111.,  when  that  section 
was  very  sparsely  settled.  They  lo- 
cated on  Deer  Creek,  in  a  grove  at 
the  time  occupied  by  a  party  of  In- 
dians, attracted  there  by  the  superior 
hunting  and  fishing  afforded  in  that 
vicinity.  The  following  winter  was 
known  as  the  "  hard  winter,"  the  snow  [being  very 
deej)  and  lasting  and  the  weather  severely  cold;  and 
tiie  family  had  to  subsist  mainly  on  boiled  corn  or 
hominy,  and  some  wild  game,  for  several  weeks.  In 
the  course  of  time  Mr.  R.  N.  Cullom  became  a  prom- 
inent citizen  and  was  several  times  elected  to  the 
Legislature,  both  before  and  after  the  removal  of  the 
capital  from  Vandalia  to  Springfield.  He  died  about 

'873- 

Until  about  19  years  of  age  young  Cullom  grew  up 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  attending  school  as  he  had 
opportunity  during  the  winter.  Within  this  time, 
however,  he  spent  several  months  teachin^  «rhool, 


and  in  the  following  summer  he  "broke  prairie  "with 
an  ox  team  for  the  neighbors.  With  the  money  ob- 
tained by  these  various  ventures,  he  undertook  a 
course  of  study  at  the  Rock  River  Seminary,  a 
Methodist  institution  at  Mt.  Morris,  Ogle  County; 
but  the  sudden  change  to  the  in-door  life  of  a  stu- 
dent told  severely  upon  his  health,  and  he  was  taken 
home,  being  considered  in  a  hopeless  condition.  While 
at  Mt.  Morris  he  heard  Hon.  E.  B.  Washburne  make 
his  first  speech. 

On  recovering  health,  Mr.  Cullom  concluded  to 
study  law,  under  the  instruction  of  Abraham  Lincoln, 
at  Springfield,  who  had  by  this  time  attained  some 
notoriety  as  an  able  lawyer;  but  the  latter,  being  ab- 
sent from  his  office  most  of  the  time,  advised  Mr. 
Cullom  to  enter  the  office  of  Stuart  &  Edwards. 
After  about  a  year  of  study  there,  however,  his  health 
failed  again,  and  he  was  obliged  to  return  once  more 
to  out-door  life.  Accordingly  he  bought  hogs  for 
packing,  for  A.  G.  Tyng,  in  Peoria,  and  while  he  re- 
gained his  health  he  gained  in  purse,  netting  $400  in 
a  few  weeks.  Having  been  admitted  to  the  Bar,  he 
went  to  Springfield,  where  he  was  soon  elected  City 
Attorney,  on  the  Anti-Nebraska  ticket. 

In  1856  he  ran  on  the  Fillmore  ticket  as  a  Presi- 
dential Elector,  and,  although  failing  to  be  elected  as 
such,  he  was  at  the  same  time  elected  a  Representa- 
tive in  the  Legislature  from  Sangamon  County,  by  a 
local  coalition  of  the  American  and  Republican  par- 
ties. On  the  organization  of  the  House,  he  received 
the  vote  of  the  Fillmore  men  for  Speaker.  Practicing 


r76 


SHELB  Y  M.    CULLOM. 


law  until  1860,  he  was  again  elecced  to  the  Legisla- 
ture, as  a  Republican,  while  the  county  went  Demo- 
cratic on  the  Presidential  ticket.  In  January  follow- 
ing he  was  elected  Speaker,  probably  the  youngest 
man  who  had  ever  presided  over  an  Illinois  Legis- 
lature. After  the  session  of  1 86 1,  he  was  a  candidate 
for  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  called  for 
that  year,  but  was  defeated,  and  thus  escaped  the 
disgrace  of  being  connected  with  that  abortive  party 
scheme  to  revolutionize  the  State  Government.  In 
1862  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  State  Senate,  but 
was  defeated.  The  same  year,  however,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Lincoln  on  a  Government 
Commission,  in  company  with  Gov.  Boutwell  of 
Massachusetts  and  Cnarles  A.  Dana,  since  of  the 
New  York  Sun,  to  investigate  the  affairs  of  the 
Quartermaster's  and  Commissary  Departments  at 
Cairo.  He  devoted  several  months  to  this  duty. 

In  1864  he  enteied  upon  a  larger  political  field, 
being  nominated  as  the  Republican  candidate  for 
Congress  from  the  Eighth  (Springfield)  District,  in 
opposition  to  the  incumbent,  JohnT.  Stuart,  who  had 
been  elected  in  1862  by  about  1,500  majority  over 
Leonard  Swett,  then  of  Bloomington,  now  of  Chicago. 
The  result  was  the  election  of  Mr.  Cullom  in  Novem- 
ber following  by  a  majority  of  1,785.  In  1866  he 
was  re-elected  to  Congress,  over  Dr.  E.  S.  Fowler,  by 
the  magnificent  majority  of  4,103!  In  1868  he  was 
again  a  candidate,  defeating  the  Hon.  B.  S.  Edwards, 
another  of  his  old  preceptors,  by  2,884  votes. 

During  his  first  term  in  Congress  he  served  on  the 
Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs  and  Expenditures  in 
the  Treasury  Department;  in  his  second  term,  on 
the  Committees  on  Foreign  Affairs  and  on  Territories ; 
and  in  his  third  term  he  succeeded  Mr.  Ashley,  of 
Ohio,  to  the  Chairmanship  of  the  latter.  He  intro- 
duced a  bill  in  the  House,  to  aid  in  the  execution  of 
law  in  Utah,  which  caused  more  consternation  among 
the  Mormons  than  any  measure  had  previously,  but 
which,  though  it  passed  the  House,  failed  to  pass  the 
Senate. 

The  Republican  Convention  which  met  May  25, 
1876,  nominated  Mr.  Cullom  for  Governor,  while  the 
other  contestant  was  Gov.  Beveridge.  For  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor they  nominated  Andrew  Shuman,  editor 
of  the  Chicago  Journal.  For  the  same  offices  the 
Democrats,  combining  with  the  Anti-Monopolists, 
placed  in  nomination  Lewis  Steward,  a  wealthy 


farmer  and  manufacturer,  and  A.  A.  Glenn.  The 
result  of  the  election  was  rather  close,  Mr.  Cullom 
obtaining  only  6,800  majority.  He  was  inaugurated 
Jan.  8,  1877. 

Great  depression  prevailed  in  financial  circles  at 
this  time,  as  a  consequence  of  the  heavy  failures  of 
1873  and  afterward,  the  effect  of  which  had  seemed 
to  gather  force  from  that  time  to  the  end  of  Gov. 
Cullom's  first  administration.  This  unspeculative 
period  was  not  calculated  to  call  forth  any  new 
issues,  but  the  Governor's  energies  were  at  one  time 
put  to  task  to  quell  a  spirit  of  insubordination  that 
had  been  begun  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  among  the  laboring 
classes,  and  transferred  to  Illinois  at  Chicago,  East 
St.  Louis  and  Braidwood,  at  which  places  laboring 
men  for  a  short  time  refused  to  work  or  allow  others 
to  work.  These  disturbances  were  soon  quelled  and 
the  wheels  of  industry  again  set  in  motion. 

In  May,  1880,  Gov.  Cullom  was  re-nominated  by 
the  Republicans,  against  Lyinan  Trumbull,  by  the 
Democrats;  and  although  the  former  party  was  some- 
what handicapped  in  the  campaign  by  a  zealous 
faction  opposed  to  Grant  for  President  and  to  Grant 
men  for  office  generally,  Mr.  Cullom  was  re-elected 
by  about  314,565,  to  277,532  for  the  Democratic  State 
ticket.  The  Greenback  vote  at  the  same  time  was 
about  27,000.  Both  Houses  of  the  Legislature  again 
became  Republican,  and  no  representative  of  the 
Greenback  or  Socialist  parties  were  elected.  Gov. 
Cullom  was  inaugurated  Jan.  10,  iS8i.  In  his  mes- 
sage he  announced  that  the  last  dollar  of  the  State 
debt  had  been  provided  for. 

March  4,  1883,  the  term  of  David  Davis  as  United 
States  Senator  from  Illinois  expired,  and  Gov.  Cul- 
lom was  chosen  to  succeed  him.  This  promoted 
Lieutenant-Governor  John  M.  Hamilton  to  the  Gov- 
ernorship. Senator  Cullom 's  term  in  the  United 
States  Senate  will  expire  March  4,  1889. 

As  a  practitioner  of  law  Mr.  C.  has  been  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Cullom,  Scholes  &  Mather,  at  Spring- 
field ;  and  he  has  also  been  President  of  the  State 
National  Bank. 

He  has  been  married  twice, — the  first  time  Dec. 
12,  1855,  to  Miss  Hannah  Fisher,  by  whom  he  had 
two  daughters ;  and  the  second  time  May  5,  1863, 
to  Julia  Fisher.  Mrs.  C  is  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  with  which  religious  body  Mr. 
C.  is  also  in  sympathy. 


' 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'79 


OHN  MARSHALL  HAMIL- 
TON, Governor  1883-5,  was 
born  May  28,  1847,  in  a  log 
house  upon  a  farm  about  two 
miles  from  Richwood,  Union 
County,  Ohio.  His  father  was 
Samuel  Hamilton,  the  eldest  son 
of  Rev.  Wm.  Hamilton,  who,  to- 
gether with  his  brother,  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Hamilton,  was  among  the 
early  pioneer  Methodist  preachers  in 
Ohio.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  slcetch  was,  before  her  marriage, 
Mrs.  Nancy  McMoiris,  who  was 
born  and  raised  in  Fauquier  or  Lou- 
doun  County,  Va.,  and  related  to  the 
two  large  families  of  Youngs  and  Marshalls,  well 
known  in  that  commonwealth;  and  from  the  latter 
family  name  was  derived  the  middle  name  of  Gov. 
Hamilton. 

In  March,  1854,  Mr.  Hamilton's  father  sold  out 
his  little  pioneer  forest  home  in  Union  County,  O., 
and,  loading  his  few  household  effects  and  family 
(of  six  children)  into  two  emigrant  covered  wagons, 
moved  to  Roberts  Township,  Marshall  Co.,  111.,  being 
2 1  days  on  the  route.  Swamps,  unbridged  streams 
and  innumerable  hardships  and  privations  met  them 
on  their  way.  Their  new  home  had  been  previously 
selected  by  the  father.  Here,  after  many  long  years 
of  toil,  they  succeeded  in  paying  for  the  land  and 
making  a  comfort«i>'e  home.  John  was,  of  course, 


brought  up  to  hard  manual  labor,  with  no  schooling 
except  three  or  four  months  in  the  year  at  a  common 
country  school.  However,  he  evinced  a  capacity 
and  taste  for  a  high  order  of  self-education,  by 
studying  or  reading  what  books  he  could  borrow,  as 
the  family  had  but  very  few  in  the  house.  Much  of 
his  study  he  prosecuted  by  the  light  of  a  log  fire  in 
the  old-fashioned  chimney  place.  The  financial 
panic  of  1857  caused  the  family  to  come  near  losing 
their  home,  to  pay  debts ;  but  the  father  and  two 
sons,  William  and  John,  "buckled  to''  and  perse 
vered  in  hard  labor  and  economy  until  they  redeemed 
their  place  from  the  mortgage. 

When  the  tremendous  excitement  of  the  political 
campaign  of  1860  reached  the  neighborhood  of  Rob- 
erts Township,  young  Hamilton,  who  had  been 
brought  up  in  the  doctrine  of  anti-slavery,  took  a  zeal- 
ous part  in  favor  of  Lincoln's  election.  Making  special 
efforts  to  procure  a  little  money  to  buy  a  uniform,  he 
joined  a  company  of  Lincoln  Wide-Awakes  at  Mag- 
nolia, a  village  not  far  away.  Directly  after  the 
ensuing  election  it  became  evident  that  trouble 
would  ensue  with  the  South,  and  this  Wide-Awake 
company,  like  many  others  throughout  the  country, 
kept  up  its  organization  and  transformed  itself  into  a 
military  company.  During  the  ensuing  summer  they 
met  often  for  drill  and  became  proficient;  but  whe;i 
they  offered  themselves  for  the  war,  young  Hamilio.i 
was  rejected  on  account  of  his  youth,  he  being  then 
but  14  years  of  age.  During  the  winter  of  1863-4  he 
attended  an  academy  at  Henry,  Marshall  County. 


t8o 


JOHN  MARSHALL  HAMILTON. 


and  in  the  following  May  he  again  enlisted,  for  the 
fourth  time,  when  he  was  placed  in  the  i4ist  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  a  regiment  then  being  raised  at  Elgin,  111., 
for  the  loo-day  service.  He  took  with  him  13  other 
lads  from  his  neighborhood,  for  enlistment  in  the 
service.  This  regiment  operated  in  Southwestern 
Kentucky,  for  about  five  months,  under  Gen.  Paine. 

The  following  winter,  1864-5,  Mr.  Hamilton  taught 
school,  and  during  the  two  college  years  1865-7,  he 
went  through  three  years  of  the  curriculum  of  the 
Ohio  Wesleyan  University  at  Delaware,  Ohio.  The 
third  year  he  graduated,  the  fourth  in  a  class  of  46, 
in  the  classical  department.  In  due  time  he  received 
the  degree  of  M.  A.  For  a  few  months  he  was  the 
Principal  of  Marshall  "  College  "  at  Henry,  an  acad- 
emy under  the  auspices  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  By 
this  time  he  had  commenced  the  study  of  law,  and 
after  earning  some  money  as  a  temporary  Professor 
of  Latin  at  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  at 
Bloomington,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Weldon, 
Tipton  &  Benjamin,  of  that  city.  Each  member  of 
this  firm  has  since  been  distinguished  as  a  Judge. 
Admitted  to  the  Bar  in  May,  1870,  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  given  an  interest  in  the  same  firm,  Tipton  hav- 
ing been  elected  Judge.  In  October  following  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  J.  H.  Rowell,  at  that  time 
Prosecuting  Attorney.  Their  business  was  then 
small,  but  they  increased  it  to  very  large  proportions, 
practicing  in  all  grades  of  courts,  including  even  the 
U.  S.  Supreme  Court,  and  this  partnership  continued 
unbroken  until  Feb.  6,  1883,  when  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  sworn  in  as  Executive  of  Illinois.  On  the  4th 
of  March  following  Mr.  Rowell  took  his  seat  in  Con- 
gress. 

In  July,  1871.  Mr.  Hamilton  married  Miss  Helen 
M.  Williams,  the  daughter  of  Prof.  Win.  G.  Williams, 
Professor  of  Greek  in  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  have  two  daughters  and  one  son. 

In  1876  Mr.  Hamilton  was  nominated  by  the  Re- 
publicans for  the  State  Senate,  over  other  and  older 
competitors.  He  took  an  active  part  "  on  the  stump  " 
in  the  campaign,  for  the  success  of  his  party,  and  was 
elected  by  a  majority  of  1,640  over  his  Democratic- 
Greenback  opponent.  In  the  Senate  he  served  on 
the  Committees  on  Judiciary,  Revenue,  State  Insti- 
tutions, Appropriations,  Education,  and  on  Miscel- 
lany ;  and  during  the  contest  for  the  election  of  a 
U.  S.  Senator,  the  Republicans  endeavoring  to  re- 


elect  John  A.  Logan,  he  voted  for  the  war  chief  on 
every  ballot,  even  alone  when  all  the  other  Republi- 
cans had  gone  over  to  the  Hon.  E.  B.  Lawrence  and 
the  Democrats  and  Independents  elected  Judge 
David  Davis.  At  this  session,  also,  was  passed  the 
first  Board  of  Health  and  Medical  Practice  act,  of 
which  Mr.  Hamilton  was  a  champion,  against  r; 
much  opposition  that  the  bill  was  several  times 
"  laid  on  the  table."  Also,  this  session  authorized 
the  location  and  establishment  of  a  southern  peni- 
tentiary, which  was  fixed  at  Chester.  In  the  session 
of  1879  Mr.  Hamilton  was  elected  President  pro  tern. 
of  the  Senate,  and  was  a  zealous  supporter  of  John 
A.  Logan  for  the  U.  S.  Senate,  who  wa".  this  time 
elected  without  any  trouble. 

In  May,  1880,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  nominated  on 
the  Republican  ticket  for  Lieutenant  Governor,  his 
principal  competitors  before  the  Convention  being 
Hon.  Wm.  A.  James,  ex-Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  Judge  Robert  Bell,  of  Wabash 
County,  Hon.  T.  T.  Fountain,  of  Perry  County,  and 
Hon.  M.  M.  Saddler,  of  Marion  County.  He  engaged 
actively  in  the  campaign,  and  his  ticket  was  elected 
by  a  majority  of  41,200.  As  Lieutenant  Governor, 
he  presided  almost  continuously  over  the  Senate  in 
the  3ad  General  Assembly  and  during  the  early  days 
of  the  33d,  until  he  succeeded  to  the  Governorship. 
When  the  Legislature  of  1883  elected  Gov.  Cullom 
to  the  United  States  Senate,  Lieut.  Gov.  Hamilton 
succeeded  him,  under  the  Constitution,  taking  the 
oath  of  office  Feb.  6,  1883.  He  bravely  met  all  the 
annoyances  and  embarrassments  incidental  upon 
taking  up  another's  administration.  The  principal 
events  with  which  Gov.  Hamilton  was  connected  as 
the  Chief  Executive  of  the  State  were,  the  mine  dis- 
aster at  Braidwood,  the  riots  in  St.  Clairand  Madison 
Counties  in  May,  1883,  the  appropriations  for  the 
State  militia,  the  adoption  of  the  Harper  high-license 
liquor  law,  the  veto  of  a  dangerous  railroad  bill,  etc. 

The  Governor  was  a  Delegate  at  large  to  the 
National  Republican  Convention  at  Chicago  in  June, 

1884,  where  his  first  choice  for  President  w.is  Jolin 
A.  Logan,  and  second  choice  Chester  A.  Arthur;  but 
he  afterward  zealously  worked  for  the  election  of  Mr. 
Elaine,  true  to  his  party. 

Mr.  Hamilton's  term  as  Governor  expired  Jan.  30, 

1885,  when  the  great  favorite  "Dick"  Oglesby  was 
inaugurated. 


JOSEPH  W.  FIFER. 


183 


'OSEPH  WILSON  FIFER.  This 
distinguished  gentleman  was 
elected  Governor  of  Illinois 
November  6,  1888.  He  was 
popularly  known  during  the 
campaign  as  "Private  Joe."  He 
had  served  with  great  devotion 
to  his  country  during  the  Re- 
bellion, in  the  Thirty-third 
Illinois  Infantry.  A  native  of 
Virginia,  he  was  born  in  1840. 
His  parents,  John  and  Mary 
(Daniels)  Fifer,  were  American 
born,  though  of  German  de- 
scent. His  father  was  a  brick 
and  stone  mason,  and  an  old 
Henry  Clay  Whig  in  politics.  John  and  Mary 
Fifer  had  nine  children,  of  whom  Joseph  was  the 
sixth,  and  naturally  with  so  large  a  family  it  was 
all  the  father  could  do  to  keep  the  wolf  from  the 
door;  to  say  nothing  of  giving  his  children  any- 
thing like  good  educational  advantages. 

Young  Joseph  attended  school  some  in  Vir- 
ginia, but  it  was  not  a  good  school,  and  when 
his  father  removed  to  the  West,  in  1857,  Joseph  had 
not  advanced  much  further  than  the  "First  Reader." 


Our  subject  was  sixteen  then  and  suffered  a  great 
misfortune  in  the  loss  of  his  mother.  After  the  death 
of  Mrs.  Fifer,  which  occurred  in  Missouri,  t'ie 
family  returned  to  Virginia,  but  remained  only  a 
short  time,  as  during  the  same  year  Mr.  Fifer 
came  to  Illinois.  He  settled  in  McLean  County  and 
started  a  brickyard.  Here  Joseph  and  his  broth- 
ers were  put  to  work.  The  elder  Fifer  soon 
bought  a  farm  near  Bloomington  and  began  life  as 
an  agriculturalist.  Here  Joe  worked  and  attended 
the  neighboring  school.  He  alternated  farm-work, 
brick-laying,  and  going  to  the  district  school  for 
the  succeeding  few  years.  It  was  all  work  and  no 
play  for  Joe,  yet  it  by  no  means  made  a  dull  boy 
of  him.  All  the  time  he  was  thinking  of  the  great 
world  outside,  of  which  he  had  caught  a  glimpse 
when  coining  from  Virginia,  yet  he  did  not  know 
just  how  he  was  going  to  get  out  into  it.  He 
could  not  feel  that  the  woods  around  the  new 
farm  and  the  log  cabin,  in  which  the  family  lived, 
were  to  hold  him. 

The  opportunity  to  get  out  into  the  world  was 
soon  offered  to  young  Joe.  He  traveled  a  dozen 
miles  barefoot,  in  company  with  his  brother  George, 
and  enlisted  in  Company  C,  33d  Illinois  Infantry; 
he  being  then  twenty  years  old.  In  a  few  days 


184 


JOSEPH     W.  FIFER. 


the  regiment  was  sent  to  Camp  Butler,  and  then 
over  into  Missouri,  and  saw  some  vigorous  service 
there.  After  a  second  time  helping  to  chase  Price 
out  of  Missouri,  the  33d  Regiment  went  down 
to  Milliken's  Bend,  and  for  several  weeks  "Private 
Joe"  worked  on  Grant's  famous  ditch.  The  regi- 
ment then  joined  the  forces  operating  against  Port 
Gibson  and  Vicksburg.  Joe  was  on  guard  duty  in 
the  front  ditches  when  the  flag  of  surrender  was 
run  up  on  the  4th  of  July,  and  stuck  the  bayonet 
of  his  gun  into  the  embankment  and  went  into  the 
city  with  the  vanguard  of  Union  soldiers. 

The  next  day,  July  5,  the  38d  joined  the  force 
after  Johnston,  who  had  been  threatening  Grant's 
rear;  and  finally  an  assault  was  made  on  him  at 
Jackson,  Miss.  In  this  charge  "Private  Joe"  fell,  ter- 
ribly wounded.  He  was  loading  his  gun  when  a 
minie-ball  struck  him  and  passed  entirely  through 
his  body.  He  was  regarded  as  mortally  wounded. 
His  brother,  George,  who  had  been  made  a  Lieu- 
tenant, proved  to  be  the  means  of  saving  his  life. 
The  Surgeon  told  him  unless  he  had  ice  his  brother 
Joe  could  not  live.  It  was  fifty  miles  to  the  nearest 
point  where  ice  could  be  obtained,  and  the  roads 
were  rough.  A  comrade,  a  McLean  county  man,  who 
had  been  wounded,  offered  to  make  the  trip.  An 
ambulance  was  secured  and  the  brother  soldier 
started  on  the  journey.  He  returned  with  the  ice, 
but  the  trip,  owing  to  the  roughness  of  the  roads, 
was  very  hard  on  him.  After  a  few  months'  care- 
ful nursing  Mr.  Fifer  was  able  to  come  home.  The 
33d  came  home  on  a  furlough,  and  when  the 
boys  were  ready  to  return  to  the  tented  field, 
young  Fifer  was  ready  to  go  with  them;  for  he  was 
determined  to  finish  his  term  of  three  years.  He 
was  mustered  out  in  October,  1864,  having  been 
in  the  service  three  years  and  two  months. 

"  Private  Joe "  came  out  of  the  army  a  tall, 
tanned,  and  awkward  young  man  of  twenty-four. 
About  all  he  possessed  was  ambition  to  be  some- 
body— and  pluck.  Though  at  an  age  when  most 
men  have  finished  their  college  course,  the  young 
soldier  saw  that  if  he  was  to  be  anybody  he  must 
have  an  education.  Yet  he  had  no  means  to  ena- 
ble him  to  enter  school  as  most  young  men  do. 
He  was  determined  to  have  an  education,  however, 
and  that  to  him  meant  success.  For  the  following 


four  years  he  struggled  with  his  books.  He  entered 
Wesleyan  University  Jan.  1.  1865.  He  was  not  a 
brilliant  student,  being  neither  at  the  head  nor  the 
foot  of  his  class.  He  was  in  great  earnest,  how- 
ever, studied  hard  and  came  forth  with  a  well- 
stored  and  disciplined  mind. 

Immediately  after  being  graduated  he  entered 
an  office  at  Bloomington  as  a  law  student.  He  had 
already  read  law  some,  and  as  he  continued  to  work 
hard,  with  the  spur  of  poverty  and  promptings  of 
ambition  ever  with  him,  he  was  ready  to  hang  out 
his  professional  shingle  in  1869.  Being  trust- 
worthy he  soon  gathered  about  him  some  influen- 
tial friends.  In  1871  he  was  elected  Corporation 
Counsel  of  Bloomington.  In  1872  he  was  elected 
State's  Attorney  of  McLean  County.  This  office 
he  held  for  eight  years,  when  he  took  his  seat  in 
the  State  Senate.  Here  he  served  for  four  years. 
His  ability  to  perform  abundance  of  hard  work 
made  him  a  most  valued  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture. 

Mr.  Fifer  was  married  in  1870  to  Gertie,  daugh- 
ter of  William  J.  Lewis,  of  Bloomington.  Mr. 
Fifer  is  six  feet  in  height  and  is  spare,  weighing 
only  150  pounds.  He  has  a  swarthy  complexion, 
keen  black  eyes,  quick  movement,  and  possesses  a 
frank  and  sympathetic  nature,  and  naturally  makes 
friends  wherever  he  goes.  During  the  late  Guber- 
natorial campaign  his  visits  throughout  the  State 
proved  a  great  power  in  his  behalf.  His  happy 
faculty  of  winning  the  confidence  and  good  wishes 
of  those  with  whom  he  comes  in  personal  contact  is  a 
source  of  great  popularity,  especially  during  a  polit- 
ical battle.  As  a  speaker  he  is  fluent,  his  language 
is  good,  voice  clear  and  agreeable,  and  manner 
forcible.  His  manifest  earnestness  in  what  he  says 
as  well  as  his  tact  as  a  public  speaker,  and  his  elo- 
quent and  forceful  language,  makes  him  a  most 
valuable  campaign  orator  and  a  powerful  pleader 
at  the  bar.  At  the  Republican  State  Convention, 
held  in  May,  1888,  Mr.  Fifer  was  chosen  as  its  candi- 
date-for  Governor.  He  proved  a  popular  nominee, 
and  the  name  of  "  Private  Joe  "  became  familiar 
to  everyone  throughout  the  State.  He  waged  a 
vigorous  campaign,  wa«  elected  by  a  good  majority, 
and  in  due  time  assumed  the  duties  of  the  Chief 
Executive  of  Illinois. 


WOODFORD  COUNTY, 


ILLINOIS, 


VS/^/N/N/V/V/S^'^^^O^   J/3\ 


IN'TRODUQ'TORY 


HE  time  has  arrived  when  it 
becomes  the  duty  of  the 
people  of  this  county  to  per- 
petuate the  names  of  their 
pioneers,  to  furnish  a  record 
of  their  early  settlement, 
and  relate  the  story  of  their 
progress.  The  civilization  of  our 


day,  the  enlightenment  of  the  age 
and  the  duty  that  men  of  the  pres- 
ent time  owe  to  their  ancestors,  to 
themselves  and  to  their  posterity, 
demand  that  a  record  of  their  lives 
and  deeds  should  be  made.  In  bio- 
graphical history  is  found  a  power 
to  instruct  man  by  precedent,  to 
enliven  the  mental  faculties,  and 
to  waft  down  the  river  of  time  a 
safe  vessel  in  which  the  names  and  actions  of  the 
people  who  contributed  to  raise  this  country  from  its 
primitive  state  may  be  preserved.  Surely  and  rapidly 
the  great  and  aged  men,  who  in  their  prime  entered 
the  wilderness  and  claimed  the  virgin  soil  as  their 
heritage,  are  passing  to  their  graves.  The  number  re- 
maining who  can  relate  the  incidents  of  the  first  days 
j{  settlement  is  becoming  small  indeed,  so  that  an 
actual  necessity  exists  for  the  collection  and  preser- 
vation of  events  without  delay,  before  all  the  early 
settlers  are  cut  down  by  the  scythe  of  Time. 

To  be  forgotten  has  been  the  great  dread  of  mankind 
from  remotest  ages.  All  will  be  forgotten  soon  enough, 
in  spite  of  their  best  works  and  the  most  earnest 
efforts  of  their  friends  to  perserve  the  memory  of 
their  lives.  The  means  employed  to  prevent  oblivion 
and  to  perpetuate  their  memory  has  been  in  propor- 
tion to  the  amount  of  intelligence  they  possessed. 
Tin  pyramids  of  Egypt  were  built  to  perpetuate  the 
names  and  deeds  of  their  great  rulers.  The  exhu- 
mations made  by  the  archeologists  of  Egypt  from 
buried  Memphis  indicate  a  desire  of  those  people 


to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  their  achievements 
The  erection  of  the  great  obelisks  were  for  the  same 
purpose.  Coming  down  to  a  later  period,  we  find  the 
Greeks  and  Romans  erecting  mausoleums  and  monu- 
ments, and  carving  out  statues  to  chronicle  their 
great  achievements  and  carry  them  down  the  ages. 
It  is  also  evident  that  the  Mound-builders,  in  piling 
up  their  great  mounds  of  earth,  had  but  this  idea — 
to  leave  something  to  show  that  they  had  lived.  All 
these  works,  though  many  of  them  costly  in  the  ex- 
treme, give  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  lives  and  charac- 
ters of  those  whose  memory  they  were  intended  to 
perpetuate,  and  scarcely  anything  of  the  masses  of 
the  people  that  then  lived.  The  great  pyramids  and 
some  of  the  obelisks  remain  objects  only  of  curiosity; 
the  mausoleums,  monuments  and  statues  are  crum- 
bling into  dust. 

It  was  left  to  modern  ages  to  establish  an  intelli- 
gent, undecaying,  immutable  method  of  perpetuating 
a  full  history — immutable  in  that  it  is  almost  un- 
limited in  extent  and  perpetual  in  its  action ;  and 
this  is  through  the  art  of  printing. 

To  the  present  generation,  however,  we  are  in- 
debted for  the  introduction  of  the  admirable  system 
of  local  biography.  By  this  system  every  man,  though 
he  has  not  achieved  what  the  world  calls  greatness, 
has  the  means  to  perpetuate  his  life,  his  history, 
through  the  coming  ages. 

The  scythe  of  Time  cuts  down  all ;  nothing  of  the 
physical  man  is  left.  The  monument  which  his  chil- 
dren or  friends  may  erect  to  his  memory  in  the  ceme- 
tery will  crumble  into  dust  and  pass  away ;  but  his 
life,  his  achievements,  the  work  he  has  accomplished, 
which  otherwise  would  be  forgotten,  is  perpetuated 
by  a  record  of  this  kind. 

To  preserve  the  lineaments  of  our  companions  we 
engrave  their  portraits,  for  the  same  reason  we  col- 
lect the  attainable  facts  of  their  history.  Nor  do  we 
think  it  necessary,  as  we  speak  only  truth  of  them,  to 
wait  until  they  are  dead,  or  until  those  who  know 
them  are  gone:  to  do  this  we  are  ashamed  only  to 
publish  to  the  world  the  history  of  those  whose  lives 
are  unworthy  of  public  record. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


191 


>ON.  E.  A.  WILCOX.  M.  D., 

whose  portrait  is  presented 
on  the  opposite  page,  is 
the  oldest  physician  in 
X  Minonk  in  point  of  settle- 
1  ment,  and  the  second  old- 
>est  in  Wood  ford  County,  Dr.  James 
S.  Whitmire  taking  precedence  of 
him,  and  occupying  the  post  of 
honor  in  that  respect.  He  is  one 
of  the  leading  members  of  his  pro- 
fession in  NeMbevN  Illinois,  and 
since  coming  here  has  enjoyed  an 
extensive  practice,  second  to  that  of 
no  other  physician  in  this  part  of 
the  State.  In  the  prosecution  of  his  profession  he 
hag  shown  himself  to  be  a  business  man  of  no  ordi- 
nary ability,  and  has  accumulated  a  large  amount 
of  property,  thus  placing  himself  among  the  men  of 
wealth  and  influence  in  his  community.  His  time 
has  not  altogether  been  devoted  to  his  calling,  for 
a  man  of  his  executive  capacity  is  demanded  in 
public  life,  and  he  has  served  with  distinction  in 
various  county  and  city  offices,  and  has  been  a 
member  of  the  State  Assembly. 

The  Doctor  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in 
the  town  of  Wattsburgh,  Erie  County,  Sept.  8, 
1830,  a  son  of  Levi  and  Nancy  (Rogers)  Wilcox, 
natives  respectively  of  Haddam,  Conn.,  and  Col  inn - 
biana  County,  Ohio.  The  Wilcoxes  are  of  Scotch 
ancestry,  and  for  many  generations  have  been  rep- 


resented in  New  England,  where  they  settled  in 
early  Colonial  times.  Ills  grandfather,  Levi  Wil- 
cox, was  a  farmer  in  Connecticut,  and  the  father  of 
our  subject  was  reared  on  the  old  homestead,  arnid 
the  pleasant  scenes  of  his  New  England  birthplace. 
He  was  a  studious,  thoughtful  lad,  and  educated 
himself  for  the  medical  profession,  for  which  his 
talents  seemed  peculiarly  adapted.  He  moved  to 
Ohio,  married  there,  and  subsequently  practiced  his 
profession  in  Tuscarawas  County,  that  State,  being 
one  of  its  pioneer  physicians.  From  New  Phila- 
delphia, the  county  seat  of  that  county,  he  came  to 
Illinois  about  1837,  and  located  in  Lacon,  Marshall 
County,  as  one  of  the  first  physicians  of  that  town, 
and  was  there  actively  engaged  in  his  profession 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  became  very  promi- 
nent, not  only  as  a  doctor,  but  as  a  public  official, 
and  his  death,  of  cholera,  June  4,  1851,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-one  years,  was  a  severe  blow  to  the  county, 
which  then  lost  one  of  its  most  influential  and 
valuable  citizens.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  much 
culture,  and  of  a  calm,  philosophical  temperament, 
and  got  all  the  enjoyment  out  of  life  possible,  liv- 
ing well,  and  having  the  benefit  of  his  money  as  he 
went  along.  He  had  good  financial  ability,  and 
accumulated  an  estate  of  over  $10,000.  He  was  a 
Whig  in  politics,  a  leading  member  of  his  party, 
and  he  served  one  term  as  County  Treasurer  of 
Marshall  County.  He  was  a  member  in  good 
standing  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  a  daughter  of  Alexander 


lit  2 


PORTRAIT  A>U)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Rogers,  and    hart  seven   brothers:     Dr.  Thomas  P. 
Rogers,  of  Bloomington,  Ills.;  John  Rogers,  a  far- 
mer, of  Marshall  County  ;  Samuel  Rogers,  a  retired 
farmer  of  Woodford  County,  now  living  in   Min- 
onk;  Dr.  R.  B.  Rogers,  of  Lacon;  Dr.  David  Rog- 
ers, of  Missouri;  Dr.  Alexander  Rogers,  of  Ohio; 
and  George  Rogers,  of  Oregon.     She  survived  her 
husband  many  years,  her  death  finally  occurring  in 
March,  1888,  at  the  home  of   our  subject,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty- four  years.     Six  children 
were  born  of  her  marriage:     Edward  A.,  our  sub- 
ject; Sophronia,  who   married    Ezra  Warren,  and 
died  in  Tiskilwa,  111.;  Alfred  R.,  an  'officer  in  the 
late  war,  who  died  in   the  service;  Cynthia,  who 
married  James  D.  Verna,  and  died  in   Lacon,  111.; 
Elizabeth,  the  wife   of  Henry  C.   Dent,  of  Gains- 
ville,  Tex.;   Levi  8.,  a  resident  of  Champaign,  and 
Collector  of  Internal  Revenue  for  the  Second  Dis- 
trict of  Illinois.    Alfred  R.  was  a  member  of  Com- 
pany II,  llth  Illinois  Infantry,  First  Lieutenant  of 
his  company.     He  was  wounded  at  Ft.  Donelson, 
and  died  at   Minonk  one  month  later,  and  thus  a 
gallant  officer  was  lost  to  the  cause. 

Our  subject  was  but  eight  years  old  when  the 
family  came  to  Illinois  and  he  laid  the  basis  of  a 
sound  education  at  Mt.  Morris.  He  began  the 
study  of  medicine  under  the  instruction  of  his 
father  and  of  his  uncle,  Dr.  R.  B.  Rogers,  and  in 
1857  was  graduated  with  honors  from  Rush  Medi- 
cal College,  with  a  good  theoretical  knowledge  of 
medicine  in  its  various  branches.  He  opened  an 
office  at  Lacon,  but  after  practicing  there  a  year 
came  to  Minonk,  and  has  since  carried  on  his  pro- 
fession here,  and  has  raised  himself  to  the  first 
rank  among  the  physicians  of  Woodford  County, 
as  a  practitioner  of  more  than  ordinary  skill  and 
intelligence,  who  has  met  with  great  success  in  the 
treatment  of  difficult  cases.  He  has  also  been  suc- 
cessful from  a  financial  standpoint,  his  ability  in 
regard  to  money  matters  being  as  conspicuous  as  it 
is  in  the  exercise  of  his  profession.  He  is  the 
owner  of  800  acres  of  land  in  Woodford  and  ad- 
joining counties,  and  over  1,400  acres  of  land  in 
other  States,  besides  having  other  valuable  prop- 
erty in  Minonk. 

The  Doctor  has  been  twice  married.  He  first  led 
to  the  altar,  June  23,  1S57.  Miss  Carrie  Mathis,  a 


daughter  of  Caleb  Mathis,  of  Putnam  County,  111. 
She  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  having  been  born  at  Ur- 
bana,  Champaign  County,  Dec.  12,  1832,  and  died 
in  Minonk,  March  11,  1877,  leaving  her  husband 
and  children  to  rnourn  the  loss  of  one,  who  in 
every  respect  filled  the  perfect  measure  of  wife, 
mother,  friend.  The  following  is  recorded  of  the 
seven  children  born  to  our  subject  of  that  mar- 
riage:  Elsie  S.  is  the  wife  of  William  Haggard,  a 
business  manager  of  LaPorte,  Ind.;  Carrie  E.  is 
the  wife  of  H.  C.  Forney,  of  Minonk;  Alfred  R.  is 
a  dentist  in  Minonk;  Fred  W.,  a  graduate  of  Rush 
Medical  College,  is  a  physician  in  Minonk;  Frank 
T.  is  a  student  at  Rush  Medical  College;  Hattie 
and  Mattie,  twins,  are  pupils  at  the  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity, in  Bloomington. 

The  Doctor's  marriage  to  his  present  wife,  form- 
erly Miss  Victoria  Boyle,  took  place  at  the  home  of 
her  father  in  Ox  Bow,  Putnam  Co.,  III.,  July  17, 
1878.  She  was  horn  in  Putnam  County,  111., 
April  29.  1853,  and  is  a  daughter  of  David  Boyle, 
a  retired  farmer  living  in  Wichita,  Kan.  Five  chil- 
dren have  been  born  of  this  union — Edna  C.,  Bran- 
ard  A.,  Lottie  and  Logan,  twins.  Josie  is  deceased. 
Our  subject  has  not  only  distinguished  himself 
in  the  medical  world,  but  in  public  life,  where  his 
name  is  widely  known  and  honored  as  that  of  a 
wise,  able  and  progressive  statesman,  who  has 
worked  zealously  for  the  highest  interests  of  the 
State,  county  and  township,  ungoverned  by  per- 
sonal aims  or  party  considerations.  He  represented 
his  district,  which  then  included  Woodford,  Mar- 
shall and  Putnam  counties,  in  the  State  Senate  three 
sessions,  a  period  of  four  years,  from  1872  to  1876. 
This  fact  illustrates  his  genuine  popularity,  the 
hold  that  he  has  upon  the  hearts  of  the  people,  and 
his  great  influence  when  it  is  considered  that  these 
counties  are  largely  Democratic,  yet  he,  a  sound 
Republican,  was  elected  State  Senator  by  an  un- 
usually large  majority,  and  that  no  Republican  has 
represented  the  district  from  that  date.  As  Mayor 
of  Minonk  for  three  terms  he  has  greatly  ad  vanced 
its  interests  in  every  direction,  and  has  done  much 
to  bring  about  its  present  prosperity  and  high 
standing.  He  is  a  leader  in  the  Republican  party 
in  this  section  of  the  country,  a  prominent  member 
of  the  State  Central  Committee,  having  served 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


193 


three  terms,  and  once  as  a  member  at  large.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  State  Medical  Association  of  the 
Northwest,  and  of  the  Wood  ford  County  medical 
societies. 


JREEN  LEE  PATTERSON,  a  prominent  and 
influential  farmer,  residing  on  section  29' 
Palestine  Township,  was  born  in  Indiana. 
Sept.  26,  1827,  and  is  descended  from  good  old 
Revolutionary  stock.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
.lames  Patterson,  was  probably  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania or  Virginia.  When  the  Colonies  took  up 
arms  against  the  mother  country,  resolved  to  shake 
off  the  British  yoke  of  tyranny,  like  a  loyal  citizen 
he  enlisted  in  their  ranks,  and  served  during  the 
entire  war  as  captain.  He  participated  in  many  of 
the  most  important  engagements  of  that  struggle, 
and  was  ever  found  at  his  post  of  duty,  bravely 
fighting  for  American  independence.  By  occupa- 
tion he  was  a  farmer  and  followed  that  pursuit 
the  greater  part  of  his  life.  He  married  a  Virgin- 
ia lady,  and  they  settled  near  Harper's  Ferry, 
since  made  memorable  by  the  John  Brown  raid. 
They  continued  to  make  their  home  in  that  com- 
munity until  called  from  the  busy  scenes  of  this 
earth  to  the  rest  beyond  the  grave.  Unto  that  worthy 
couple  were  born  a  large  family  of  eight  children, 
seven  sons  and  one  daughter,  and  the  entire  num- 
ber were  married,  reared  families,  and  attained  the 
ages  of  three-score  years  and  ten,  though  none  are 
now  living. 

Joshua  Patterson,  father  of  our  subject,  was  one 
of  the  younger  members  of  the  family,  and  in  his 
native  State,  Virginia,  was  reared  to  manhood. 
Thence  he  removed  to  Kentucky  in  company  with 
an  older  brother  and  his  only  sister,  the  party  set- 
tling near  Georgetown,  Scott  County,  where  he 
was  joined  in  wedlock  with  his  cousin,  Miss  Mary 
E.  Bell,  who  was  born  in  Maryland,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Robert  Bell,  who  was  probably  also 
born  in  the  same  State.  Mrs.  Patterson  was  only 
a  little  child  when  the  death  of  her  mother  oc- 
curred, and  she  was  reared  by  an  older  sister,  who 
went  with  other  members  of  the  family  to  Ken- 
tucky, where  her  marriage  with  Joshua  Patterson 


was  celebrated.  The  young  couple  began  their 
domestic  life  in  Scott  County,  where  the  husband 
followed  blacksmithing,  which  trade  he  had  learned 
in  his  native  State.  Five  children  were  there  born 
unto  them,  as  follows:  Milton,  Sanford,  Dudley, 
Abby  A.  and  Elizabeth.  In  1825,  the  family  left 
Kentucky  and  removed  to  Indiana,  settling  in  nn 
almost  unbroken  wilderness,  not  far  from  Decatur, 
where  Mr.  Patterson  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
land,  and  began  farming.  A  few  years  later,  he  re- 
moved to  Rush  County,  locating  in  Richland  Town- 
ship, where  he  bought  160  acres  of  timber  land, 
and  in  the  midst  of  the  forest  made  a  home.  He 
was  a  man  of  energy,  and  in  :in  incredibly  short 
period  of  time  had  cleared  away  the  trees,  plowed 
his  land  and  planted  crops.  He  continued  to  reside 
upon  that  farm  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
December,  1851,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  seventy-five 
years.  He  possessed  a  vigorous  constitution  and 
hopeful  disposition  which  especially  fitted  him  for 
the  trials  and  hardships  of  pioneer  life,  and  made  his 
efforts  successful,  when  many  another  of  a  more 
despondent  temperament  would  have  failed.  His  ex- 
cellent wife  survived  him,  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
eight  years.  After  settling  in  Indiana,  they  became 
members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  died  in  that 
faith. 

Not  long  after  the  removal  of  the  family  from 
Kentucky,  the  birth  of  our  subject  occurred.  He 
was  reared  in  his  native  county,  remaining  under 
the  parental  roof  until  twenty-two  years  of  age, 
when  he  left  home  and  started  westward.  That  was 
in  1849.  He  spent  the  following  winter  in  Iowa, 
and  in  1850,  attracted  by  the  discovery  of  gold  in 
California,  joined  a  party  of  emigrants,  and  with 
ox  teams  began  the  journey  across  the  plains  to 
the  Pacific  Slope.  After  four  and  a  half  months 
the  company  reached  their  destination,  arriving  in 
Hangtown,  Cal.  Mr.  Patterson  remained  in  the 
West  for  three  and  a  half  years,  during  which  time 
he  engaged  in  mining  and  teaming.  He  was  rea- 
sonably successful,  and  after  having  accumulated 
some  capital,  in  1 853,  started  for  home.  He  made 
the  return  trip  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama 
and  New  York  City,  whence  he  came  across  the 
Country  to  Illinois.  Arriving  in  Woodford  County, 
he  turned  iiis  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


is  now  the  owner  of  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the 
township,  comprising  160  acres,  highly  improved 
and  cultivated.  Everything  about  the  place  indi- 
cates thrift  and  industry,  while  neatness  and  regu- 
larity characterize  the  entire  surroundings. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Patterson  went  to  Adair  County, 
Mo.,  where  he  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss 
Mary  J.  Brashears,  and  then  returned  with  his 
young  bride  to  the  home  which  he  had  prepared. 
Mrs.  Patterson  was  born  in  Rolls  County,  Mo.,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Rosanna  (Wood) 
Brashears,  who  were  natives  of  South  Carolina. 
They  were  also  reared  and  married  in  that  State, 
but  soon  removed  to  Monroe  County,  where  they 
made  their  home  until  becoming  residents  of  Adair 
County,  where  Mr.  Brashears  died  in  1861,  when 
fifty  years  of  age.  -  His  wife  is  still  living  in  Bra- 
shear.  Mo.,  and  has  nearly  attained  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Patterson  have  spent  their  entire 
married  life  in  Woodford  County,  and  are  ranked 
among  its  best  citizens.  They  hold  a  high  position 
in  the  social  world,  and  are  widely  and  favorably 
known  throughout  the  community.  They  hold 
membership  in  the  Christian  Church  of  Palestine 
Township,  and  are  active  workers  in  the  interests  of 
that  society.  In  politics  Mr.  Patterson  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  as  every  true  American  citizen  should 
do,  feels  a  deep  interest  in  political  affairs.  He  has, 
however,  never  been  an  office  seeker  in  the  popular 
sense  of  the  word,  preferring  rather  to  devote  his 
time  and  attention  to  his  business  interests. 


RS.  MARTHA  PEARD,  widow  of  Richard 
Peard,  left  her  old  English  home,  where 
she  had  been  born  and  bred,  and  the 
friends  of  her  youth,  and  in  the  bloom  of 
early  womanhood  crossed  the  ocean  with  her  young 
husband  to  aid  him  in  building  up  a  new  home  on 
the  western  prairies  of  America,  and  they  thus  be- 
came pioneers  of  Woodford  County.  In  the  busy- 
years  that  followed  their  settlement  in  the  sparsely 
inhabited  township  of  Metamora,  where  deer, 
wolves  and  other  wild  animals  used  to  roam  on  the 


site  of  a  now  populous  city,  Mr.  Peard  trans- 
formed the  wild  land  that  he  had  purchased  into  a 
productive  farm.  But  it  was  left  to  our  subject 
to  finish  the  work  that  he  had  so  well  begun.  Left 
a  widow  while  yet  young,  with  six  little  children 
to  care  for,  she  nobly  assumed  the  burden  that  thus 
devolved  upon  her,  and  successfully  carried  on  the 
farm,  completing  its  improvement  and  making  it 
with  its  well  tilled  lands,  beautiful  surroundings, 
its  pretty  lawns  adorned  with  trees,  shrubs  and 
flowers,  and  with  its  neat  and  tasty  buildings,  one 
of  the  most  desirable  places  in  the  township.  It 
gives  u?  great  pleasure  to  introduce  to  our  readers 
one  who  should  surely  have  an  honorable  place 
among  our  pioneers. 

Mrs.  Peard  was  born  in  Tavistock,  England,  Jan. 
28,  1820,  a  daughter  of  one  William  Down,  a 
daily  farmer,  who  spent  his  entire  life  in  Devon- 
shire. Her  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary 
Brooks,  also  spent  her  whole  life  in  her  native 
England.  There  were  four  children  born  to  the 
worthy  parents  of  our  subject,  one  son  and  three 
daughters.  Mrs.  Peard.'s  brother  lost  his  life  in  a 
mine  disaster  at  the  age  of  twenty-four.  Her  sis- 
ter Charlotte  married  Richard  Prout,  and  lives  in 
Tavistock,  England.  Her  sister  Harriet  married 
Henry  Phear,  and  lives  in  Cornwall,  England. 
Mrs.  Peard  resided  with  her  parents  till  her  mar- 
riage with  Richard  Peard,  when  she  was  nineteen 
years  old. 

Richard  Peard  was  born  at  Bratten  Clovelly, 
Devonshire,  England,  July  10,  1825,  a  son  of 
Richard  and  Alice  (Rundel)  Peard,  also  natives 
of  Devonshire.  He  was  left  an  orphan  at  seven 
years  of  age,  and  was  reared  by  an  uncle  on  a  farm. 
His  brother  William  came  to  America,  and  resided 
for  a  time  at  Carlinville,  III.;  later  he  removed  to 
Burr  Oak,  Winneshiek  County,  Iowa,  where  he  be- 
came the  possessor  of  a  large  farm,  and  there  he 
spent  his  last  years,  and  his  family  are  living  there 
now.  His  sisters  Elizabeth  and  Grace  came  to  this 
country,  and  the  former  married  Thomas  Richards, 
a  prominent  farmer  of  Linn  Township,  where  she 
spent  her  last  years;  her  daughters  are  residents  of 
the  county.  Grace  married  William  Hunter,  and 
died  at  Carlinville,  111. 

A  short  time  after   marriage    Mr.  Peard    deter- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


195 


mined  to  try  life  in  America  and  see  what  it  held 
for  him  and  his,  and  in  the  month  of  May,  1850, 
he  and  his  young  wife  left  the  land  of  their  birth, 
setting  sail  from  Plymouth,  and  four  weeks  and 
four  da3'S  later  they  lauded  in  the  quaint  city  of 
Quebec,  whence  they  came  directly  to  Illinois. 
They  rented  a  home  in  Metamora  Township  till 
Mr.  Peard  could  look  around  the  country  and  secure 
a  suitable  location.  In  the  same  year  he  bought 
eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  ll,Metamoru  Town- 
ship, on  which  his  family  now  resides.  There  were 
ten  acres  improved,  and  a  small  frame  house  stood 
on  the  place,  and  in  that  lonely  habitation  the 
young  couple  set  up  their  household  gods.  They 
had  but  few  neighbors,  and  none  very  near,  as  the 
county  roundabout  was  thinly  settled,  and  was 
still  in  the  hands  of  the  pioneers.  There  were  no 
railways  for  some  3'ears  after  their  location  here, 
and  Peoria  and  Spring  Bay  were  the  nearest  mar- 
ket towns.  Mr.  Peard  was  quite  prosperous  in  his 
undertakings,  and  increased  the  area  of  his  farm  to 
135  acres,  and  was  making  many  valuable  im- 
provements when  his  busy  career  was  cut  short  by 
his  untimely  death,  Nov.  13,  1866.  He  was  a  man 
of  excellent  habits  and  sound  repute,  and  during 
his  residence  in  Metamora  Township,  faithfully  per- 
formed his  part  in  developing  and  promoting  the 
growth  of  the  township.  He  was  a  good  manager, 
wise,  thrifty,  and  prudent  in  money  matters,  and 
directed  his  affairs  so  as  to  obtain  the  best  financial 
results.  Such  a  man  is  a  most  desirable  citizen  in 
any  community,  and  his  removal  by  death  is  a 
misfortune.  The  deatli  of  the  kind  husband  and 
father  was  a  terrible  blow  to  his  family.  His 
wife  was  thus  left  without  his  counsel  and  guid- 
ance, witli  five  small  children,  the  eldest  but  twelve 
years  old,  and  an  unboin  babe,  who  came  into  this 
world  three  months  after  the  sad  death  of  the 
father.  The  names  of  the  children  are:  William 
H.,  Arminel  E.,  John  T.,  Harriet,  Fred  R.,  Josie 
M.  William  married  Anna  M.  McOmber,  a  native 
of  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Sarah 
McOmber.  She  died  March  31,  1886.  leaving  one 
son,  named  Ralph  R.  Arminel  E.  married  Rev. 
J.  C.  H.  Read,  a  Baptist  minister  of  Moline,  and 
they  have  three  children,  Maud,  Earl  and  Ray. 
.John  married  Sadie  Johnson,  a  native  of  New  Jer- 


sey, and  a  daughter  of  George  and  Mattie  John- 
son The  three  youngest  children  are  at  home 
with  their  mother. 

After  her  husband's  death  Mrs.  Peard  did  not 
sit  down  and  vainly  lament  her  loss,  but  bravely 
took  up  the  work  that  had  fallen  from  his  hands, 
took  charge  of  the  farm,  carrying  it  on  so  well  as 
to  derive  from  its  cultivation  a  good  yearly 
income.  She  carefully  trained  her  children  in 
the  path  of  duty,  bringing  them  up  to  lead  use- 
ful and  honorable  lives,  and  giving  them  excel- 
lent educations.  She  is  a  woman  of  more  than 
ordinary  energy  and  capacity,  a  type  of  true  wo- 
manhood, large  hearted,  open  handed,  full  of 
charity  for  others,  and  has  a  noble  life-record  of 
duty  performed  and  work  well  done.  She  is  an 
example  of  the  best  class  of  the  grand  pioneer 
women  of  Woodford  County,  to  whom  it  is  so 
greatly  indebted  for  its  high  social,  moral  and 
material  standing.  A  firm  Christian,  she  is  a 
devoted  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  has 
had  the  happiness  to  see  all  her  children  unite  with 
that  church. 


J'  JOSEPH  W.  MEEK,  Superintendent  of  the 
Woodford  County  Almshouse,  located  at 
Metamora,  is  a  young  man  whose  ability 
'  and  force  of  character  amply  fit  him  for  the 
responsible  position  that  he  fills  so  well.  He  is  a 
native-born  citizen  of  the  county,  Cruger  Township 
the  place  of  his  birth,  and  Feb.  21,  1850,  the  date 
thereof.  A  biographical  review  of  his  parents, 
Joseph  and  Barbara  Meek,  is  given  on  another  page 
in  this  volume.  The  subject  was  reared  in  his  na- 
tive town,  and  there  received  the  basis  of  his  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools,  afterward  pursuing 
one  term  of  study  in  the  Eureka  College.  As  soon 
as  he  was  large  enough  he  assisted  in  the  farm 
work,  and  gained  a  good,  practical  knowledge  of 
agriculture  in  all  its  branches.  He  continued  an 
inmate  of  the  parental  household  until  1886,  and 
in  the  meantime  his  father  divided  the  farm  with 
him.  In  1887  Mr.  Meek  rented  his  farm,  having 
been  appointed  to  the  lucrative  position  of  Super- 


196 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


intendent  of  the  County  Almshouse.  and  he  has 
ever  since  had  charge  of  it.  In  his  management  of 
the  affairs  thus  entrusted  to  him  he  has  displayed 
great  efficiency,  carefully  looking  after  the  comfort 
of  the  inmates  and  keeping  them  in  good  order  and 
giving  close  personal  attention  to  all  duties  de- 
volving upon  him. 

In  the  trials  and  responsibilities  of  his  position 
Mr.  Meek  is  encouraged  and  assisted  by  a  devoted 
wife,  to  whom  he  was  united  in  marriage  Dec.  18, 
1871.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  to  them  by 
the  birth  of  four  sons — Joseph  Edward,  Clarence 
B.  Perry  and  Frank.  Mrs.  Meek's  maiden  uarue 
was  Ella  Boyd,  and  she  is,  like  her  husband,  a  na- 
tive of  Woodford  County,  born  in  Olio  Township. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Elizabeth  (Graves) 
Boyd,  natives  of  Kentucky,  the  father  born  in 
Christian  County.  He  was  there  reared,  married, 
and  in  1847  came  to  Olio  Township,  of  which  he 
wns  quite  an  early  settler.  He  bought  a  farm  there, 
on  which  he  resided  until  1854,  when  he  returned 
to  Kentucky,  and  now  lives  in  Carlisle  County,  that 
State.  His  wife  died  in  Olio  Township  when  Mrs. 
Meek  was  an  infant. 

Mr.  Meek  is  a  man  of  correct  habits  and  sound 
principles,  and  is,  indeed,  a  credit  to  the  citizen- 
ship of  his  native  county.  He  is  endowed  with  a 
cool  head,  calm  judgment,  and  good  business  tact 
that  render  him  an  invaluable  official  in  the  diffi- 
cult position  that  he  fills  so  skillfully.  He  and  his 
wife  are  prominent  members  of  the  Christian 
Church,  and  faithfully  perform  their  share  in  sup- 
port of  the  Gospel. 


P=^<RANK  HUNZINGER,  a  prominent,  well-to 
j  do  fanner  of  Roanoke  Township,  has  been 
a  resident  of  Woodford  County  for  thirty 
3'ears,  coming  here  when  a  boy  of  sixteen,  and  dur- 
ing that  time  he  has  been  an  important  factor  in  de- 
veloping its  great  agricultural  interests,  and  he  has 
become  the  proprietor  of  320  acres  of  rich  farming 
land,  well  stocked  with  cattle  and  horses  of  high 
grades,  and  provided  with  a  neat  and  substantial 
set  of  frame  buildings,  pleasantly  located  on  the 


northeast  quarter   of  section  35,  two  and  one-half 
miles  south  of  the^  village  of  Roanoke. 

Our  subject  was  born  on  the  3d  of  April,  1842, 
in  Alsace,  when  it  was  a  Province  of  France. 
His  father,  Jacob  Hunzinger,  was  a  native  of  the 
same  place,  while  his  father,  George  Hunzinger, 
is  supposed  to  have  been  a  native  of  Switzerland, 
who  emigrated  from  there  to  Alsace,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits,  residing  there  until 
his  death.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared 
and  married  in  his  native  land,  and  engaged  in 
farming  there  until  1860,  when  he  disposed  of  his 
property  there  and  then  followed  his  sons  across; 
the  ocean  to  America.  He  located  in  Roanoke 
Township,  buying  a  farm  here,  and  was  a  resident 
of  this  place  until  his  death.  He  and  his  wife  were 
the  parents  of  five  children — Magdalena,  Jacob, 
Elizabeth,  Frank,  and  John,  all  of  whom  came  to 
America. 

Frank  Hunzinger  passed  his  boyhood  in  his  na- 
tive land,  and  in  its  excellent  schools  gleaned  a 
sound  education,  attending  school  quite  regularly 
until  he  was  fourteen  years  old.  He  then  assisted 
his  father  on  his  farm  until  he  was  sixteen  years 
old.  At  that  age  the  ambitious  lad  set  out  in  the 
world  by  himself,  anxious  to  try  life  in  America, 
whither  his  brother  Jacob  had  preceded  him.  He 
set  sail  from  Havre,  France,  in  November,  and 
after  a  long  and  tedious  voyage  landed  in  New 
York  City  in  the  following  January,  and  at  once 
made  his  way  to  his  brother  in  Woodford  County, 
this  State.  At  that  time  he  was  a  poor  boy,  his 
sole  capital  being  a  sane  mind  in  a  sound  body,  but 
he  had  inherited  industrious  and  persevering  habits 
from  his  good  parents,  and  these  with  other  good 
traits  were  enough  to  insure  his  success  in  any  walk 
in  life.  He  at  once  sought  and  found  work  by  the 
month  on  a  farm,  and  was  thus  employed  until  bis 
father  came,  when  he  remained  at  home  with  him 
the  following  two  years  to  assist  him  in  the  man- 
agement of  his  farm.  He  then  began  an  independ- 
ent life  by  farming  on  rented  land.  He  was  fairly 
successful  in  that  venture, and  was  enabled  to  make 
a  payment  on  eighty  acres  of  land  which  he  had 
purchased,  said  land  now  being  included  in  his 
present  farm.  There  were  no  buildings  on  it  at  that 
time,  and  he  at  once  began  to  make  the  necessary 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


improvements.  He  has  met  with  more  than  ordin- 
ary success  in  his  efforts  to  secure  a  home,  and  now 
has  a  fine  farm  that  is  comparable  with  the  best  in 
this  locality  in  point  of  cultivation,  good  buildings, 
etc.  Our  subject  has  been  a  hard  worker  in  his 
day,  and  by  sound  discretion,  keen  judgment  and 
far-sighted  forethought,  has  acquired  a  valuable 
property  and  placed  himself  among  the  most  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  his  township. 

In  his  work  Mr.  Hunzinger  has  not  been  without 
the  assistance  of  a  faithful  wife,  to  whom  he  owes 
much  for  his  present  prosperous  circumstances. 
Her  maiden  name  was  Caroline  Kuhl,  and  they 
were  united  in  marriage  in  1867.  Mrs.  Hunzinger 
was  born  in  Woodford  County,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Henry  Kuhl,  a  well-known  pioneer  of  the  county. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunzinger  have  six  children,  namely : 
John,  Amelia,  Joseph,  Jacob,  Lena  and  Etta.  The 
family  are  prominent  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  are  generous  in  its  support. 

Although  our  subject  is  of  foreign  birth  this 
country  has  no  more  loyal  citizen  than  he,  the  most 
important  part  of  his  life  having  been  passed  here, 
and  he  is  thorougly  attached  to  American  institu- 
tions and  government.  Politically,  he  is  an  intelli- 
gent supporter  of  the  principles  promulgated  by 
the  Democratic  pnrt3r.  He  is  of  the  type  of  men 
called  self-made,  and  we  may  add  that  he  is  well 
made.  He  is  a  keen  observer,  possesses  ripe  com- 
mon-sense, prompt  and  systematic  business  habits, 
and  in  his  dealings  with  others  is  always  fair  and 
square. 


VETER  KENNEL,  one  of  the  most  exten- 
sive land  owners  of  Woodford  County,  an 
honored  resident  of  Roanoke  Township,  is 
distinguished  as  being  one  of  the  oldest 
native-born  citizens  of  the  county,  his  birth 
having  occurred  here  in  what  is  now  Worth 
Township,  prior  to  the  organization  of  the  county. 
His  father  John  Kennel,  an  Alsacian  by  birth,  was 
a  prominent  and  well-known  pioneer  of  this  section 
of  Illinois  in  the  early  days  of  its  settlement,  and 
while  engaged  in  the  accumulation  of  a  handsome 
property  he  was  an  important  factor  in  the  devel- 


opment of  the  wonderful  agricultural  resources  of 
this  region,  and  thus  helped  promote  the  material 
prosperity  of  the  county.  Our  subject  in  his  turn 
has  done  much  in  that  direction,  and  has  contribu- 
ted liberally  of  his  wealth  to  advance  the  highest 
interest  of  his  native  county. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  near  Stras- 
burg,  in  the  German  province  of  Alsace,  which 
France  ceded  to  Germany  after  the  close  of  the 
Franco-Prussian  war.  He  received  a  very  good 
education  in  the  public  schools,  and  continued  to 
reside  in  his  native  land  till  he  had  attained  man- 
hood. He  then  came  to  the  United  States,  ambili- 
ous  to  see  something  of  life  and  to  improve  his  for- 
tunes. He  first  located  in  Ohio,  and  though  a 
stranger  in  a  strange  land,  his  only  capital  good 
health,  a  fine  physique,  and  indomitable  energy,  he 
soon  found  work,  commencing  his  life  on  Ameri- 
can soil  by  working  out  as  a  farm  hand,  receiving 
eight  dollars  a  month  and  his  board.  After  work- 
ing about  for  a  time  he  concluded  to  come  further 
west,  where  he  could  secure  cheap  lands  and  have  a 
better  chance  to  build  up  a  home,  and  in  1830  he 
made  his  appearance  in  Illinois,  and  located  in 
what  is  now  Worth  Township,  Woodford  County. 
He  made  a  claim  to  a  tract  of  timbered  land,  the 
land  roundabout  here  then  being  owned  by  the 
Government,  and  the  most  of  it  in  its  native  con- 
dition. He  built  a  comfortable  log  house,  splitting 
the  logs  and  hewing  them  down  for  a  floor,  riv- 
ing out  boards  about  four  feet  long  to  cover  the 
roof,  and,  having  no  nails,  putting  on  heavy  poles 
fastened  with  wooden  pins  to  keep  the  roof  in  place. 
The  rude  chimney  had  a  stone  foundation,  and  was 
made  of  earth  and  sticks.  Mr.  Kennel  was  a  man 
of  more  than  ordinary  industry,  capacity  and  enter- 
prise, possessing  good  judgment,  and  by  years  of 
hard  labor  he  not  only  improved  a  valuable  farm, 
but  bought  more  land,  and  accumulated  a  hand- 
some fortune.  He  lived  on  his  farm  for  many 
years  till  1871,  when  he  came  to  live  with  our  sub- 
ject and  made  his  home  with  him  till  his  death 
Dec.  18,  1888.  His  wife  had  died  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Worth  Township  many  years  before. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  the  hum- 
ble log  cabin  that  his  father  erected  when  he  first 
settled  on  his  homestead  irv  Worth  Township,  July 


198 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


3,  1833  being  the  date  of  his  birth.  He  was 
reared  amid  the  pioneer  scenes  that  obtained  in 
this  part  of  the  country  then,  and  has  a  distinct 
recollection  of  the  wild  aspect  of  the  country  in 
those  days  before  civilization  had  made  much 
progress  in  this  region.  In  his  youthful  days  one. 
of  his  chief  pleasures  used  to  be  to  hunt  the  deer, 
wild  turkeys  and  other  game  that  roamed  at  will 
over  the  broad  prairies,  or  sought  shelter  in  the 
woody  coverts  along  the  streams.  He  remained  at 
home  with  his  parents  till  the  time  of  his  marriage, 
when  he  moved  on  to  a  farm  belonging  to  his  father 
in  Worth  Township  two  miles  from  the  old  home- 
stead,and  there  the  first  three  years  of  his  wedded  life 
we  re  spent.  In  about  1859  lie  settled  on  the  place  he 
now  owns  and  occupies  on  section  5,  Roanoke  Town- 
ship. He  inherited  industrious  habits,  keen  fore- 
sight and  other  notable  traits  of  character  from  his 
parents  and  has  met  with  more  than  ordinary  success 
in  life.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  1490  acres  of  land 
in  Roanoke  and  Linn  townships,  besides  tracts  of 
land  in  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  inheriting  consider- 
able real  estate  from  his  father.  Our  subject  has 
not  gained  his  wealth  by  being  penurious,  as  he 
is  very  liberal,  devoting  much  money  to  charitable 
objects,  and  giving  material  aid  to  every  enterprise 
for  the  benefit  of  his  township  or  county,  while 
his  children  have  had  every  advantage  afforded  by 
a  good  education  in  the  public  schools. 

Mr.  Kennel  was  married  April  8,  1856  to  Miss 
Annie  Schertz,  and  to  them  six  children  were  born, 
five  of  whom  are  now  living — Mary,  John,  Peter, 
Katie,  Joseph.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Christian  Eig- 
stine,  of  Linn  Township,  and  is  the  mother  of  six 
children — Susie  Anna,  Mary,  Katie,  Lizzie,  Johnie, 
Peter.  John  married  Sarah  Bachman,  and  the 
other  children  are  living  with  their  parents.  Mrs. 
Kennel  was  born  in  France,  about  1837,  but  when 
she  was  an  infant  her  parents,  Peter  and  Magda- 
lena  Schertz,  brought  her  to  the  United  States. 
They  settled  in  "Worth  Township,  where  her  father 
bought  a  tract  of  timber  land,  and  improved  a 
good  farm,  on  which  he  and  his  wife  spent  their 
remaining  years. 

Mr.  Kennel  is  classed  among  our  best  citizens, 
and  his  course  in  life  has  reflected  credit  on  his 
native  county,  as  he  has  always  been  true  to  him- 


self and  to  others  in  all  the  relations  of  life  as  son, 
husband,  father,  neighbor,  friend.  He  and  his 
wife  are,  members  of  the  Mennonite  Church,  and  are 
worthy  disciples  of  the  faith.  In  politics,  Mr.  Ken- 
nel is  a  decided  Republican. 


AVID  MARSHALL  OWEN,  Sheriff  of 
Woodford  County,  occupies  an  honorable 
position  among  its  native-born  citizens, 
and  his  career,  both  in  public  and  private 
life,  justifies  the  high  opinion  of  his  merit  that  the 
people  hold  among  whom  his  entire  life  has  been 
passed,  and  their  confidence  in  his  singular  fitness 
for  the  responsible  office  which  he  so  ably  fills. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Cazenovia  Township, 
March  10,  1843,  a  son  of  James  Owen,  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  of  Woodford  County,  a  pioneer  of 
Cazenovia  Township,  of  which  he  is  still  an  hon- 
ored resident.  He  was  a  Virginian  by  birth,  born 
in  Halifax  County  Jan.  1,  1801.  His  father,  Wal- 
ter Owen,  was  born  in  the  same  county,  and  his 
grandfather,  David  Owen,  was  likewise  a  native  of 
Virginia,  and  was  there  reared  and  married.  In 
the  year  1815  he  emigrated  from  the  home  of 
his  birth  to  the  State  of  Kentucky,  and  made 
his  home  in  Barren  County  with  his  children 
till  his  death,  in  1818.  The  grandfather  of  our 
subject  was  reared  and  married  in  Virginia,  and 
removed  from  there  to  Kentucky  about  1815, 
going  there  with  his  family  with  a  team.  After 
living  in  Barren  County,  that  State,  nearly  three 
years,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  beame  an  early  pio- 
neer of  AVayne  County.  At  that  time  the  country 
was  very  wild,  giving  scarcely  any  signs  of  civil- 
ization, and  deer,  wolves,  panthers  and  wild  cats 
were  plentiful.  He  entered  a  tract  of  land  from 
the  Government,  the  greater  p^art  of  it  being  Urn  • 
ber,  and  building  a  rude  log  house  on  the  place 
for  a  dwelling,  he  commenced  the  hard  task  of 
clearing  a  farm.  The  nearest  market  was  at  Carmi, 
twenty  miles  distant,  on  the  Little  Wabash  River, 
the  approach  to  the  town  being  over  rough,  and 
sometimes  almost  impassable  roads,  and  the  nearest 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


199 


mill  was  also  at  that  point.  Mr.  Owen  improved 
the  greater  part  of  his  land,  and  resided  there 
many  years.  Finally,  he  and  his  wife  removed  to 
Marshall  County,  and  there  spent  their  last  days 
with  their  son  Nathan. 

The  maiden  name  of  the-  grandmother  of  our 
subject  was  P^lizabeth  Martin,  and  she  was  born  in 
Halifax  County,  Va.,  a  daughter  of  David  and 
Elizabeth  Martin.  Six  of  the  children  born  to  her 
and  her  husband  grew  to  maturity — Nathan,  Jo- 
seph, Elizabeth,  James,  Daniel,  Celia  A.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  about  sixteen  years 
old  when  his  parents  removed  to  the  State  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  he  resided  with  them  till  their  removal 
to  Illinois,  and  still  continued  with  them  during 
their  residence  in  Wayne  County.  As  related  be- 
fore, wild  game  was  then  very  plentiful  in  Wayne 
County,  and  he  soon  became  an  expert  hunter, 
and  killed  many  a  bear,  deer,  or  other  wild  game, 
and  was  thus  enabled  to  add  many  a  delicious 
feast  to  the  humble  pioneer  fare  of  the  early  set- 
tlers. He  was  a  youth  of  intense  religious  feeling, 
and  early  united  with  the  United  Baptist  Church, 
and  while  in  Wayne  County  preached  very  accept- 
ably for  the  members  of  that  denomination.  In 
1 835  he  came  to  that  part  of  Tazewell  County 
now  in  Woodford  Count}',  and  entered  a  tract  of 
wild  prairie  land  on  section  19,  Cazcnovia  Town- 
ship, on  which  he,  has  since  dwelt  for  fifty-four 
years.  He  at  once  built  the  house  in  which  he  has 
since  lived,  building  it  of  round  logs,  which  lie 
afterward  hewed,  and  has  since  weather  boarded 
and  ceiled.  For  some  years  his  wife  used  to  cook 
all  the  meals  by  the  fire  in  the  open  fireplace,  and 
she  spun  and  wove  all  the  cloth  used  in  the  fam- 
ily. Mr.  Owen  is  distinguished  as  being  the  oldest 
settler  residing  in  Cazenovia  Township,  and  one 
of  the  oldest  in  the  county.  He  is  now  in  his 
eighty-ninth  year,  and  notwithstanding  his  ad- 
vanced age,  enjoys  a  fair  degree  of  health,  and 
retains  his  mind  and  memory  to  a  remarkable 
degree.  He  has  not  only  improved  a  good  fartr,  but 
lias  been  an  instrument  in  aiding  the  development 
of  the  agricultural  resources  of  the  county.  He 
came  here  several  years  before  its  organization, 
and  has  witnessed  almost  its  entire  growth  from  a 
wilderness  to  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  There 


were  no  railways  in  the  early  days  of  the  settlement 
of  this  part  of  the  country,  and  means  of  com- 
munication with  the  outside  world  were  meagre 
and  slow.  The  wild  prairies  were  scarcely  in- 
habited, and  nearly  all  the  land  was  in  the  hands 
of  the  Government,  and  for  sale  at  $1.25  per  acre. 
The  settlements  in  the  county  were  confined  to  the 
timber  and  along  the  streams,  as  the  first  settlers 
did  not  realize  the  value  of  the  rich,  virgin  prai- 
ries as  farming  lands. 

Soon  after  coming  to  this  county,  Mr.  Owen 
joined  the  Christian  Church,  and  became  one  of 
its  most  influential  members,  and  was  a  local 
preacher  in  the  church  for  many  years.  To  him, 
Parker  Morse,  Sr.,  and  Thomas  Jones  belongs  the 
honor  of  having  organized  the  first  school  district 
in  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  drawing  the  first  funds 
from  the  treasury  for  the  first  free  school  taught 
in  the  State.  Mr.  Owen  was  married,  Dec.  24, 
1824,  to  Miss  Candace  King,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
and  a  daughter  of  John  and  Susan  King.  She 
died  April  12,1869.  Five  of  the  children  born 
to  the  parents  of  our  subject  are  now  living,  viz: 
Thomas,  John,  David  M.,  J.  Madison  and  Mar}-  J. 

David  Owen,  of  whom  these  lines  are  written, 
received  his  early  education  in  the  pioneer  schools 
of  his  native  county,  and  was  further  advanced  by 
attendance  at  the  college  at  Eureka,  where  he 
pursued  an  excellent  course  of  study.  At  the  early 
age  of  fifteen  he  commenced  to  teach  school,  and 
was  thus  engaged  for  eight  winter  terms  and  three 
summer  terms,  and  when  not  employed  in  teach- 
ing, he  gave  his  attention  to  farming.  In  1866 
he  bought  eighty  acres  of  timber  land  near  his 
father's  farm,  but  never  located  on  it,  however, 
but  continued  to  reside  on  the  old  homestead 
where  he  had  been  born  and  bred,  and  which  was 
under  his  management.  He  devoted  his  spare 
time  to  clearing  his  land  and  improving  a  farm, 
which  he  afterward  sold  at  a  good  profit.  After 
his  election  to  the  important  post  of  Sheriff  of 
Woodford  County,  he  left  his  old  home  and  removed 
to  Metamora  with  his  family  for  greater  conveni- 
ence in  the  transaction  of  business. 

January  26,  1870,  Mr.  Owen  took  unto  himself 
a  wife  in  the  person  of  Miss  Susan  King,  and 
one  child,  Myrtle,  has  blessed  their  happy  wedded 


200 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


life.  Mrs.  Owen  was  born  in  Marshall  County, 
111.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Enoch  and  Celia  (Owen) 
King. 

Our  subject  is  well-educated  and  well-informed, 
possessing  much  natural  force  of  character,  phys- 
ical and  moral  courage,  and  is  fully  equal  to  the 
weighty  responsibilities  devolving  on  him  in  his 
present  position.  While  residing  in  his  native  town- 
ship, he  bore  an  honorable  part  in  the  manage- 
ment of  its  public  affairs,  serving  with  ability  as 
Township  Assessor  and  as  School  Director.  He  is 
a  Democrat  in  his  political  sentiments,  firmly  be- 
lieving the  policy  of  that  party  the  right  one  to 
be  pursued  in  the  government  of  the  country.  Re- 
ligiously, botli  he  and  his  amiable  wife  are  estim- 
able members  of  the  Christian  Church,  true  disciples 
of  the  faith. 


J~  OHN  KELLOGG,  a  native  of  Vermont,  is  a 
|    good  specimen  of  the  sons  of  New  England 
who  have  actively  aided  in  the  development 
1    of  Woodford  County  as  a  great  agricultural 
center.     He  is  spending  his  declining  years  in  his 
pleasant  home  in  Metamora,  where  he  is  still  en- 
gaged in  tilling  the  soil.  His  fine  farm,  lying  partly 
in   this  township  and  the  remainder  in  Cazenovia 
and   Roanoke   townships,  shows   in   the   abundant 
harvests  it  yields  and  in  its  neatly  appointed  build- 
ings, every  evidence  of  assiduous  cultivation  and 
careful  improvement. 

Mr.  Kellogg  was  born  in  the  town  of  Stowe,  La- 
moille  Co.,  Vt.,  Nov.  20,  1816.  His  father,  War- 
ner Kellogg,  was  likewise  a  Vermonter  by  birth,  a 
native  of  the  town  of  Paulet.  His  father.  Aaron 
Kellogg  came  from  England  to  this  country  with 
two  brothers  when  he  was  a  young  man ,  and  settled 
in  Vermont.  Some  years  after  his  marriage  he  be- 
came a  pioneer  of  Stowe,  and  there  spent  his  last 
years.  He  bought  a  tract  of  heavily  timbered  land, 
and  before  his  death  had  developed  a  part  of  it  into 
a  good  farm.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  five 
years  old  when  his  parents  settled  in  Stowe,  and  he 
there  grew  to  man's  estate.  He  inherited  his  father's 
land,  and  was  actively  engaged  in  its  improvement 


for  many  years.  In  1853  he  sold  his  property  in 
Vermont,  having  decided  to  try  life  in  the  marvel- 
ous agricultural  regions  of  the  West,  and  coming 
to  Illinois  he  arrived  in  Clinton,  De  Witt  County, 
the  1st  of  September.  He  explored  the  country 
around  there,  but  not  being  quite  satisfied  witli  it, 
later  in  the  fall  cnme  to  this  county,  and  five  or 
six  weeks  after  his  arrival  in  Metamora  his  life  was 
brought  to  a  sudden  close,  and  thus  a  citizen  was 
lost  to  this  community  who  might  have  been  of 
great  use  in  its  upbuilding.  The  mother  of  our 
subject,  whose  maiden  name  was  Janet  Gregg,  a 
native  of  Vermont,  born  in  Waterbury,  of  which 
her  parents,  natives  of  Connecticut,  were  pioneers, 
died  in  Stowe,  Vt..  in  1851.  To  her  and  her  hus- 
band were  born  twelve  children,  eleven  of  whom 
lived  to  maturity. 

John  Kellogg,  the  subject  of  this  biography,  was 
bred  amid  the  pretty  hill  scenes  of  his  native  State, 
and  fortified  by  strong  principles  inherited  from 
his  worthy  parents,  he  started  out  into  the  world 
to  make  life's  journey  on  his  own  account  in  1837. 
He  went  to  Ohio  by  the  way  of  Lake  Cham  plain 
and  Erie  Canal  to  Buffalo,  thence  by  Lake  Erie  to 
Cleveland,  from  there  by  canal  to  Columbus,  whence 
he  took  a  team  to  Champaign  County.  lie  worked 
on  a  farm  there  until  1843,  when  he  returned  to 
Vermont,  and  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count until  1853.  He  then  sold  all  his  possessions 
in  the  Green  Mountain  State,  and  in  the  month  of 
March  started  on  a  second  journey  westward.  He 
stopped  in  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  until  the  fol- 
lowing February,  and  in  that  month  came  to  Met- 
amora and  settled  on  the  farm  that  is  still  in  his 
possession.  There  were  but  few  improvemets  here 
then,  and  it  has  been  Mr.  Kellogg's  good  fortune 
to  witness  much  of  the  development  of  this  part  of 
the  county,  and  not  only  that,  but  to  aid  in  its  up- 
building himself.  His  homestead  of  eighty  acres 
is  all  well  improved,  and  he  has  besides  eighty 
acres  of  fine  farming  land  near  by  in  Cazenovia 
Township,  and  forty  acres  in  Roanoke  Township, 
all  under  excellent  cultivation. 

Mr.  Kellogg  has  been  twice  married.  The  first 
time  in  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  in  1837,  to  Miss 
Laura  Darling,  a  native  of  Woodstock,  Windsor 
Co.,  Vt.,  and  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Nellie 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


201 


Darling.  After  a  happy  wedded  life  of  six  years 
she  died  in  1843,  leaving  one  child,  Warner,  now 
residing  in  Cazenovia  Township.  The  second  mar- 
riage of  our  subject,  which  took  place  in  Vermont 
in  1847,  was  to  Dorothy  W.  Boynton,  like  himself 
a  native  of  Stowe,  Vt.,  and  a  daughter  of  David 
and  Martha  (Warren)  Boynton.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kellogg  have  two  children  living — Martha  and 
Phebe.  Their  son  Lorenzo  Dow  died  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  years. 

During  his  many  years'  residence  here  Mr.  Kel- 
logg has  shown  himself  to  be  a  conscientious,  God- 
fearing man,  whose  life-record  is  without  blemish. 
He  and  his  wife  are  attendants  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  are  active  in  its  support.  He  is  a  loyal 
adherent  of  the  Democratic  party  in  his  political 
views. 


'OHN  ELLIS.  The  farming  community  of 
El  Paso  Township  acknowledges  a  most 
worthy  representative  in  the  subject  of  this 
notice.  Quite  well  advanced  in  years,  he  is 
one  of  the  oldest  farmers  and  stock-raisers  in  the 
county,  and  is  now  living  retired  from  active  labor, 
his  residence  being  in  West  El  Paso,  where  he  has 
a  very  pleasant  and  comfortable  home.  This  he 
has  occupied  for  the  last  ten  years,  and  has  become 
a  familiar  figure  to  the  residents  of  the  city.  Prior 
to  this  he  lived  on  a  fine  farm  of  200  acres  in  Pal- 
estine Township,  this  county,  which  he  improved 
from  the  raw  ptairie,  and  upon  which  he  settled  in 
1857,  remaining  there  until  taking  possession  of 
his  present  home.  In  connection  with  farming  he 
operated  a  dairy,  and  was  generally  successful  in  his 
various  enterprises. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  emigrated  from  En- 
land  when  a  poor  man,  earl}-  in  life,  and  settled  in 
New  Jersey,  where  he  lived  four  and  one-half 
years.  He  was  born  in  the  North  Riding  of  York- 
shire, Nov.  6,  1816,  and  of  pure  English  stock.  His 
father,  Sylvester  Ellis,  made  his  living  by  honest 
labor,  mostly  at  fanning,  and  when  a  young  man  was 
married  to  a  maiden  of  his  own  shire.  Miss  Mary 
Render.  They  reared  their  family  and  spent  their 
last  days  a  few  miles  from  the  place  of  their  birth. 


The  father  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
four  years,  and  the  mother  died  when  seventy-five 
years  old.  They  were  Episcopalians  in  religion, 
and  worthy,  honest  people,  who  commanded  uni- 
versal respect  wherever  known.  They  were  the 
parents  of  one  child  only,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

John  Ellis  received  careful  home  training,  and 
remained  with  his  parents  until  his  marriage.  This 
important  and  interesting  event  was  celebrated  in 
North  Riding,  in  May,  1836,  the  bride  being  Miss 
Mary  Nettleton,  who  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  May 
1,  1815.  Her  parents,  Joseph  and  Anna  (Toole) 
Nettleton,  were  likewise  natives  of  Yorkshire, 
where  they  settled  after  their  marriage,  and  where 
they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  both  attain- 
ing nearly  three-score  years.  Like  the  Ellis  family 
they  were  Episcopalians  in  religion,  and  highly 
respected  in  their  community. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ellis  after  their  marriage  continued 
the  habits  of  industry  in  which  they  had  been 
trained,  and  worked  together  with  a  mutual  pur- 
pose to  obtain  a  home  and  a  competence.  Our 
subject,  however,  was  not  satisfied  with  the  prog- 
ress he  was  making  financially,  and  after  lie  had 
become  the  father  of  several  children,  he  in  the 
early  part  of  1852  came  to  America.  After  a  few 
month's  sojourn  in  New  Jersey  he  returned  to 
England  during  the  summer  of  that  same  year,  and 
brought  back  with  him  his  family,  landing  in  New 
York  City  upon  the  day  that  Franklin  Pierce  was 
elected  President  of  the  United  States.  He  went 
to  New  Jersey  and  established  himself  and  his  little 
family  at  Weston,  in  Somerset  County,  where  they 
lived  four  and  one-half  years,  and  then  came  to 
Illinois,  as  already  indicated.  Settling  in  Wood- 
ford  County,  Mr.  Ellis  improved  a  piece  of  wild 
land  in  Palestine  Township,  and  after  years  of  un- 
remitting toil  finally  found  himself  financially  on 
solid  ground. 

To  our  subject  and  his  excellent  wife  there  was 
born  a  large  family  of  children,  two  of  whom  are 
deceased:  One  died  in  infancy,  and  Thomas  was 
taken  from  the  household  circle  at  the  age  of 
thirty-seven;  John,  Jr.,  the  eldest  living,  is  Presi- 
dent of  the  Peoples'  Bank,  at  Beatrice,  Neb.; 
Mary  is  the  wife  of  Robert  Hitch,  a  farmer  of  El 
Paso  Township;  Joseph  is  farming  in  Grant  Town- 


202 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ship,  Gage  County,  and  he  is  also  a  Director  in  the 
Peoples'  Bank  at  Beatrice;  Jane  is  the  wife  of 
Harry  Hitch,  a  farmer  of  Hamilton  County,  Neb.; 
Margaret,  Mrs.  Charles  Campbell,  is  a  resident  of 
Wichita,  Kan. ;  Thomas  S.  occupies  the  old  home- 
stead in  Palestine  Township.  Our  subject,  politi- 
cally, is  a  sound  Republican,  and  Mrs.  Ellis  is  a 
member  in  good  stand  ing  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  In  addition  to  his  other  interests,  Mr. 
Ellis  owned  a  large  elevator  in  West  El  Paso.  This 
has  a  capacity  of  30,000  bushels  of  grain ;  he  has 
recently  sold  it,  and  it  is  operated  by  another  party 
to  whom  Mr.  Ellis  transferred  the  business  some- 
time since. 


WALTER  H.  HA  MM.  Among  the  men  who, 
during  the  early  settlement  of  Panola 
Township,  improved  a  farm  from  the  wil- 
derness, may  be  worthily  mentioned  the  subject  of 
this  notice.  Ho  has  now  wisely  retired  from  the 
active  labors  of  life,  having  taken  up  his  residence 
in  El  Paso  in  the  fall  of  1888,  and  is  living  in  the 
enjoyment  of  the  competence  which  he  secured 
through  arduous  toil,  economy  and  good  manage- 
ment. He  owns  eighty  acres  of  choice  land  on  sec- 
tion 22  in  Panola  Township,  120  acres  on  section 
9,  and  eighty  acres  on  section  16,  the  homestead 
being  on  the  latter.-  This  he  built  up  from  a  raw 
prairie,  cultivating  the  soil,  erecting  buildings  and 
instituting  the  improvements  in  keeping  with  the 
ideas  of  modern  agriculture.  He  began  farming 
in  Panola  Township  in  1861,  of  which  he  was  a 
continuous  resident  until  his  removal  to  El  Paso. 
Mr.  Ilamm  came  to  this  county  from  New  York 
State,  where  he  had  lived  in  Putnam  County  eight- 
een months,  and  to  which  he  had  removed  from 
Livingston  County,  of  which  he  had  been  a  resi- 
dent five  years.  Prior  to  this  he  had  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Columbia  County,  N.  Y.,  near  the  Duchess 
County  line.  He  was  born  in  Gallatin  Township, 
Putnam  County,  Sept.  6,  1830,  and  is  the  son  of 
Peter  P.  Hamm,  a  native  of  Columbia  County, 
N.  Y.  The  paternal  grandfather,  Peter  Ilamm, 
was  of  German  parentage  and  ancestry  and  lived 
to  be  seventy-eight  years  old.  He  died  in  Scho- 


harie  County.  His  wife  in  her  girlhood  was  Mary 
Hamm.  She  died  in  Massachusetts  when  ninety- 
one  years  old  and  was  a  member  of  the  German 
Reformed  Church. 

Peter  P.  Hamm,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
the  eldest  in  a  family  of  seven  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters. He  was  reared  to  manhood  in  Columbia 
County,  N.  Y.,  being  brought  up  on  a  farm,  and 
still  lives  in  the  county  of  his  birth,  being  now 
ninety-three  years  old.  He  presents  a  remarkable 
picture  of  health  and  strength,  both  of  mind  and 
body,  the  result  of  temperate  habits  and  correct 
living.  He  married  in  early  manhood  Miss  Clara 
Van  Allen,  a  native  of  the  same  State,  and  who 
died  in  1882  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years.  Both 
were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Walter 
H.  was  their  only  son  in  a  family  of  eight  children, 
all  of  whom  lived  to  mature  years. 

Our  subject  received  his  early  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  county,  spending  his 
boyhood  and  youth  on  the  farm  and  coming  to 
Illinois  with  the  family.  He  was  married  in  this 
county  to  Miss  Lucinda  Allen,  who  was  born  in 
Muskingum  County,  Ohio.  June  17,  1847.  When 
a  child  of  seven  years  she  came  with  her  parents, 
John  and  Susan  (Marion)  Allen,  to  Illinois,  and 
they  are  now  living  in  Lexington,  McLean  County, 
being  quite  well  advanced  in  years.  Mr.  Allen  has 
attained  to  nearly  fourscore  years.  They  came  to 
this  State  in  1853;  both  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church.  In  former  years  tlrey  belonged 
to  the  Methodist  Church. 

Mrs.  Hamm  was  a  mere  child  when  her  parents 
came  to  Illinois.  Of  her  union  with  our  subject 
there  have  been  born  four  children,  one  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  Clara  remains  at  home  with  her 
parents;  she  is  a  bright  and  accomplished  young 
lady,  having  been  graduated  from  the  El  Paso  High 
School.  Susan  is  also  a  graduate  from  this  school 
and  remains  under  the  parental  roof;  Ira  L.  is  still 
pursuing  his  studies  in  that  institution.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hamm  are  active  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  in  which  our  subject  has  held 
various  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility  for 
some  years  back.  He  was  instrumental  in  the  or- 
ganization of  the  church  in  Panola  Township  and 
was  Superintendent  of  the  first  Sunday-school  there. 


• 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


205 


Politically,  he  conscientiously  supports  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Republican  party. 

John  Allen,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Hamm,  was  born 
in  England  and  lived  there  until  a  youth  of  sixteen 
years.  In  the  meantime  his  father  died,  and  in  1826 
he  emigrated  to  the  United  States  accompanied  by 
his  mother.  The  latter  spent  her  last  years  in 
Zanesville,  Ohio,  living  to  the  great  age  of  nearly 
one  hundred  years.  The  great-grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Hamm  was  game-keeper  for  an  English  nobleman. 

Mrs.  Susan  Allen,  the  mother,  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania nnd  was  of  German  or  Holland-Dutch  de- 
scent. She  removed  to  Ohio  with  her  parents  when 
quite  young  and  is  now  living  in  Lexington,  being 
seventy-six  years  of  age. 


|  OHN  W.  PAGE,  a  veteran  of  the  Mexican 
|  War,  familiarly  known  as  "Uncle  John,"  is 
a  beloved  and  honored  citizen  of  Metamora, 
with  whose  interests  his  own  have  been 
identified  for  more  than  half  a  century.  His  name 
is  indissolubly  associated  with  the  growth  and 
progress  of  Woodford  County  almost  from  its 
origin,  as  he  has  always  been  foremost  in  all  enter- 
prises to  promote  its  development,  and  there  has 
been  no  scheme  evolved  for  the  advancement  of 
the  business  and  social  interests  of  Metamora,  with 
which  he  has  not  been  prominently  connected.  He 
has  also  been  a  conspicuous  figure  in  public  life, 
and  has  held  many  important  offices  of  trust.  He 
was  for  many  years  a  prosperous  agriculturist  here, 
but  finally  turned  his  attention  to  commercial  pur- 
suits as  a  merchant,  and  later  combined  that  busi- 
ness with  banking,  and  he  lias  done  much  to 
strengthen  the  financial  condition  of  the  county. 

Our  subject,  comes  of  a  long  line  of  New  Eng- 
land ancestry,  and  among  his  progenitors  were 
some  who  located  in  that  part  of  the  country  in 
very  early  colonial  times,  when  it  was  first  settled 
by  the  English,  they  being  pioneers  there,  ns  their 
descendants  have  been  in  the  great  West.  Mr. 
Page  was  born  in  Gilmanton,  Belknap  Co..  N.  H., 
Jan.  13,  1814.  His  father,  Jo'm  Page,  was  born 
in  the  same  town,  Oct.  28,  1787,  while  his  father, 


Andrew  Page,  was  bo'rn  in  Salisbury,  Mass.,  July 
20.  1751.  Moses  Page,  the  great-grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Salisbury,  Essex  Co., 
Mass..  Sept.  3,  1726.  His  father,  John  Page,  was 
born  in  Dedham,  Mass.,  June  17,  1696,  and  was  a 
son  of  the  Hon.  John  Page,  who  was  a  na- 
tive of  Dedham,  England,  and  is  the  first  one  of 
the  ancestors  of  our  subject  mentioned  as  coming 
to  America,  he  having  made  his  appearance  in  this 
country  in  1630.  lie  was  one  of  the  first  settlers 
of  the  town  of  Dedham,  Mass.,  and  there  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  His  son,  John,  married  Mary 
Winslow,  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Salisbury, 
Mass.,  living  there  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His 
son  Moses  married  Judith  French,  daughter  of  Ben- 
jamin French,  Sr.,  and  resided  in  his  native  town, 
Sailsbury,  many  years  thereafter.  Finally  he  joined 
his  children  in  Gilmanton,  N.  H.,  and  passed  his 
last  days  with  them.  His  son,  Andrew,  married 
Elizabeth  Page,  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Gilmanton;  the  removal  from  his  old  home  by  the 
sea  in  Massachusetts  to  the  New  Hampshire  hills 
being  made  on  horseback.  He  bought  a  tract  of 
land  in  the  primeval  forest,  and  at  once  cleared 
the  trees  from  a  small  piece  that  he  might  cultivate 
it,  and  chopped  in  the  seed  with  a  hoe,  and  in  due 
season  harvested  a  goodly  crop  from  the  virgin 
soil.  After  felling  the  timber  from  that  tract  of 
land,  he  purchased  another  in  the  same  town,  and 
improved  a  farm  upon  which  he  resided  until  his 
demise. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  He  received  a  good  academical 
education,  and  commenced  teaching  when  quite 
young,  and  taught  a  number  of  terms  of  winter 
school.  He  married  and  settled  in  his  native  State, 
and  becoming  quite  prominent  in  public  affairs,  his 
time  was  occupied  by  official  duties.  He  served  as 
Justice  of  the  Peace  for  many  years,  and  for  three 
terms  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  State  Legis- 
lature of  New  Hampshire.  He  continued  to  reside 
there  till  1835,  and  then,  animated  by  the  bold 
pioneer  spirit  that  had  led  his  ancestors  across  the 
sea,  he  started  with  his  family  for  the  wild  prairies 
of  the  West,  and  coming  to  Illinois,  located  in 
Metamora.  The  village  had  not  then  been  platted, 
and  there  was  not  a  house  on  its  present  site.  He 


206 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


entered  a  tract  of  land,  a  part  of  which  is  included 
in  the  limits  of  the  present  city,  improvising  a  rude 
dwelling  for  the  shelter  of  his  family  by  procuring 
some  forked  stakes  from  the  timber,  which  lie  stuck 
in  the  ground,  and  then  put  up  some  poles,  and 
covered  them  with  boards.  This  building  not 
proving  water-tight,  he  rived  some  oak  shingles 
and  covered  the  boards.  He  lived  in  that  habita- 
tion two  or  three  years,  and  then  built  a  more  sub- 
stantial frame  house,  residing  there  till  his  death, 
Oct.  1,  1855.  In  the  meantime  lie  improved  a  good 
farm.  Here,  as  in  his  native  State,  he  was  active 
in  public  affairs,  and  held  various  offices  of  trust 
and  honor.  He  served  as  representative  in  the  Ill- 
inois Legislature.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and  bore 
an  honorable  part  in  the  councils  of  his  party.  He 
was  always  deeply  interested  in  educational  matters, 
assisted  in  organizing  the  school  districts,  and  was 
school  director  and  treasurer.  His  good  wife,  to 
whom  he  was  united  in  ma'rriage  April  15,  1811, 
survived  him  many  yeais,  her  death  occurring  on  the 
home  farm.  Dec.  16,  1872.  Her  maiden  name  was 
Betsy  Wilson,  and  she  was  born  March  27,  1791,  a 
daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Bets}'  (True)  Wilson. 
She  was  a  direct  descendant  of  one  Thomas  Wilson, 
who  came  from  Scotland  to  America  in  1633.  He 
was  one  of  the  Wheelwright  Compact  in  Exeter, 
N.  H.,  in  1638.  The  next  in  line  was  his  son 
Humphrey,  who  was  followed  by  his  son  Thomas, 
and  after  him  came  another  Humphrey,  whose  son. 
Capt.  Nathaniel  Wilson,  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  June  24,  1739,  and  commanded 
a  company  in  the  continental  army  during  the 
Revolution.  His  son,  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Wilson, 
was  born  Aug.  8,  1769,  and  was  a  preacher  in  the 
Baptist  Church,  but  also  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  and  in  farming.  He  lived  many  years  in 
Gilmanton,  N.  H.,  but  passed  his  last  days  in  Barn- 
stead.  The  maiden  name  of  his  first  wife,  grand- 
mother of  our  subject,  was  Betsy  True.  The 
following  is  recorded  of  the  ten  children  born  to  the 
parents  of  our  subject:  Elizabeth  married  Benja- 
min G.  Kendig,  now  deceased;  our  subject  is  the 
next  in  order  of  birth ;  Elvira  married  William  II. 
Banta,  and  lives  in  Warsaw,  Iowa;  Andrew  lives 
in  Wyoming;  for  account  of  Adiuo  sec  sketch  of 
John  L.  McGuire;  Samuel  True  lives  in  Metamora; 


Moses  P.  lives  in  Wayne  County,  Iowa;  Thadcus; 
Mary  K.  died  when  two  years  old;  Benjamin  Edwin 
was  killed  before  Spanish  Fort  in  the  late  war.  S. 
True  served  in  the  4th  Illinois  in  the  Mexican  War, 
and  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Cerro  Gordo  and  Vera 
Cruz.  Early  in  the  late  war  he  offered  his  services 
to  his  country,  and  was  mustered  in  as  a  member 
of  the  108th  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  with  his 
regiment  till  the  close  of  hostilities,  taking  part  in 
many  important  battles.  Benjamin  Edwin  enlisted 
as  a  soldier  in  the  same  regiment,  and  took  part  in 
many  hotly  contested  battles,  and  finally  gave  up 
his  life  for  his  country  at  the  battle  of  Spanish 
Fort. 

John  W.  Page,  of  whom  we  write,  passed  his 
early  life  in  his  native  town,  receiving  the  bestedu- 
ational  advantages  afforded  by  the  local  schools. 
When  nineteen  years  of  age,  he  went  out  into  the 
world  beyond  his  birthplace,  and  in  Charlestown, 
Mass.,  was  engaged  in  brick-making  two  seasons. 
In  the  winter  of  1834-35  he  taught  a  term  of 
school  in  the  town  of  Alton,  N.  H.  In  the  mouth 
of  June,  1835,  he  sought  fairer  opportunities  and 
broader  fields  of  work  on  the  ample,  generous 
prairies  of  Illinois,  making  the  journey  by  stage  as 
far  as  Troy,  N.  Y.;  thence  by  the  Erie  Canal  to 
Buffalo;  from  there  on  Lake  Erie  to  Cleveland; 
thence, across  Ohio  by  canal  to  Portsmouth;  and 
there  he  embarked  on  a  boat  for  the  voyage  on  the 
Ohio,  Mississippi  and  Illinois  rivers  to  Pekin,  this 
State:  and  from  there  he  came  by  team  to  his  des- 
tination in  Woodford  County,  having  been  a  mouth 
on  the  way.  This  section  of  the  country  then 
formed  a  part  of  Tazewell  County,  and  the  land, 
which  was  still  owned  by  the  Government,  was  for 
sale  at  $1.25  per  acre. 

Our  subject  entered  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 20,  in  what  is  now  Metamora  Township,  and 
then  proceeded  at  once  to  erect  a  frame  house,  hew- 
ing the  frame  and  splitting  boards  for  weather 
boards  and  shingles,  and  for  the  door,  providing 
the  latter  with  wooden  hinges  and  a  wooden  latch. 
His  family  moved  into  this  dwelling  before  the 
doors  and  windows  were  in,  hanging  blankets  over 
the  openings  to  keep  out  the  wild  animals.  Not 
having  the  necessary  furniture,  a  chest  was  used  for 
a  table  and  trunks  for  seats  till  Mr.  Page  could  split 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


207 


some  boards  for  a  table  and  make  some  chairs. 
When  he  came  here,  his  entire  wealth  consisted  of 
1120  in  cash,  and  having  borrowed  8200  of  his 
uncle  to  enter  his  land,  he  soon  sold  his  father 
eighty  acres  of  his  land  in  part  payment  at  the 
value  of  $100,  and  after  paying  his  uncle  the  other 
$100  that  he  had  borrowed  of  him,  he  had  $20  left. 
He  invested  $14  of  that  in  a  cow,  and  having  but 
$6  left,  he  was  obliged  to  work  out  by  the  day  to 
earn  money  with  which  to  support  his  family.  He 
soon  bought  a  pair  of  steers,  but  before  he  had 
paid  for  them  they  died.  Notwithstanding  all 
the  discouragements  of  pioneer  life  and  the  many 
sacrifices  required,  he  never  became  disheartened, 
but  pressed  on  toward  the  success  he  achieved  in 
after  life.  He  continued  to  work  out, and  the  next 
spring  he  bought  a  pair  of  oxen  and  took  some 
steers  to  train,  and  thus  brought  a  good  breaking 
team  together.  In  1837  he  rented  an  improved 
farm  at  Walnut  Grove,  and  by  its  profitable  culti- 
vation obtained  money  to  continue  improvements 
on  his  own  land.  There  were  no  railways  here  for 
many  years,  and  Peoria  was  the  principal  market, 
though  considerable  grain  was  taken  to  Chicago, 
125  miles  distant. 

Our  subject  was  prosperously  engaged  in  farm- 
ing till  1856,  when  he  turned  his  attention  to  the 
mercantile  business,  and  after  serving  as  clerk  in  a 
general  store  a  year,  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
his  brother  Adino,  who  still  continued  to  reside  in 
Massachusetts,  and  they  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business,  and  two  years  later  added  dry  goods,  and 
in  1875  engaged  in  the  banking  business  with  their 
other  interests.  They  carried  on  a  large  and  lucra- 
tive business  till  1885,  when,  his  brother  dying,  our 
our  subject  closed  out  the  business,  and  has  since 
lived  retired,  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  handsome 
income  that  he  derives  from  the  fine  properly 
that  he  has  accumulated  by  wise  management 
and  superior  business  qualifications.  Mr.  Page 
is  a  veteran  of  the  Mexican  War,  having  en- 
listed in  1846,  in  the  4th  Illinois  Infantry,  lie 
went  to  Tampico,  Mex.,  filled  with  soldierly  ardor, 
but  the  climate  did  not  agree  with  him,  and  after 
serving  efficiently  till  1847,  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged on  account  of  disability. 

Mr.  Page  and  Miss  Rebecca  E.  Page  were  united 


in 'marriage  Jan.  13,  1835.  They  have  one  son 
now  living.  Charles  Alvin.  Two  children  died  in 
infancy.  Their  daughter,  Ann  E.,  died  in  her 
twenty -first  year,  and  their  son,  John  True,  died  at 
eighteen  years  of  age.  Rebecca  E.  Page  was  born 
in  South  Montville,  Me.,  June  11,  1812,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  True  and  Abigail  (Edgerly)  Page. 

Mr.  Page's  life-career  has  been  distinguished  by 
rare  energy  and  stability  of  character,  and  prompt 
and  systematic  business  habits,  combined  with  hon- 
orable and  conscientious  dealings,  and   his  course 
furnishes  an  illustrious  example  to  the  young   who 
are  just  starting  out  in  the  world  to  seek  fortune's 
favors.  He  enjoys  a  high  personal  standing  through- 
out the  count}',  and   holds  a  warm  place   in   the 
hearts  of  hosts  of  friends,  and  is  one  of  the  very 
few  men  of  whom  every  one  speaks  well.     During 
his  long  residence  here  of  more  than  half  a  century, 
he  has  been  conspicuously  identified  with  the  polit- 
ical and  public  life  of  Woodford  County  from  its 
very  beginning.    When  the  county  was  organized, 
there  was  quite  a  struggle  among  the  in  habitants  as 
to  the  location  of  the  county  seat.     Being  a  resi- 
dent of  Metamora,  he  threw  his  influence  with  his 
fellow-citizens  in  favor  of  this  city,  and  they  car- 
ried the  day,  securing  the  location  of   the  county 
seat    here,  and    making    Metamora   an    important 
metropolis  of  a  rich  agricultural  region.     Mr.  Page 
has  always  been  foremost  in  all  enterprises  for  the 
good  of  the  county,  and  when  a  company  was  or- 
ganized to  build  a  railway  from  Metamora  to  Wash- 
ington, he    became   one   of    its    most    prominent 
members,  and    was   Treasurer    of    the    company. 
There  has  not  been  a  worth}'  enterprise  inaugurated 
in  Metamora  for  the  benefit  of  the  city  with  which 
he   has  not  been  connected.     A  pronounced    ad- 
herent  of   the  Democratic    party,  he    has  always 
been  one  of    its  most  intelligent  and   liberal   sup- 
porters.    His  fellow-citizens  have  honored  him  by 
election  to  various  offices  of  trust,  which   lie   lias 
filled   with   characteristic  fidelity  and  ability.     He 
has  served  as  Coroner,  as  Superintendent  of  Schools, 
two  terms  as   County  Treasurer,  and  he  has  also 
served  as  School  and  Village  Treasurer  many  years. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity 
many  years,  first  belonging  to  Metamora  Lodge, 
No.  42;  later  joining  Woodford  Chapter,  No.  110, 


208 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  Metamora  Council,  and  lie  has  been  for  several 
years  a  member  of  the  Peoria  Commandery,  No.  3. 
He  and  his  wife  are  people  of  high  Christian  prin- 
ciples, disciples  of  the  Baptist  faith,  being  members 
of  that  church,  and  worshiping  at  Union  Church 
in  Metamora. 

A  portrait  of  Mr.  Page  appears  on  another  page, 
and  will  be  looked  upon  with  affectionate  interest 
by  his  man}'  friends,  who  esteem  him  highly  for 
his  beauty  of  soul  and  depth  of  mind. 


ON.  JOEL  A.  RANNEY,  a  representative 
citizen  of  Woodford  County,  is  classed 
among  its  most  intelligent,  successful  farm- 
ers and  stock  raisers.  lie  is  the  son  of  a 
pioneer  family,  and  the  old  homestead  on  which 
he  lives  was  at  the  time  of  his  father's  purchase  in 
the  early  days  of  the  settlement  of  this  region,  a 
tract  of  wild,  uncultivated  prairie  land.  Now, 
with  its  well-tilled  acres,  its  neat  and  commodious 
buildings,  and  various  modern  improvements,  it  is 
considered  one  of  the  most  desirable  farms  in  the 
locality. 

Mr.  Ranney  comes  of  honorable  New  England 
blood,  and  is  himself  a  native  of  that  part  of  the 
country,  born  amid  the  beautiful  hills  of  Windsor 
County,  Vt.,  in  the  pretty  town  of  Stockbridge, 
Oct.  18,  1831.  His  father,  Deacon  Joel  Ranney, 
was  a  native  of  the  same  town,  a  son  of  Daniel 
Hanney,  who  is  supposed  to  have  been  born  in 
Westminster,  Windham  Co.,  Vt.  He  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  and  spent  his  last  years  in  Wind- 
sor County.  The  father  was  there  reared  and  mar- 
lied,  and  when  he  settled  down  in  life  he  bought  a 
farm  in  Stockbridge,  and  later  in  Barnard.  In 
1838  he  sold  his  possessions  in  iiis  native  State  and 
with  his  wife  and  two  children  started  on  the  then 
long  and  tedious  journey  to  the  western  wilds  of 
Illinois,  the  entire  trip  being  made  in  a  wagon 
drawn  by  two  horses,  carrying  the  household  goods 
along.  Six  weeks  and  four  days  later  the  family 
arrived  at  their  destination  in  this  county,  and 
soon  after  the  father  bought  a  tract  of  wild  prairie 
land  in  what  is  now  Metamora  Township.  He 


erected  a  frame  house  for  the  shelter  of  his  family, 
and  at  once  commenced  to  prepare  the  land  for  cul- 
tivation. There  were  then  no  railways  here, 
and  for  many  years  the  nearest  markets  were  at 
Peoria  and  Lacon.  Jan.  14,  1848,  the  father's  use- 
ful career  was  brought  to  an  end  by  his  untimely 
death,  he  being  then  in  the  prime  of  a  vigorous 
manhood,  aged  forty-two  years  and  eight  months. 
A  citizen  of  great  worth  was  thus  lost  to  his  com- 
munity, one  who  while  working  to  build  up  a  com- 
petence for  himself  and  family,  contributed  to  the 
material  progress  of  his  adopted  township.  His 
wife  survived  him  till  July  18,  1858,  when  she  too 
passed  away,  her  death  occurring  on  the  old  home- 
stead. She  carried  blessing,  comfort  and  care  to 
the  sick  and  afflicted,  and  so  ordered  her  household 
that  "  her  children  arise  up  and  call  her  blessed." 
Her  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  T.  Morse,  and  she 
was  born  in  Antrim,  N.  II.,  a  daughter  of  Parker 
Morse.  (For  her  parental  history  see  sketch  of  L. 
P.  Morse.)  Two  children  wore  born  of  her  mar- 
riage, our  subject  and  his  sister.  Esther  J.,  who 
married  Alvin  Packard,  and  lives  near  Blooming- 
ton,  111. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  six  years  old  when  his 
parents  brought  him  to  this  county,  and  he  gleaned 
his  education  in  the  pioneer  schools  of  that  day. 
As  soon  as  he  was  large  enough  he  commenced  to 
assist  his  father  on  the  farm,  and  has  always  made 
his  home  on  the  old  homestead,  which  he  thus  early 
aided  in  improving.  He  now  has  200  acres  of  as 
fine  farming  land  as  is  to  be  found  in  this  localit}', 
and  has  a  good  set  of  substantial  frame  buildings 
and  all  the  conveniences  for  carrying  on  agricul- 
ture successfully.  Sept.  4,  1856,  Mr.  Ranney  was 
united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  to  Miss 
Frances  L.  Everett,  a  woman  whose  many  amiable 
qualities  endear  her  to  those  around  her,  and  whose 
capabilities  have  made  her  a  model  wife  and  mother. 
Her  father,  Deacon  Willard  Everett,  came  from 
Francestown,  N.  H.,  in  1843,  bringing  with  him  his 
wife,  and  a  family  of  small  children,  but  not  much 
property.  Industry  and  economy  enabled  him  to 
support  his  family,  and  educate  his  children,  and 
obtain  a  fair  competency.  He  was  an  active  work- 
er in  the  anti-slavery  and  temperance  causes,  and 
an  earnest  Christian,  and  a  member  of  the  Congre- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


209 


gational  Church.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Ranney 
was  Frances  C.  S.  Dodge,  and  she,  like  her  husband, 
took  an  active  interest  in  all  good  work.  The 
union  of  our  suliject  and  his  wife  lias  been  blessed 
to  them  by  the  birth  of  eight  children,  of  whom 
four  are  living — Lillie  F.,  Mark  .!.,  Justin  M.,  Milo 
M.  Lillie  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Mansfield,  of  Metamo- 
r.a,  and  they  have  one  child,  Esther. 

Mr.  Ranney  has  a  well-balanced  mind,  and  is 
dowered  with  firmness,  decision,  and  that  sturdy 
self-respect  and  rectitude  of  character  that  com- 
mands the  confidence  of  all,  and  has  won  him  a 
high  place  in  the  councils  of  his  fellow-citizens, 
lie  has  represented  Metamora  Township  on  the 
County  Board  of  Supervisors  with  credit  to  him- 
self, and  has  advanced  the  best  interests  of  his 
township  and  county.  His  fellow-citizens  have 
honored  him  and  themselves  by  electing  him  to  the 
State  Legislature,  first  in  1876,  and  so  satisfacto- 
rily did  he  fill  that  high  position  that  they  re-elect- 
ed him  in  the  fall  of  1878.  His  whole  course  while 
a  member  of  that  distinguished  body  showed  him 
to  be  actuated  by  the  purest  and  most  patriotic  mo 
lives,  and  marked  him  as  a  practical  statesman  who 
never  for  a  moment  prostituted  public  office  for 
private  ends.  He  takes  an  active  and  intelligent 
interest  in  politics,  was  in  early  manhood  and  in 
ante-bellum  times  an  outspoken,  earnest  Abolition- 
ist. After  the  formation  of  the  Republican  party, 
sympathizing  deeply  with  the  sentiments  of  its 
founders,  he  joined  its  ranks,  and  has  ever  since 
remained  true  to  its  principles.  Religiously,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Ranney  and  their  three  eldest  children 
are  members  in  high  standing  of  the  Congregational 
Church. 


-  ACOB  KNAPP.  One  of  the  most  enterpris- 
ing residents  of  Clayton  Township,  and  also 
one  of  the  most  active  members  and  liberal 
supporters  of  the  Lutheran  Church  of  his 
community,  is  Jacob  Knapp.  His  home  is  at  pre- 
sent on  section  10,  Clayton  Township,  but  it  is  his 
intention  in  the  spring  of  1890,  to  removed  to  Mi- 
nonk,  where  he  has  business  poperty.  Mr.  Knapp 
has  been  so  fortunate  in  business,  that  he  is  HOT  the 


owner  of  four  fine  farms,  each  comprising  about 
160  acres.  These  will  be  a  valuable  legacy  to  his 
four  children,  whom  lie  has  already  assisted  through 
the  troublesome  years  of  the  beginning  of  a  busi- 
ness life.  Besides  this  land,  he  also  owns  320  acres 
of  land  in  Nebraska.  Not  only  does  he  own  this 
property,  but  he  is  able  to  say  that  he  owes  no  man, 
as  he  believes  it  always  a  good  plan  to  be  in  debt 
to  no  one. 

In  politics  he  is  a  supporter  of  Republican  prin- 
ciples, and  has  always  assisted  his  friends  to  official 
positions,  though  never  desiring  them  for  himself. 
Like  many  other  Germans,  who  have  made  this 
county  their  home,  he  has  taken  up  the  beliefs,  and 
adopted  the  principles  of  his  new  home,  and  is  in 
truth  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  in  the  love  he 
bears  his  adopted  country. 

His  wife  was  in  her  youth  Miss  Philipena  Mock, 
with  whom  he  was  united  in  marriage,  June  3,  1852. 
She  was  a  native  of  the  same  town  as  her  husband, 
they  having  attended  school  together  in  childhood 
clays.  They  became  the  parents  of  two  sons  and 
two  daughters,  viz:  Philipena,  wife  of  William 
Barth;  Lizzie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles  II.  Dan- 
forth;  Jacob  is  married  to  Miss  Caroline  Shaffer; 
and  John  P.  They  all  received  good  educations, 
and  were  well  fitted  and  prepared  for  life's  work. 
The}'  are  now  comfortably  settled  in  their  homes, 
and  owe  their  present  prosperous  condition  to  the 
earnest,  well-directed  efforts  of  their  father  and 
mother,  as  well  as  to  tl^eir  own  energy. 

Mr.  Knapp  came  to  America  in  1849,  but  dates 
his  residence  in  Wood  ford  County  from  the  year 
1858.  He  was  a  native  of  Hanksbyer,  German}-, 
and  was  born  Feb.  15,  1824.  During  his  youth  he 
assisted  his  aged  parents  in  whatever  was  needed  to 
be  done,  and  lightened  their  burdens  a3  they  came 
near  the  closing  years  of  life.  He  also  served  in 
the  German  army  between  the  years  1846  and  1849. 
The  latter  year  he  sought  a  home  here  in  America, 
where  he  landed  August  15.  He  did  not  remain 
in  New  York  City  where  he  had  landed,  but  went 
almost  immediately  to  Boston,  and  secured  a  posi- 
tion in  a  sugar-house  as  clerk.  But  not  content 
with  the  East,  and  having  heard  of  the  great  possi- 
bilities of  the  Western  land,  he  was  induced  to 
j  emigrate  to  Illinois  in  1854.  On  the  14th  of  Sep- 


210 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


tember  he  stopped  at  Lacou,  where  he  remained  all 
winter.  He  found  employment  in  splitting  rails 
and  chopping  wood,  his  remuneration  therefor  be- 
ing fifty  cents  per  day.  He  lived  in  an  old  log 
cabin  built  in  the  primitive  style  of  architecture, 
for  which  he  paid  $3  rent  per  month,  and  for  his 
firewood  had  to  pay  $1.  The  following  spring  he 
had  saved  enough  money  to  buy  a  team  and  to  rent 
a  farm.  From  that  time  on  he  was  prospered, 
gradually  working  his  way  to  independence.  In 
1858  he  purchased  eight}-  acres  of  his  present  farm, 
paying  for  it  the  sum  of  $16  per  acre.  It  was  rail- 
road land,  and  when  bought,  was  in  the  primitive 
condition  of  nature,  but  through  his  industry  has 
been  transformed  to  a  pleasant  homestead.  When 
he  settled  on  this  place,  he  was  able  to  pay  only 
the  interest  money,  $86.  Persistent  effort  has 
brought  its  own  reward,  and  he  now  lives  sur- 
rounded by  all  tlie  comforts  of  life,  secure  in  the 
knowledge  that  his  old  age  will  be  protected  from 
want,  and  that  he  will  leave  his  family  amply  pro- 
vided for.  He  lias  not  only  been  successful  finan- 
cially, but  ho  and  his  family  have  endeared  them- 
selves to  all  the  neighborhood  by  th  eir  many 
kindnesses  to  those  in  trouble.  Their  friends  are 
always  welcome  to  their  hospitable  home,  while 
they  are  in  turn  honored  guests  in  the  best  homes 
in  Wood  ford  County. 


ESTER  B.  BARTON,  of  pioneer  anteced- 
ents, and  himself  an  early  settler  of  Meta- 
mora  Township,  of  which  he  is  still  an  hon- 
ored resident,  has  long  been  connected  with  the 
extensive  farming  interests  of  Woodford  County. 
He  is  a  worthy  descendant  of  noble  New  England 
stock,  and  numbers  among  his  ancestors  some  of 
the  original  settlers  of  Massachusetts.  His  pater- 
nal grandfather  was  a  pioneer  physician  and 
preacher  of  Tennessee,  and  in  the  next  generation 
our  subject's  parents  were  early  pioneers  of  Illinois. 
The  subject  of  this  bi->graphy  was  born  April  20, 
1820.  in  Overtoil  County,  Tenn.  His  father, 
Theodore  S.  Barton,  was  a  native  of  Worcester 


County,Mass,  and  his  grandfather,  the  Rev.  Titus  B. 
Barton,  was  also  born  in  Massachussetts.  He  was 
a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  intellectual  ability, 
distinguished  by  moral  excellence,  and  was  highly 
educated  for  the  times,  being  a  graduate  of  Dar- 
mouth  College.  He  was  a  physician  of  much  skill 
as  well  as  a  preacher  in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  was  for  a  time  the  pastor  of  a  congregation  of 
that  denomination  in  Tewksbury,  Mass..  and  dur- 
ing the  War  of  1812  was  loyal  to  the  United 
States  Government,  while  many  of  his  parishioners 
were  against  the  Government  in  that  struggle.  In 
consequence  of  such  a  difference  of  opinion  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Barton  severed  his  connection  with  that 
church,  and  in  1817,  with  his  family  he  emigrated 
to  Tennessee,  the  entire  journey  being  made  with 
teams.  He  located  in  Overton  County,  and  there 
practiced  medicine  and  expounded  the  Gospel  to 
his  fellow-pioneers.  He  was  very  much  opposed 
to  the  institution  of  slavery,  and  his  daily  prayer  was 
that  he  might  once  more  be  in  a  free  state.  In  1 828, 
accompanied  by  his  wife,  sons  and  sons-in-law 
with  their  wives,  he  set  forth  on  the  journey  to 
Illinois,  his  dearest  wish  about  to  be  gratified,  the 
removal  hither  being  made  with  several  teams,  the 
stock  being  driven  on  before.  The  aged  patriarch 
and  his  little  flock  traversed  the  States  of  Tennes- 
see and  Kentucky,  crossed  the  Ohio  River,  and  at 
last  he  stood  on  the  borders  of  the  promised  land. 
His  fervent  prayers  were  answered,  and  like  Moses 
his  life  was  destined  to  end  after  the  welcome  sight. 
He  arose  after  a  night's  rest  in  apparent  good 
health,  went  to  the  door  to  view  the  surrounding 
country,  and  on  his  return  remarked  to  his  wife 
that  it  was  a  "pleasant  morning",  and  then  he  fell 
to  the  floor  and  expired.  He  was  laid  to  rest  on 
the  banks  of  the  Ohio,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
family  proceeded  sadly  to  their  destination  in 
Jacksonville,  and  there  located  among  its  earliest 
pioneers. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  young  man 
when  he  left  his  early  home  in  Massachusetts  and 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Tennessee.  He  had 
left  his  heart  behind  him,  however,  and  in  1818  he 
journeyed  on  horseback  to  New  York,  where  his 
promised  bride  lived,  and  was  married  in  Oneida 
Count}',  that  State,  Immediately  after  that  event 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


211 


he  and  his  young  wife  started  on  their  wedding 
tour  in  a  light  wagon,  drawn  by  one  horse,  and 
thus  traveled  to  Tennessee,  where  they  began  their 
wedded  life,  living  there  till  1827,  v>hen  ns  before 
related  they  came  to  Illinois.  At  the  time  the 
family  located  in  .Jacksonville,  it  was  but  a  small 
hamlet,  with  about  fifteen  houses,  a  part  of  them 
built  of  logs.  Mr.  Barton  was  a  natural  mechanic, 
ami  before  he  left  his  native  home  in  Massa- 
chusetts, he  had  worked  at  the  machinist's  trade  in 
Lowell,  Mass.,  and  had  assisted  in  the  erection  of 
some  of  the  first  mills  built  in  that  State.  After 
his  removal  to  Morgan  County,  he  resumed  his 
trade  nnd  plied  it  in  Jacksonville  till  1843.  He 
then  came  to  Metamora  and  purchased  a  home  in 
town,  and  established  himself  at  his  trade.  He 
continued  to  reside  here  until  his  death,  at  which 
time  a  worthy  citizen  was  lost  to  this  community, 
one  to  whom  all  respect  was  paid  as  he  had  led  an 
honorable  and  upright  life.  The  maiden  name  of  his 
wife  was  Clarrissa  Barker.  She  was  born  in  Oneida 
County,  N.  Y.,  of  which  her  father,  Levi  Barker,  a 
native  of  New  England, was  one  of  the  early  settlers. 
Lester  Barton,  of  this  sketch,  was  seven  years 
old  when  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents,  and 
he  remembers  quite  distinctly  the  incidents  of  the 
journey  to  Morgan  County,  and  of  the  subsequent 
pioneer  life  there.  He  gleaned  his  education  in 
the  primitive  schools  of  those  early  days  of  the  set- 
tlement of  the  State.  In  1836  he  journeyed  across 
the  country  from  Morgan  County  to  this  county 
with  a  team,  and  found  the  surrounding  country 
almost  in  its  original  wild  state,  not  many  settle- 
ments having  been  made,  and  a  great  deal  of  the 
land  was  for  sale  by  the  Government  at  $1.25  per 
acre.  After  a  visit  of  a  few  weeks  Mr.  Barton 
returned  to  his  home  in  Morgan  County,  where  he 
remained  until  1843,  when  he  made  a  permanent 
settlement  in  this  county,  locating  on  his  present 
place  four  miles  northeast  of  Metamora.  It  was 
then  a  tract  of  wild  prairie  land,  but  by  patient 
toil  and  judicious  management  Mr.  Barton  has  got 
it  under  fine  tillage,  so  that  it  yields  good  harvests, 
lie  has  planted  beautiful  shade,  ornamental  and 
fruit  trees;  has  erected  a  good  frame  house  and 
necessary  farm  buildings,  and  lias  by  various  other 
improvements  greatly  increased  its  value. 


Mr.  Barton  has  been  twice  married.  He  was 
first  wedded  in  1852  to  Miss  Mary  Stephenson,  a 
native  of  Kentucky.  But  their  married  life  was 
not  destined  to  be  of  a  very  long  duration,  as  she 
died  in  1857,  after  the  death  of  her  infant 
daughter,  Anna.  Mr.  Barton  was  married  to  his 
present  wife,  formerly  Miss  Elvira  K.  Dutton,  a 
native  of  Vermont,  in  1867.  Their  marriage  has 
bee  i  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  four  children 
— Mary  E.,  Charles  M.,  Nellie  E.  and  Lester  Ed- 
ward. 

Mr.  Barton  is  of  a  practical  turn  of  mind,  and, 
by  careful  attention  to  his  calling  he  has  acquired 
a  competence  amply  sufficient  to  free  him  from  the 
necessity  of  hard  labor,  and  to  fortify  his  declining 
years  against  want  and  poverty.  Both  he,  and  his 
amiable  wife  are  held  in  kindly  regard  by  the  peo- 
ple among  whom  they  have  lived  so  man}'  years. 
They  are  both  religiously  inclined,  he  being  of  the 
Presbyterian  faith,  while  his  wife  is  a  member  of 
the  Congregational  Church,  and  they  are  now  asso- 
ciated with  the  Union  Church  at  Metamora. 


OSEPH  REED  has  long  been  numbered 
among  the  leading  farmers  of  this  county, 
and  is  one  of  its  early  settlers.  He  is  now 
engaged  in  general  farming  on  section  3, 
Montgomery  Township,  where  he  has  made  his 
home  since  1852,  covering  a  period  of  thirty-seven 
years.  Previous  to  that,  time  he  had  become  a 
resident  of  Illinois  and  located  in  Taze well  County, 
where  he  remained  until  the  year  above  mentioned. 
His  native  State  is  Pennsylvania,  his  birth  having 
occurred  in  Schuylkill  County,  on  the  8th  day  of 
June,  1827.  His  parents,  Lewis  and  Mary  (Myers) 
Reed,  were  also  born  in  the  Keystone  State  and 
were  descended  from  ancestry  who  belonged  to 
the  Pennsylvania  Dutch.  Five  children  were  born 
unto  them  in  Pennsylvania,  after  which,  accom- 
panied by  their  family,  they  emigrated  to  the 
West,  locating  near  Circleville,  Piekaway  County, 
Chio,  during  the  early  days  of  its  history.  In  that 
community  the  children  were  reared  to  manhood 
and  the  father  was  called  to  his  final  rest.  He 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


died  before  he  had  reached  his  fiftieth  year,  and 
his  loss  was  sincerely  mourned  by  many  warm 
friends.  His  widow  was  afterwards  again  married, 
her  second  union  being  with  John  Buck.  They 
later  became  residents  of  Fnirfield  County,  Ohio, 
where  Mrs.  Buck  died  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty  years.  Like  her  husbands,  she  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Evangelical  Association  and  was  a  faith- 
ful Christian  woman. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  third  child  of 
the  family.  When  but  a  .young  lad  he  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  where 
his  early  life  was  spent  amid  play  and  work.  He 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  that  county,  and 
was  reared  to  habits  of  industry  and  usefulness 
which  have  been  very  essential  to  him  in  his  after- 
life. In  Pickaway  County,  he  also  formed  the 
acquaintance  of  Miss  Polly  Freeze,  and  their 
friendship  ripening  into  a  warmer  attachment,  they 
were  united  in  marriage.  Mrs.  Reed  was  born  in 
Nov.  8,  1832,  in  the  county  where  their  wedding 
was  celebrated  and  is  a  sister  of  Rev.  O.  W. 
Freeze,  whose  history  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
work.  The  family  circle  of  this  worthy  couple 
was  completed  by  the  birth  of  the  following 
children:  Lewis,  who  married  George  Ann  Hux- 
table,  and  now  owns  and  operates  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres  in  Montgomery  Township;  Jonathan,  who 
wedded  Miss  Rosa  Gordon,  is  living  on  a  farm  in 
Panola  Township;  William  was  joined  in  wedlock 
with  Viola  Kingsolver,  and  is  engaged  in  the  cul- 
tivation of  a  farm  in  Polk  County,  Neb.;  Lyinan, 
who  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Mont- 
gomery Township,  wedded  Miss  Lizzie  Naffziger; 
Emma  is  the  wife  of  A.  Dorwood,  a  resident  farm- 
er of  the  same  township;  Ida  became  the  wife  of 
Frank  Dorwood,  a  farmer  of  Cruger  Township; 
Alvin  and  Rosa,  the  two  youngest,  are  at  home. 
Death  has  never  entered  the  home  of  this  family; 
all  are  yet  living,  and  the  children  have  become 
respected  men  and  women  who  do  honor  to  then- 
parents. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reed  began  their  married  life  in 
Pickaway  County,  whence  they  came  to  Illinois, 
and.  as  before  stnte>l,  made  their  home  in  Tazewell 
County  until  becoming  residents  of  this  commu- 
nity. Throughout  his  business  career  Mr.  Reed 


has  followed  the  occupation  of  farming,  and  by 
the  united  efforts  of  himself  and  wife  has  secured 
a  comfortable  competency.  His  landed  possessions 
at  one  time  aggregated  400  acres,  but  as  his  chil- 
dren left  the  parental  roof  he  gave  to  them  por- 
tions of  that  amount.  The  farm  upon  which  he 
now  resides  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  county,  its 
well  tilled  fields,  good  buildings  and  high  grades 
of  stock  indicating  the  owner  to  be  a  practical  and 
progressive  farmer.  His  residence  is  a  substantial 
and  commodious  dwelling,  shaded  by  beautiful 
trees,  and  the  other  improvements  are  in  keeping 
with  the  pleasant  home.  Mr.  Reed  is  truly  a  self- 
made  man,  for  his  success  is  due  entirely  to  his 
own  efforts.  He  has  steadily  worked  his  way  up- 
ward until  he  is  now  numbered  among  the  well  -to- 
do  farmers  of  the  community,  and  his  family  are 
surrounded  with  all  the  com  forts  of  life.  In  pub- 
lic life  he  manifests  a  warm  interest  and  has  aided 
in  the  progress  and  development  of  the  county  for 
almost  forty  3rears.  He  is  a  liberal  supporter  of  all 
worthy  enterprises,  and  is  found  in  the  front  ranks 
of  social,  moral  and  educational  interests.  In  poli- 
tics, he  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reed  are  members 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  in  which  he  holds 
the  office  of  Trustee. 


RANCIS  M.  NASH,  proprietor  of  the 
Eureka  Creamery,  is  conducting  a  rapidly 
increasing  business  of  which  he  has  been 
proprietor  since  the  fall  of  1887,  when  he  pur- 
chased the  present  plant  and  has  proven  himself 
well  adapted  to  the  requirements  of  the  industry. 
This  creamery  averages  about  300  pounds  of  butter 
per  day,  which  is  shipped  mostly  to  Peoria  and 
Chicago.  Thiee  teams  and  three  men  are  employed 
in  and  around  the  factory,  the  proprietor  of  which 
has  fully  established  himself  in  the  confidence  of 
his  community  by  his  good  qualities  as  a  man  and 
a  citizen. 

Mr.  Nash  was  born  in  McHenry  County,  this 
State.  May  26.  1861.  and  was  the  fourth  in  a  fam- 
ily of  seven  children,  the  offspring  of  Sidney  and 


RESIDENCE  OF  CHRISTIAN  MILLER,  SEC.  31.  PALESTINE  TOWNS  HI  P. 


RESIDENCE   OF  SAMUEL  STITT,  SEC.U.PALESTINETQYYNSHIP. 


;!;r 

*«  te  ^»SsvA\ 


RESIDENCE  OF  CHRIS   ENGELjSEC.3.  PANOLA  TOWNSHIP. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


213 


Caroline  (Carpenter)  Nash,  who  are  now  residents 
of  McIIenry  County.  He  was  reared  to  manhood 
in  his  native  county,  becoming  fnmiliar  with  farm 
pursuits  at  the  parental  homestead  and  acquiring 
his  education  in  the  common  school.  He  lived  in 
MeHenry  County  until  the  spring.  of  1884,  then 
started  out  for  himself,  going  first  to  Wisconsin 
and  employing  himself  at  the  creamery  business  the 
following  summer.  In  the  fall  of  that  year,  coming 
to  Eureka  he  entered  the  employ  of  Eyeman  & 
McG  uire,  proprietors  of  the  Eureka  Creamery  and 
remained  with  them  as  the  employe  of  Harry 
Chamberlain  until  the  fall  of  1887.  He  had  by 
this  time  gained  a  good  knowledge  of  the  business 
and  felt  himself  equal  to  the  task  of  prosecuting  it 
on  bis  own  account,  and  accordingly  made  the  ex- 
periment with  the  results  already  indicated. 

Mr.  Nash  went  into  Wisconsin  for  his  bride,  be- 
ing married  in  Sharon,  that  State,  Dec.  27,  1882, 
to  Miss  Julia  Mosher.  This  lady  was  born  in 
Mcllenry  County,  111.,  Nov.  3,  1860,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  William  and  Caroline  Mosher,  the 
father  living  in  MeHenry  County.  The  mother  is 
deceased.  Of  this  union  there  has  been  born 
one  child,  a  son,  Fred  A.  The  little  family  occu- 
pies a  snug  dwelling  in  the  east  part  of  town,  con- 
venient to  the  business  of  Mr.  Nash,  to  which  he 
gives  the  greater  part  of  his  time  and  attention. 
He  meddles  very  little  with  political  affairs  but 
upon  occasions  of  general  elections  gives  his  sup- 
port to  the  Republican  party. 


AMUEL  MUNDELL.  It  gives  us  great 
pleasure  to  insert  in  this  BIOGRAPHICAL  AL- 
BUM, a  sketch  of  the  life  of  this  gentleman, 
who,  as  an  early  pioneer  of  Woodford 
County,  has  been  associated  with  its  growth  and 
material  prosperity  many  years.  He  is  extensively 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  has  a  large 
tract  of  land  on  sections  28  and  29,  Cazenovia 
Township,  which  he  has  develeped  into  a  fine  farm, 
as  Highly  cultivated  and  as  well  improved  as  any 
in  this  part  of  Illinois. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Greene  County,  Whitely 


Township,  Pa.,  Jan.  21,1815.  His  father,  James 
Mundell,  was  born  in  the  same  township,  while  his 
grandfather,  Abner  Mundell,  was  born  not  far 
away  on  Little  Whitely  Creek.  His  father,  John 
Mundell,  was  a  native  of  Wales,  and  came  to 
America  with  his  father,  who  located  in  Pennsyl- 
vania in  colonial  times,  taking  up  a  large  tract  of 
land  on  Little  Whitely  Creek.  After  building  a 
cabin  he  left  his  son  John  to  look  after  his  place, 
and  started  on  the  return  voyage  to  Wales  for  the 
purpose  of  bringing  the  rest  of  his  family  to 
America,  and  neither  he  nor  any  oilier  member  of 
the  family  was  ever  heard  from  again  by  the  son, 
left  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land.  He  came  into 
possession  of  his  father's  land,  improved  it  into  a 
good  farm,  reaTed  a  family  thereon,  and  there 
passed  away  at  a  ripe  old  age.  The  grandfather  of 
our  subject  was  bred  to  agricultural  pursuits  on 
that  old  homestead  and.  after  marriage,  removed 
to  Big. Whitely,  and  bought  a  hundred  acres  of 
land  in  Whitely  Township.  He  had  previously 
learned  the  trades  of  a  blacksmith  and  wheelwright, 
and  pursued  them,  making  among  other  things  a 
great  many  spinning  wheels  and  reels.  He  spent 
his  last  years  on  his  home  farm  in  Whitely  Town- 
ship. The  father  of  our  subject  was  there  reared 
and  married.  He  learned  the  trade  of  a  cooper  and 
followed  that  in  Pennsylvania  till  1819,  when  he 
moved  to  Ohio  County,  Va.,  where  he  established 
himself  at  the  same  trade.  In  1827  he  removed  to 
Wayne  County,  Ind..  the  .removal  being  made  with  a 
three-horse  team,  and  bought  a  tract  of  timber  land 
four  miles  from  the  village  of  Milton.  There  was 
a  log  cabin  on  the  place  into  which  he  and  his 
family  put  their  household  goods,  and  in  that  hum- 
ble abode  he  made  his  home  the  few  remaining 
months  of  his  life,  which  closed  in  August,  1828, 
thus  ending  a  useful,  industrious  career  in  life's 
prime.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Esther 
Jones,  and  she  was  the  daughter  of  Morgan  and 
Mary  Jones,  and  spent  her  last  years  in  Caze- 
novia Township.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Dela- 
ware. He  removed  to  West  Virginia,  and  there 
bought  up  large  tracts  of  land  in  the  time  when  the 
claims  were  marked  by  blazed  trees.  He  secured  a 
patent  from  the  government,  and  erecting  a  sawmill 
in  Ohio  County,  cleared  some  of  his  land  and  en- 


214 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


gaged  in  the  •manufacture  of  lumber.  He  also 
bought  about  400  acres  of  land  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  removing  to  it,  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life 
there.  The  mother  of  our  subject  inherited  one 
hundred  and  twenty-seven  acres  of  land  from  her 
father's  estate  in  Virginia,  and  traded  it  for  eighty 
acres  in  Indiana.  In  1829,  the  year  following  the 
sad  death  of  the  father,  the  family  removed  to 
Illinois,  traveling  to  their  destination  in  Vermilion 
County  with  a  team.  In  1835  they  came  to  this 
county,  and  here  the  mother  entered  160  acres  of 
government  land  on  section  29,  Cazenovia  Town- 
ship. They  found  this  part  of  the  State  in  a  very 
wild,  sparsely  inhabited  condition,  with  deer  and 
plenty  of  game  roaming  over  the  broad  prairies  or 
through  the  timber.  There  was  but  one  gun  in  the 
family  and  the  boys  used  to  take  turns  in  hunting 
game,  thus  keeping  the  larder  well  supplied  with 
savorj1  venison,  ond  occasionally  selling  a  deer. 
When  they  first  located  here  the  nearest  postofflce 
was  at  Crow  Meadow,  ten  miles  distant,  in  Marsh- 
all County,  and  Lacon  and  Peoria  were  the  nearest 
markets  for  years.  There  were  eight  children  born 
to  the  parents  of  our  subject — Samuel,  Abner, 
Mar}',  Simeon,  Jane,  Sarah,  Eleanor,  James. 

Samuel,  our  subject  was  the  eldest,  and  on  him 
devolved  the  management  of  the  farm  to  a  con- 
siderable extent,  and  he  was  of  great  assistance  to 
his  mother  in  keeping  the  family  together,  and  in 
making  the  most  of  their  limited  circumstances. 
He  and  his  brothers  farmed  together,  and  they  had 
various  ways  of  earning  money,  one  being  to  split 
rails  for  a  dollar  a  hundred.  Samuel  was  four 
years  old  when  his  parents  left  the  place  of  his 
birth  and  took  up  their  abode  in  Virginia,  and  he 
wns  sixteen  years  old  when  he  accompanied  them 
to  Vermilion  County,  this  State,  they  being 
amongst  the  first  settlers  there.  In  August  he  came 
with  his  mother,  brothers  and  sisters  to  that  part 
of  Tazewell  County  now  included  in  Woodford 
County,  and  selected  a  location  in  Cazenovia  Town- 
ship, as  before  mentioned,  and  in  the  fall  the  family 
took  up  their  permanent  abode  here.  Our  subject 
rented  a  cabin  and  a  piece  of  land  of  Morgan  Buck- 
ingham for  four  years,  it  being  cleared  and  ready 
for  cultivation,  and  during  that  time  he  erected  a 
hewed  log  house  on  his  mother's  place.  He  con- 


tinued to  make  his  home  with  his  mother  until  he 
was  married,  when  he  established  one  of  his  own. 
He  had  previously  bought  160  acres  of  land  on 
sections  28  and  29,  and  had  broken  forty  acres  of 
land  and  built  a  substantial  frame  house.  He  has 
ever  since  made  his  dwelling  on  that  homestead, 
and  has  from  time  to  time  invested  his  money  in 
more  land,  till  he  now  has  nearly  700  acres  of  choice 
land  under  admirable  tillage  and  capable  of  yield- 
ing large  crops,  and  well  supplied  with  the  neces- 
sary buildings  and  all  the  appurtenances  of  n  good 
farm.  By  judicious  management  he  derives  a  hand- 
some yearly  income  from  its  cultivation  and  from 
the  fine  stock  that  he  raises. 

Mr.  Mundell  was  married  Dec.  19,  1844,  to  Ruth 
Babb,  who  was  born  in  Perry  County,  Ohio,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Eleanor  Babb.  Three 
children  blessed  their  pleasant  married  life:  James, 
a  resident  of  Cazenovia,  who  married  Amelia 
Rogers,  by  whom  he  has  had  three  children; 
Esther  and  Joseph.  Mrs.  Mundell  departed  this 
life  June  1,  1854.  while  yet  a  young  woman,  leav- 
ing many  warm  friends  to  mourn  the  loss  of  one 
who  possessed  many  excellent  qualities  of  head 
and  heart.  Mr.  Mundell  was  married  to  his  pres- 
ent wife  in  1860.  Her  maiden  name  was  Maria 
Babb  and  she  was  the  youngest  sister  of  the  first 
Mrs.  Mundell.  She  has  been  twice  married,  her 
first  husband  being  a  Mr.  Foster  and  she  has  one 
son  by  that  marriage,  Joseph  Foster.  She  is  a 
truly  estimable  woman,  looks  carefully  after  the 
wants  of  her  household,  and  makes  home  comforta- 
ble and  cozy. 

For  fifty-four  years  Mr.  Mundell  has  been  a 
resident  of  Woodford  County,  coining  here  in  the 
prime  and  vigor  of  early  manhood  and  casting  in 
his  lot  with  the  pioneers  that  had  preceded  him, 
and  during  that  long  period  of  time  he  has  gained 
and  retained  the  honor  and  esteem  of  his  fellow- 
citizens  by  his  straightforward,  manly  course  in  all 
the  affairs  of  life,  and  in  the  various  departments 
th'it  lie  has  been  called  on  to  fill,' as  son,  husband, 
father,  neighbor,  citizen.  His  record  shows  him 
to  possess  in  a  full  degree  those  characteristics  that 
go  to  make  a  man  successful  in  whatever  calling  he 
is  engaged,  or  he  would  not  have  attained  his  pres- 
ent prosperity.  Politically,  he  is  in  full  sympathy 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


215 


with  the  Democrats,  and  as  an  intelligent  citizen 
takes  a  deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  country. 
Religiously,  both  he  and  his  wife  are  devoted  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church,  he  having  connected 
with  that  denomination  forty  years. 


AMUEL  MUNDELL,  JR.,  a  native-born 
citizen  of  Woodford  County,  is  extensively 
connected  with  its  farming  interests,  and 
under  his  excellent  management  the  fine 
homestead  on  sections  2  and  3,  Metamora  Town- 
ship, that  formerly  belonged  to  his  father,  the  late 
Abner  Mundell,  is  kept  up  to  the  same  high  stand- 
ard that  it  had  attained  while  it  was  in  possession 
of  the  latter.  There  is  a  handsome  and  commo- 
dious residence  on  the  place,  with  substantial  out- 
buildings, and  all  its  appointments  are  first-class. 
The  father  was  a  well-known  pioneer  of  Woodforrt 
County,  one  of  its  prominent  farmers  in  his  day. 
and  he  was  intimately  associated  with  its  public 
life. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Partridge  Township, 
this  county,  Oct.  21,  1858,  and  comes  of  sterling 
stock,  numbering  among  his  ancestors  some  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio.  His  pa- 
ternal progenitors,  of  whom  quite  a  long  line  is 
mentioned  in  his  genealogical  history,  originated 
in  Wales.  The  great-great-great-grandfather  of  our 
subject  came  to  America  from  that  country  with 
his  son  John  in  colonial  times,  and  located  in  Greene 
County,  Pa.,  among  its  earliest  pioneers.  The 
father  secured  a  patent  to  a  large  tract  of  land  on 
Little  Whitely  Creek,  and  after  building  a*  rude 
cabin  in  the  primeval  forests  that  covered  his  claim, 
and  leaving  his  son  in  charge  of  the  property,  he 
set  out  on  his  return  to  Wales  with  the  intention 
of  coming  back  again  with  the  remaining  members 
of  his  family,  and  founding  a  new  home  on  Ameri- 
can soil.  The  son  waited  his  return  in  vain,  never 
after  hearing  from  him  or  any  other  member  of 
the  family  left  in  the  old  home  among  the  hills  of 
Walos.  He  improved  the  land  into  a  good  farm 
whereon  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  son 
Abner,  great-grandfather  of  .our  subject,  was  born 


and  reared  on  the  old  homestead  on  Little  Whitely 
Creek,  and  in  turn  reared  a  family,  of  whom 
his  son  James  was  the  grandfather  of  our  subject. 
The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject  learned  the 
trade  of  a  blacksmith,  and  also  that  of  a  wheelwright 
and  buying  100  acres  of  land  in  Wbitely  Town- 
ship, passed  his  last  years  in  the  home  he  built 
thereon.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject  learned  the 
trade  of  a  cooper  and  worked  at  it  many  years.  In 
1819  he  moved  to  Ohio  County,  W.  Va.,  and  buy- 
ing land  there,  built  a  log  house  in  which  his  fam- 
ily made  their  home.  In  1827  he  traded  that  place 
fora  tract  of  timber  land,  with  a  few  acres  cleared, 
in  Wayne  County,  Ind.,  and  went  there  with  his 
family,  the  removal  being  made  with  a  three-horse 
team,  and  the  household  goods  were  taken  in  the 
wagon.  In  a  few  months  after  his  settlement  in 
his  new  home  he  was  taken  sick  with  what  proved 
to  be  a  mortal  illness,  and  in  a  few  weeks  his  fam- 
i\y  was  left  without  his  protection.  He  was  the 
father  of  eight  children — Samuel,  Abner,  Mary, 
Simeon,  Jane,  Sarah,  Eleanor,  James.  In  1831  the 
family  moved  to  Illinois  with  teams,  and  after 
spending  four  years  in  Vermilion  County,  came,  to 
Woodford  County,  and  located  in  Cazenovia  Town- 
ship. The  grandmother  of  our  subject,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Esther  Jones,  a  daughter  of  Morgan  and 
Mary  Jones,  spent  her  last  years  with  her  children 
in  that  township. 

Abner  Mundell,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Whitely  Township.  Pa.,  Oct.  19,  1816,  and 
he  was  a  stalwart  youth  of  nineteen  years  when  he 
came  to  Woodford  County  with  his  mother  in  1835. 
At  that  time  the  country  was  sparsely  settled,  deer, 
wolves  and  wild  turkeys  were  plentiful,  and  an 
abundance  of  game  enriched  the  larder  of  the  pio- 
neer settlers.  He  purchased  a  tract  of  timber  land, 
and  after  building  a  log  house,  commenced  to  de- 
velop a  farm.  There  were  no  railways  in  the 
country  then,  and  Chicago,  although  a  small  place, 
was  the  principal  market  for  some  years,  and  he 
used  to  take  his  grain  thither  with  teams,  and  on 
the  return  trip  would  bring  home  the  family  sup- 
plies. He  cleared  up  quite  a  tract  of  land,  and 
lived  on  it  till  1862.  when  he  sold  it  and  bought 
320  acres  of  land  on  sections  2  and  3  Metamora 
Township.  A  part  of  the  land  only  was  improved, 


216 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  a  small  frame  house  stood  on  the  place.  In 
the  years  of  toil  that  followed  he  placed  his  land 
under  admirable  cultivation,  erected  a  nice  set  of 
frame  buildings,  including  a  commodious  frame 
house  and  a  large  barn  with  a  stone  basement.  He 
continued  to  be  an  honored  resident  here  uptil  his 
death,  which  occurred  Nov.  6,  1887.  He  was  a  man 
of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence,  with  a  well  bal- 
anced mind,  and  beiug  well  read,  with  a  remarkable 
memory,  he  was  a  very  interesting  conversational- 
ist. Such  a  man  was  looked  up  to  as  a  wise  coun-  i 
selor,  and  he  was  influential  in  public  affairs.  For 
several  terms  he  was  a  member  of  the  County 
Board  of  Supervisors,  and  for  two  years  served  as 
Associate  Justice  of  the  county.  The  maiden  name 
of  his  wife,  mother  of  our  subject,  was  Maria  Cling- 
man,  and  she  was  a  native  of  Scioto  or  Ross  County, 
Ohio,  born  March  12,  1827,  and  now  residing  in 
Pasadena,  Cal.  Her  father,  John  M.  Clingunan, 
was  born  in  Northumberland  County,  Pa.,  a  son  of 
John  Clingman,  so  far  as  known  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, either  of  German  parentage  or  ancestry. 
He  moved  from  the  Keystone  State  to  Ohio,  and 
was  an  early  settler  of  both  Ross  and  Scioto  coun- 
ties. There  he  carried  on  his  occupation  as  a  farmer, 
spending  his  last  years  in  Ohio.  The  maternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject  was  but  a  boy  when  his 
parents  moved  to  the  Buckeye  State,  and  there  he 
was  reared  and  married  and  continued  to  reside  till 
1835,  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  locating  in 
Woodford  County,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Partridge  Township.  The  removal  from  Ohio 
was  made  with  an  ox  team,  and  the  family  cooked 
and  camped  by  the  way.  Mr.  Clingman  bought  a 
tract  of  land  which  he  improved,  and  on  which  he 
made  his  home  for  a  few  years  before  his  death. 
He  spent  his  last  days  in  retirement  at  Cazenovia. 
When  he  first  came  here  deer  and  other  wild  game 
were  plenty,  and  as  he  had  been  used  to  hunting 
in  Ohio,  he  enjoyed  the  pleasures  of  the  chase  here, 
and  was  one  of  the  most  expert  hunters  of  his  day. 
The  maiden  name  of  his  wife,  grandmother  of  our 
subject,  was  Margaret  Levis.  She  was  born  in 
Northumberland  County.  Pa.,  and  closed  her  life  in 
Cazeuovia. 

There  were  ten   children  born  to  the  parents  of 
our  subject,    namely:    James,  John,    Eli,  Simeon, 


Abner,  Washington,  Margaret  J.,  Samuel,  William 
I.,  Jesse  G.  James  died  when  eighteen  months  old. 
John  has  a  farm  in  Metamora  Township  and  is  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business  in  Cazenovia. 
Simeon  was  born  June  27, 1849,  and  was  drowned  in 
the  Illinois  River  in  August,  1870.  Abner  died  when 
thirteen  years  old.  Washington  lives  in  Pasadena, 
Cal.  Margaret  married  Stephen  Smith  of  McLean 
County.  William  lives  in  San  Diego,  Cal.,  and 
Jesse  in  Pasedena,  that  State. 

Samuel,  the  subject  of  this  biographical  review, 
was  a  child  of  three  years  when  his  parents  came 
to  this  township,  and  he  has  ever  since  made  his 
home  on  the  homestead,  which  is  now  under  his 
management.  He  received  a  substantial  education 
in  the  public  schools,  and  a  thorough  training  in 
agriculture,  so  that  he  is  a  skilled  and  practical 
farmer,  as  is  denoted  by  the  appearance  of  his  fine 
farm  and  its  well  tilled  fields. 

Mr.  Mundell  and  Miss  Mandy  Benjamin  were 
united  in  marriage  in  1886,  and  in  her  he  has  found 
a  true  wife,  who  is  devoted  to  his  interests.  She 
is  also  a  native  of  Woodford  County,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Foster  Benjamin  who  resides  in  Cazenovia 
Township. 

In  his  life  career  Mr.  Mundell  has  displayed  wis- 
dom, shrewdness  and  thrift  in  the  management  of 
his  affairs,  and  is  classed  among  the  most  capable 
representatives  of  his  vocation  in  Metamora  Town- 
ship. He  is  well  thought  of  in  this  community  by 
the  people  who  have  known  him  as  boy  and  man 
these  many  years,  and  in  his  dealings  with  his 
neighbors  he  is  always  kind  and  considerate. 


EV1  P.  MORSE.  Metamora  Township  pos- 
sesses no  more  worthy  or  highly  respected 
citizen  than  this  gentleman.  The  son  of  an 
honored  pioneer  of  Woodford  County,  he  now  owns 
and  is  successfully  managing  the  fine  old  homestead 
that  his  father  developed  from  the  wild  prairies  in 
the  early  days  of  the  settlement  of  this  part  of  the 
county.  The  subject  of  this  biographical  review 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Rochester,  Windsor  Co., 
Vt.,  April  7,  1821.  His  father,  Capt.  Parker 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


217 


Morse,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born  in  the 
town  of  Chester  July  12,  1774.  His  father,  who 
hore  the  same  name,  was  likewise  a  native  of  the 
old  Bay  State,  and  was  a  farmer,  and  a  patriotic 
soldier  in  the  Revolution.  He  was  an  early  settler 
of  Chester,  where  he  passed  his  last  years.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Love  Knowles.  The 
father  of  our  subject  went  to  Antrim,  N.  H.,  when 
a  young  man,  and  while  a  resident  there,  was  mar- 
vied  to  Miss  Jane  Langdon.  In  1815  he  settled  in 
the  town  of  Rochester,  Vt.,  and  buying  a  tract  of 
improved  land  there,  was  engaged  in  farming  it 
till  1835.  In  that  year  he  sold  his  farm  among  the 
Vermont  bills,  and  coming  with  his  family  to  Illi- 
nois, located  in  that  part  of  Ta/ewell  County,  now 
known  as  Woodford  County.  The  removal  hither 
was  made  with  teams,  and  a  part  of  the  household 
goods  were  brought  along.  They  came  by  the  way 
of  Canada  and  were  six  weeks  on  the  road  to  Chi- 
cago. Joseph  T.,  a  brother  of  our  subject,  had 
come  here  the  year  before,  and  had  entered  a  tract 
of  land  in  what  is  now  Metamora  Township.  But 
there  being  no  buildings  on  the  land  the  family 
moved  into  a  vacant  log  cabin  at.  Low  Point,  and 
the  father  at  once  commenced  the  erection  of  a 
frame  house  on  his  land.  It  was  the  first  house 
built  on  the  open  prairie  in  this  section  of  the  coun- 
try, and  its  inmates  were  noted  for  their  generous 
hospitality,  the  latch  string  always  being  out,  and 
friend  or  stranger  who  pulled  it  and  lifted  the  latch, 
always  found  a  warm  welcome.  At  that  time  and 
for  several  years  after,  deer,  wolves,  wild  turkeys 
nnd  all  sorts  of  game  were  plenty.  There  were  no 
free  schools  here  at  the  time,  and  in  1836  Mr. 
Morse,  the  Rev.  James  Owen,  and  Thomas  Jones 
interested  themselves  in  securing  educational  priv- 
ileges for  their  children  such  as  they  themselves 
had  enjoyed  in  their  far  off  New  England  homes, 
and  organizing  a  district,  Mr.  Morse's  daughter, 
Love  K.,  was  employed  to  instruct  the  children  of 
the  pioneers  who  were  gathered  together  in  one 
room  of  a  private  house  at  Low  Point,  the  district 
embracing  a  large  territory.  She  also  taught  a  part 
of  the  term  at  the  timber  two  miles  west  of  Low 
Point,  and  when  she  had  completed  the  term  her 
brother  Joseph  took  the  necessary  papers  and  car- 
ried them  to  Springfield  to  draw  the  mone_y.  The 


State  Treasurer  said  that  he  did  not  know  that  he 
had  the  right  to  pay  out  money  for  district 
schools,  or  for  any  other  educational  institutions 
besides  colleges  and  academies.  But  upon  consul- 
tation with  others  he  paid  the  money  without  fur- 
ther demur.  This  was,  so  far  as  known,  the  first 
free  school  ever  taught  in  Illinois.  In  politics,  the 
father  was  in  his  younger  days  a  Whig,  and  he  af- 
terwards became  an  ardent  Abolitionist,  and  his 
home  was  one  of  the  stations  in  the  underground 
railroad  by  which  many  poor  slaves  found  their 
way  to  freedom  in  Canada.  He  was  one  of  the 
leading  members  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
and  being  one  of  the  earliest  of  that  denomination 
to  settle  here,  meetings  for  religious  service  were 
held  in  his  house,  and  he  was  one  of  the  Deacons 
of  the  church  for  many  years.  He  was  a  man  of 
marked  decision  of  character,  and  of  an  unselfish, 
self-sacrificing  disposition,  and  freely  used  his 
means  to  help  any  worthy  cause  along.  By  the  un- 
swerving integrity  of  an  upright  life  he  proved  the 
worth  of  his  religion.  His  life  was  prolonged  far 
beyond  the  Scriptural  allotment,  his  death  occurr- 
ing at  the  old  homestead  that  he  had  redeemed  from 
the  prairies  in  1  862,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
eight  years.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  horn 
in  Beverly,  Mass.,  and  her  father  was  a  sea  captain, 
and  commanded  a  vessel  that  was  lost  on  one  of 
its  voyages  about  the  time  of  the  birth  of  his  daugh- 
ter. Her  mother  married  a  second  time,  a  man  by 
the  name  of  Starr itt,  and  removed  to  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  settled  in  Francistown.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  died  on  the  home  farm  Dec.  10,  1853, 
aged  seventy-four  years  and  two  months.  Eight 
of  the  children  born  of  her  marriage  were  reared  to 
maturity,  namely — Elizabeth  K.,  Mark,  Parker, 
Love  K.,  Jane,  Joseph  T.,  John  M.,  Levi  P.,  but 
only  the  two  younger  ones  are  now  living. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  fourteen  years  old 
when  his  parents  brought  him  to  this  county.  He 
drove  a  two  horse  team  the  entire  distance  from 
Vermont,  and  slept  in  the  wagon  every  night.  Chi- 
cago was  then  a  small,  insignificant  place,  with  but 
little  prospect  of  attaining  its  present  size  and  im- 
portance as  the  second  city  in  the  Union.  There 
were  no  railways  in  Illinois  for  some  years  after 
that,  and  consequently  the  markets  were  not  very 


•216 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


accessible,  and  for  two  seasons  the  wheat  crop  had 
to  be  drawn  to  Chicago  125  miles  distant,  the 
round  trip  consuming  seven  days,  and  our  subject 
used  when  he  went  on  the  journey  to  take  provi- 
sions with  him  and  camp  on  the  way  at  noon  and 
night.  He  was  never  separated  from  his  parents 
till  their  death,  making  his  home  with  them  even 
after  his  marriage,  and  he  now  owns  the  old  home- 
stead of  160  acres.  It  is  an  attractive  place,  with 
neat  buildings,  well-cultivated  fields,  and  all  the 
necessary  appurtenances  for  carrying  on  fanning  in 
the  proper  manner. 

Mr.  Morse  and  Miss  Mary  A.  Parminter  were 
married  Oct.  16,  1845,  and  they  have  six  children 
living  to  bless  their  declining  years — Joel  R.,  Eliza 
It.,  John  H.,  Milo  M.,  Leland  E.,  Henry  M.  Joel 
R.  married  Mabel  Whitmire,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Hazel  L.  Mrs.  Morse  was  born  in  Devon- 
shire, England,  June  24,  1823.  Her  father,  John 
R.  Parminter,,  was  also  a  native  of  that  shire,  a 
son  of  James  Parminter,  likewise  of  English  birth, 
who  is  supposed  to  have  spent  his  entire  life  in 
Devonshire.  Mrs.  Morse's  father  was  married  in 
Devonshire,  and  became  a  practical  gardener, 
following  that  vocation  till  1845,  when  he  came  to 
America  with  his  family,  and  located  in  Metamora 
Township,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  The  maiden  name  of  his 
wife  was  Nancy  Stribling,  and  she  was  a  native  of 
Devonshire.  Her  father,  John  Stribling,  was  born 
in  the  same  shire,  and  there  carried  on  the  occupa- 
tion of  farming  after  he  arrived  at  years  of  discretion 
till  his  decease.  Mrs.  Morse's  mother  died  at  the 
home  of  her  son  in  this  township. 

During  a  residence  here  of  more  than  half  a  cen- 
tury Mr.  Morse  has  displayed  in  every  department 
of  life,  as  a  husband  and  father,  as  a  neighbor  and 
citizen,  the  same  upright,  straight-forward  manner, 
and  has  led  such  a  life  as  elevates  the  citizenship  of 
a  community.  He  is  ever  found  on  the  side  of  the 
right  on  all  the  great  moral  questions  that  agitate 
the  public  mind,  and  in  ante-bellum  times,  like  his 
father  he  was  a  pronounced  Abolitionist,  and  as  an 
agent  of  the  underground  railway  he  befriended 
many  a  poor,  grateful  slave,  and  aided  him  in  get- 
ting from  his  father's  home  to  stations  beyond,  and 
so  on  to  liberty  in  Canada.  He  cast  his  first  vote 


for  James  C.  lUirney,  and  on  the  formation  of  the 
Republican  part}7  he  joined  its  ranks,  and  became 
an  enthusiastic  supporter  of  its  policy.  Now  he  is 
as  strong  an  advocate  of  the  Prohibition  party.  Re- 
ligiously, he  and  his  good  wife  are  members  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  and  have  cheerfully  cast  in 
their  lot  with  the  members  of  the  Union  Church  at 
Metamora. 


yiLLIAM  BILLINGER,  who  is  engaged  in 
general  farming  on  section  3,  Palestine 
Township,  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  on 
the  1st  day  of  April,  1819,  during  a  temporary  so- 
journ of  his  parents  in  that  city.  On  the  paternal 
side,  he  is  of  Irish  descent,  and  on  the  maternal 
side  is  descended  from  an  old  New  England  familj-. 
His  father,  also  named  William,  was  a  native  of 
Ireland,  but  in  early  manhood  bade  good-by  to  his 
native  land  and  emigrated  to  America.  He  settled 
in  New  England,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  of  a 
mechanic,  which  he  had  learned  in  the  old  country. 
He  followed  that  business  for  some  time,  and  while 
there  residing,  became  acquainted  with  and  wedded 
Miss  Mary  Smith,  whose  family  was  of  New  Eng- 
land origin.  They  began  their  domestic  life  in 
New  Jersey,  where  their  marriage  was  celebrated, 
and  while  there  residing  two  children  were  born 
unto  them.  The  parents  then  resolved  to  make 
Ohio  their  future  home  and  started  for  that  State, 
but  stopped  fora  time  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where  the 
the  birth  of  our  subject  occurred.  When  he  was 
but  ten  days  old  the  father  was  accidently  drowned 
in  the  Ohio  River  at  that  city,  and  he  was  thus  de- 
prived of  all  paternal  care  and  watchfulness.  Be- 
ing joined  by  a  company  of  relatives,  the  mother 
with  her  three  little  children,  later  continued  her 
journey  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Cincinnati,  where  she 
resided  for  a  few  years.  The  family  then  became 
residents  of  Warren  County,  and  thence  re- 
moved to  Preble  County,  where  our  subject  was 
educated.  He  was  reared  to  farm  life  and  attained 
his  majority  while  residing  in  Preble  County.  In 
1841,  he  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Mrs.  Sarah  A. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


219 


(McManus)     Brower,  a  native  of  Butler    County. 
Ohio,  born  Oct.  1,  1819. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Billinger  were  J.  C.  and 
Catherine  (Miley)  McManus,  the  former  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent,  the  latter  of  Holland  origin.  Their 
marriage  took  place  in  Pennsylvania,  but  for  a 
number  of  years  they  resided  in  Butler  County, 
Ohio,  and  later  removed  to  Preble  County.  Mr. 
McManus  was  an  attorney,  and  during  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  actively  engaged  in  practice,  but 
during  his  lateryears  he  abandoned  that  profession 
and  turned  his  attention  to  farming.  He  died  at 
the  age  of  sixty-six  years,  and  his  wife  departed 
this  life  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years.  Both 
were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  their  consistent  lives  won  them  many  friends. 
Mrs.  Billinger  was  a  meie  child  when  her  parents 
removed  to  Preble  County.  Her  early  life  was 
there  passed  and  on  attaining  to  womanhood  she 
became  the  wife  of  Daniel  Brower,  who  was  acci- 
dently  killed  about  six  months  later. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Billinger  was 
celebrated  on  Nov.  7,  1841,  after  which  they  began 
their  domestic  life  in  Preble  County,  where  the3' 
made  their  home  until  1857,  when  they  started  for 
the  unsettled  prairies  of  Illinois.  They  traveled 
over  the  unbroken  country  in  a  covered  wagon, 
camping  out  at  night,  and  at  length  reached  Mc-_ 
Lean  County,  where  they  located.  Mr.  Billinger 
engaged  in  fanning  in  White  Oak  Township  until 
his  removal  to  Woodford  County,  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  a 
fine  farm  of  eighty  acres  on  section  3,  Palestine 
Township,  where  he  has  made  his  home  since  his 
arrival.  His  land  is  all  under  cultivation,  and  upon 
the  farm  ma}'  be  found  all  the  necessary  improve- 
ments. Its  owner  is  a  man  of  good  business 
ability,  and  under  his  able  management  his  land 
has  brought  a  rich  return  for  the  care  and  labor 
which  he  bestows  upon  it.  His  success  is  due  en- 
tirely to  his  own  efforts  of  industry,  perseverance, 
and  enterprise,  assisted  by  his  wife,  and  is  certainly 
well-merited. 

Of  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Billinger.  ten  chil- 
dren have  been  born,  two  of  whom  are  now  de- 
ceased— (Jonevera  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 
Those  yet  living  are,  John  C.,  who  first  married 


Eliza  Miller,  and  after  her  death  was  again  married, 
and  now  living  in  Wichita,  Kan.  ;  Francis  L.  married 
Candace  Yerion,  and  is  now  engaged  in  farming  in 
Phelps  County,  Neb.;  S.  M.,  who  wedded  Miss 
Sarah  Bowman,  is  a  resident  farmer  of  Palestine 
Township;  Sarah  A.,  is  one  of  the  able  and  efficient 
teachers  of  Phelps  County,  Neb.;  Laura  is  the  wife 
of  Thomas  S.  Ellis,  whose  sketch  appears  on  another 
page  of  this  work;  Eva  A.  is  still  at  home;  Julia  C. 
is  the  wife  of  Frank  C.  Newton,  a  farmer  residing  in 
Blue  Springs,  Neb.  ;  Emma  B.,  a  teacher  of  recog- 
nized abilitv,  still  makes  her  home  with  her 
parents. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Billinger  attend  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  which  body  the  lady  is  a  member.  They 
have  reared  their  children  to  habits  of  industry 
and  honesty,  and  all  are  now  useful  men  and  wo- 
men in  the  various  communities  where  they  reside. 
In  political  sentiment  Mr.  Billinger  is  a  Democrat, 
and  has  held  various  township  offices  of  trust.  As 
a  citizen,  he  is  public  spirited  and  progressive. 
and  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  who  know  him. 


^,ALTER  C.  RAMSEY,  one  of  the  leading 
and  enterprising  young  farmers  of  Wood- 
ford  County,  residing  on  section  15,  Mont- 
gomery Township,  has  passed  his  entire  life  on  the 
farm  where  he  still  makes  his  home.  He  was  born 
on  the  5th  day  of  February,  1852,  and  is  the  only 
son  of  James  and  Ann  (Harding)  Ramsey,  promi- 
nent citizens  of  this  community.  His  father  is 
numbered  among  the  honored  pioneers  of  the 
county,  and  is  represented  on  another  page  of  this 
volume. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  manhood  on  the  old 
homestead,  and  received  a  liberal  education.  He 
pursued  the  rudimentary  studies  in  the  schools  of 
the  neighborhood,  and  completed  his  school  life  bv 
a  two  years'  course  in  Eureka  College.  On  attain- 
ing his  majority  he  left  the  parental  roof  to  make 
his  own  way  in  the  world,  and  in  1875  led  to  the 
marriage  altar  Miss  Irene  Osburn,  the  wedding 
taking  place  in  Tazewell  County.  Mrs.  Ramsey, 
who  is  a  refined  and  accomplished  lady,  was  born 


220 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in  Deer  Creek  Township,  Tazewell  County,  in  1855, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  David  and  Jane  Osburn,  lead- 
ing citizens  of  the  community  in  which  they  make 
their  home.  Her  father  is  an  extensive  farmer, 
and  is  numbered  among  the  early  settlers  of  Taze- 
well County,  he  having  entered  the  land  which  con- 
stitutes his  homestead  from  the  government.  An 
interesting  family  of  three  children  have  been  born 
of  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ramsey,  and  are 
bright,  intelligent  little  ones,  of  whom  the  parents 
are  justlv  proud.  They  are  named  respectively 
Anna  Maria,  Emmor  and  Ernest  Lester. 

Mr.  Ramsey  has  been  very  successful  in  his  busi- 
ness career,  and  is  numbered  among  the  prosperous 
farmers  of  Woodford  County.  He  owns  180  acres 
of  valuable  land,  and  in  addition  operates  a  large 
farm  of  300  acres.  He  is  also  engaged  quite  ex- 
tensively in  the  breeding  of  fine  blooded  stock,  and 
has  done  much  toward  introducing  a  better  grade 
of  cattle  into  the  county.  He  possesses  thrift  and 
enterprise,  and  if  health  and  life  are  spared  him, 
will  no  doubt  become  a  wealthy  farmer.  In  public 
affairs  he  also  takes  great  interest,  and  is  ever  ready 
to  aid  in  the  advancement  of  those  enterprises 
which  are  calculated  to  promote  the  general  wel- 
fare. He  is  an  intelligent  citizen,  well  informed 
on  all  the  leading  questions  of  the  day,  and  in 
politics  is  a  stalwart  advocate  of  Republican 
principles,  having  supported  that  great  national  or- 
ganization, the  Republican  party,  since  attaining  his 
majority.  He  and  his  estimable  wife  have  man3' 
warm  friends  throughout  the  community,  are 
highly  respected  by  all  who  know  them,  and  are 
ranked  among  the  best  citizens. 


OSEPH  BELSLY  a  prominent  young  farmer, 
occupies  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  Worth 
Township,which  has  been  in  the  Belsly  family 
for  many  years,  having  been  reclaimed 
by  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  one  of  the  ear- 
liest settlers  of  the  county.  Our  subject  was  born 
in  Deer  Creek  Township,  Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  Dec.  3, 
1861.  His  father,  Christian  Belsly,  was  born  in 
Partridge  Township,  Woodford  County,  in  June, 


1836.  His  father,  Joseph  Belsly,  was  a  native  of 
France,  born  at  Hof  Hellecourt,  May  8,  1812.  He 
came  to  America  when  a  young  man,  and  making 
his  way  to  Ohio  found  employment  at  various 
kinds  of  work,  remaining  there  two  years  and  then 
journej'ing  farther  westward  till  he  arrived  in  that 
part  of  Tazewell  now  included  in  Woodford  County, 
then  a  wild,  desolate,  sparsely  settled  region.  He 
made  claim  to  a  tract  of  goverment  land  on  Pnrt- 
ridge  Creek,  and  after  residing  there  for  a  time,  sold, 
and  removed  to  the  uplands  of  Worth  Township, 
where  he  purchased  a  tract  of  wild  land,  improved  a 
large  farm,  and  made  his  home  till  his  death,  Dec.  24, 
1872.  When  he .  settled  here  the  greater  part  of 
Illinois  was  uninhabited,  and,  in  fact,  unsurveyed, 
and  later  was  sold  by  the  Government  for  $1.25  an 
acre.  The  locality  where  Peoria  now  stands  was 
known  as  Ft.  Clark,  there  being  but  a  few  log 
houses  there.  Over  the  broad  prairies  and  through 
the  timber,  deer,  wolves  and  other  kinds  of  game 
roamed  at  will,  lie  lived  to  see  this  section  of  the 
country  well  settled  and  wealthy,  and  did  much 
toward  bringing  about  the  great  change.  He  came 
here  poor,  but  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  one  of 
the  richest  farmers  in  the  00111113-.  His  remains  lie 
buried  in  the  family  cemetery  on  the  home  farm, 
and  he  will  ever  be  cherished  in  memory  as  one  of 
the  noblest  pioneers  of  the  Prairie  State. 

The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  an 
only  child.  He  resided  with  his  parents  till  his  mar- 
riage, and  then  lived  in  Marshall  County  two  years. 
Following  that  he  resided  one  year  in  Partridge 
Township,  and  then  removed  to  Tazewell  County, 
and  purchased  a  farm  in  Deer  Creek  Township, 
and  has  made  his  home  there  continuously  since.  He 
has  added  to  his  first  purchase  and  now  owns  a  fine 
farm  of  380  acres  of  well-improved  land  with  a  good 
set  of  frame  buildings.  The  maiden  name  of  the 
mother  of  our  subject  was  Mary  Schertz.  She  was 
born  in  Butler  County ,( )hio,her  father  John  Schertz, 
a  native  of  Germanj",  having  spent  his  last  3'ears  in 
that  count3'.  His  wife,  the  grandmother  of  our 
subject,  came  to  Illinois  after  her  husband's  death 
and  spent  her  last  years  with  her  daughter.  There 
were  nine  children  born  to  the  parents  of  our  sub- 
ject, namely:  Kate,  Joseph,  John  R.,  Samuel,  Rose, 
Maggie,  Barbara,  Frank  and  Emma. 


RESIDENCE  or  JOSEPH  BELSLY,5Ec.5.WoRTH  TOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCE  OF  E.C.ENGEL,5Ec.33. PARTRIDGETOWNSHIP. 


PjRTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


223 


He  of  whom  we  write  was  the  oldest  son  of  the 
.family.  He  was  edivf.ted  in  the  public  schools,  and 
on  the  homo  farm  gained  a  thorough  practical 
knowledge  of  farming  in  all  its  branches,  contin- 
uing to  live  witli  his  parents  till  his  marriage,  when 
he  located  on  his  grandfather's  homestead,  which 
he  now  owns  and  occupies. 

He  married  in  1882,  Miss  Ida  Foster  becoming 
his  wife.  She  was  born  in  Deer  Creek  Township, 
Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  a  daughter  of  Michael  and  Eliza 
Foster,  her  father  a  native  of  Germany  and  her 
mother  of  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mr.  Belsly  have  two 
children,  Harvey  and  Maurice. 

Few  of  the  younger  members  of  the  farming 
community  of  Wood  ford  County  have  brighter 
prospects  before  them  than  our  subject,  as  he  pos- 
sesses in  his  enterprising  spirit,  good  business  hab- 
its and  straightforward  integrity,  the  elements  of 
success.  He  is  an  enthusiastic  Democrat  in  his  pol- 
itics, and  adheres  loyally  to  his  party,  firmly  be- 
lieving that  when  it  is  in  power,  the  best  interests 
of  the  country  are  subserved.  The  gracious  young 
wife  who  presides  over  his  charming  home  is  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  in  her 
daily  walk  shows  herself  to  be  a  sincere  Christian. 

We  present  elsewhere  in  this  volume  a  litho- 
graphic engraving  of  the  pleasant  abode  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Belsly,  which  we  trust  will  be  their  home  for 
many  long  and  happy  years  to  come. 


E~  DWARD  C.  ENGEL.  The  young  farmers 
of  Woodford  County  have  in  this  widi-- 
awake,  practical  gentleman,  a  representative 
who,  by  sheer  force  of  character  and  wise  manage- 
ment of  his  interests,  has  already  placed  himself 
among  the  solid,  substantial  members  of  the  agri- 
cultural community  of  Partridge  Township.  He  is 
managing  with  signal  success  one  of  the  choicest 
farms  in  this  section  of  the  county,  beautifully  lo- 
cated on  section  33,  where  he  and  his  amiable  wife 
have  a  very  attractive  and  happy  home,  represented 
elsewhere  in  this  work,  with  its  fair  surroundings, 
by  a  fine  lithographic  engraving. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Montgomery  Township. 


this  county,  Nov.  11,  1858,  to  Christian  and  Sus- 
anna (Miller)  Engel,  both  natives  of  Germany,  the 
father  born  near  Frankfort-on-the-Rhine.  He  was 
reared  in  his  native  land,  and  there  learned  the 
trade  of  a  weaver.  When  a  young  man  he  left 
home  and  friends  in  the  Fatherland  and  sought  his 
j  fortunes  on  the  wild  prairies  of  the  Great  West  in 
i  the  United  States  of  America.  After  his  arrival 
here,  having  but  little  means,  he  worked  out  by  the 
day  or  month  in  Woodford  County  until  he  could 
obtain  the  wherewithal  to  become  independent. 
That  was  in  the  year  1856,  and  he  afterward  in- 
vested his  earnings  in  a  tract  of  partly  improved 
land  in  McLean  County.  He  now  owns  two  farms 
containing  between  them  1 60  acres,  both  being  un- 
der admirable  tillage,  amply  supplied  with  neat, 
substantial  buildings,  good  machinery  and  every- 
thing needful  for  conducting  agriculture  profita- 
bly. He  is  an  honest,  upright  man,  a  hard  worker, 
and  is  considered  a  useful  citizen  in  his  commun- 
ity, where  he  is  justly  held  in  respect.  His  wife, 
the  mother  of  our  subject,  departed  this  life  in 
j  Woodford  County  in  1861,  and  her  death  was  a 
sad  blow  to  her  family,  to  whom  she  was  devoted. 
There  were  four  children  born  of  that  marriage,  of 
whom  the  following  three  are  living — Edward  C., 
John  H.  and  Jacob. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  very  young  when 
his  father  settled  in  Dry  Grove  Township,  McLean 
County,  where  he  was  reared  to  man's  estate,  and 
in  the  public  schools  gleaned  an  excellent  educa- 
lion  that  has  been  of  service  to  him  in  after  life. 
He  lived  with  his  father  until  he  was  twenty-two 
years  old,  giving  him  valuable  service  in  the  man- 
agement of  his  farming  interests.  He  then  started 
out  into  the  world  on  his  own  account,  and  was 
employed  by  the  day  or  month  until  his  marriage, 
when  lie  rented  his  father's  farm  for  a  term  of  three 
years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  came  to 
Woodford  County  and  settled  on  the  farm  where 
he  now  resides.  There  are  a  good  set  of  conven- 
iently arranged  frame  buildings  on  it,  including  a 
neat  and  comfortable  dwelling,  and  everything 
about  the  place  is  kept  in  the  most  orderly  manner. 
Mr.  Engel  is  a  skillful,  intelligent  farmer,  and 
brings  a  clear  mind  and  sound  common  sense  to 
bear  upon  his  work.  His  land  is  under  fine  culti- 


224 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


vation  and  yields  him  large  harvests  in  repayment 
for  his  care  and  toil,  and  his  stock  is  of  the  finest 
grades. 

In  the  month  of  February,  1881,  Mr.  Engd's 
marriage  with  Miss  Katie  Belsly  took  place.  She 
was  born  on  the  farm  where  she  now  makes  her 
home,  and  is  a  daughter  of  the  well-known  Chris- 
tian and  Mary  Belsly.  She  is  descended  from  good 
pioneer  stock.  Her  father  was  born  in  Partridge 
Township,  of  which  his  father  was  one  of  the  orig- 
inal settlers.  The  latter  was  born  in  Hof  Helleconrt, 
France,  May  8,  1802.  He  came  to  America  in  1828 
and  spent  the  ensuing  two  years  in  Ohio.  He  was 
then  a  poor  man,  and  though  the  land  in  Ohio  was 
chrap  at  that  time,  its  price  was  beyond  his  means, 
and  in  order  to  secure  a  home  he  came  to  Illinois  to 
avail  himself  of  the  low  prices  at  which  the  Gov- 
ernment was  selling  land  to  the  frontiersmen.  He 
located  in  what  is  now  VVoodford  County,  this  sec- 
tion of  the  country  then  being  on  the  Western 
frontier,  and  the  few  white  settlements  were  con- 
fined to  the  growths  of  forests  along  the  streams. 
Deer  and  other  kinds  of  wild  beasts  roamed  here 
freely,  and  there  were  scarcely  any  evidences  of 
the  coming  civilization  that  should  transform  these 
broad,  lonely  prairies  into  smiling  harvest  fields, 
where  food  was  to  lie  raised  for  the  millions  on 
either  side  of  the  globe.  Land  was  for  sale  by  the 
Government  at  $1.25  an  acre,  and  Mr.  Belsly 
made  a  claim  to  a  tract  lying  on  the  bank  of  Part- 
ridge Creek.  After  residing  there  for 'a  time  he 
bought  a  place  on  the  uplands  of  Worth  Township 
and  made  his  home  there  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred Dec.  24,  1872,  when  he  rounded  out  a  life 
that  was  honorable  to  himself  and  had  been  of 
great  service  to  Woodford  County,  and  its  memory 
is  cherished  with  reverence  by  his  descendants.  He 
was  an  intelligent  witness  of  the  entire  develop- 
ment of  the  county  almost  from  the  early  days  of 
its  occupancy  by  the  whites,  and  not  only  that,  but 
lie  contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  its  present 
prosperous  condition.  He  accumulated  a  handsome 
property,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  quite 
wealthy.  His  education  was  limited,  but  he  was  a 
very  intelligent  man,  possessing  good  judgment  and 
untiring  energy  as  a  farmer,  and  stock-raiser,  and 
had  few  equals  in  those  respects  in  the  count}';  he 


was  well  posted  on  the  best  methods  of  farming,  and 
was  tl.e  first  man  to  raise  clover  in  this  part  of  the 
country.  He  is  now  sleeping  the  sleep  of  the  just  in 
the  family  cemetery  near  his  old  home.  Mrs.  En- 
gel's  father  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native 
county,  and  after  marriage  resided  on  Crow  Creek 
in  Marshall  County,  two  years.  He  subsequently 
purchased  a  farm  in  Deer  Creek  Township,  Taze- 
well  County,  and  removing  to  that  part  of  the 
State  is  still  residing  there.  The  maiden  name 
of  Mrs.  Engel's  mother  was  Mary  Schertz.  She 
was  born  in  Ohio,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Valentine 
Schertz,  a  native  of  Germany. 

The  attractive  home  of  our  subject  and  his  wife 
is  the  center  of  true  hospitality,  where  every  guest 
is  made  to  feel  at  ease  by  the  pleasing,  frank  and 
charming  welcome  of  the  hostess  and  by  the  gen- 
ial, friendly,  courteous  manner  of  the  host.  Their 
happy  wedded  life  has  been  blessed  to  them  by  the 
birth  of  three  children — Eva  Lou.  Frank  Delbert 
and  Ameda  Emma. 

Mr.  Engel  is  regarded  with  much  favor  by  the 
people  who  have  watched  his  course  since  he  be- 
came a  resident  of  Partridge  Township,  and  he  is 
considered  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  citizenship 
of  this  community,  making  its  interests  his  own 
and  promoting  its  material,  moral  and  social  wel- 
fare as  much  as  is  possible.  A  young  man  of  in- 
fluence for  good  among  his  associates. 


OHARLES  J.  VAN  PELT,  station  agent  of 
the  Illinois  Central    Railway   at  Minonk,  is 
one   of  the   oldest  employes  of  that  com- 

panv,  having  been  in  their  service  since  March  20, 
1 870.  He  was  born  in  Highland  County,  Ohio, 
Feb.  16,  1834,  being  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Agnes 
(Johnson)  Van  Pelt,  both  natives  of  Ohio.  His 
paternal  ancestors  were  originally  from  Holland, 
but  have  resided  in  the  United  States  for  several 
generations,  settling  in  the  colonies  prior  to  the 
Revolutionary  War.  In  their  religions  views  they 
were  Quakers. . 

Isaac  Van  Pelt,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in   Bucks  County,  Pa.     He  became  a  farmer 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


225 


and  moved  to  Virginia,  thence  to  Belmont  County. 
Ohio,  where  he  was  among  the  original  settlers,  and 
as  such  assisted  in  clearing  away  the  heavy  timber 
from  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  city  of  Znnes- 
ville.  He  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
dying  at  the  venerable  age  of  ninety  years.  To 
him  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Sarah 
Ellis,  were  born  four  children,  Jacob,  Ellis,  Mary 
and  William  R.  Jacob,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
reared  a  farmer,  and  marrying  in  Highland  County, 
Ohio,  subsequently  removed  to  Illinois  and  set- 
tled near  Bloomington,  where  he  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  until  1865,  when  he  removed  to 
Normal,  where  his  death  occurred  at  the  age  of 
fifty-nine  years.  He  was  a  strong  anti-slavery  man, 
and  always  expressed  his  views  on  that  subject 
very  freely.  He  was  a  warm  supporter  of  Henry 
Clay,  and  in  the  latter  years  of  his  life  voted  the 
Republican  ticket.  His  wife  survived  him.  They 
reared  a  family  of  five  children,  namely :  Charles 
J.;  Isaac  N.,  a  resident  of  Lamar,  Mo.;  Thomas 
and  Garratt  died  in  childhood;  Rosetta  B.,  wife  of 
Jason  1).  Shipley,  of  Normal,  111. 

The  subject  of  this  brief  biographical  record  was 
reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  attended  the  dis- 
trict schools,  obtaining  a  substantial  education,  and 
afterward  taught  school  a  few  terms,  and  for  a 
while  was  employed  as  a  clerk  in  a  store.  He  came 
with  the  family  to  Illinois  in  1858,  and  for  some 
time  assisted  on  the  farm.  The  most  important 
step  in  his  life  was  taken  three  years  later  when  he 
took  as  a  life  companion  a  most  estimable  Inriy 
Miss  Helen  M.  Trowbridge.  She  was  born  in  New 
Haven,  Conn.,  a  daughter  of  Isaac  Trowbridge,  a 
sea  captain,  who,  in  a  shipwreck  on  the  Atlantic 
Ocean,  lost  all  of  his  property.  When  she  was  a 
small  child  her  parents  removed  from  Connecticut 
to  Louisiana  and  settled  in  Franklin.  Several 
years  later  she  visited  relatives  in  McLean  County, 
this  State,  and  at  that  time  formed  the  acquain- 
tance of  our  subject  which  afterwards  resulted  in 
a  most  happy  union,  their  nuptials  having  been 
celebrated  Jan.  23,  1861.  To  them  has  come  one 
child,  Isaac  Newman.  After  their  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Van  Pelt  settled  in  Normal,  where  he  at 
first  dealt  in  coal  and  engaged  in  teaming.  He 
identified  himself  with  the  best  interests  of  the 


place  and  served  for  two  years  as  Township  Col- 
lector. In  March,  1870,  our  subject  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Illinois  Central' Railway  Company, 
as  station  agent  at  Normal,  and  remained  there  un- 
til July  '27,  1874,  when  he  came  to  Minonk  to  ac- 
cept his  present  position  as  station  agent  in  this 
city. 

In  all  of  his  duties  he  has  proved  faithful  and  trust- 
worthy, winning  the  entire  confidence  of  the  com- 
pany by  whom  he  is  employed,  and  his  gentlemanly 
and  courteous  manners  make  him  popular  among 
the  patrons  of  the  railway.  It  is  a  matter  worthy 
of  recording  that  during  the  entire  years  of  his 
services  with  the  company,  our  subject  has  not  lost 
one  day's  time.  In  politics  Mr.  Van  Pelt  is  a  firm 
Republican,  but  the  duties  of  his  present  position 
prevent  his  taking  any  active  part  in  public  affairs. 
He  is  a  man  of  good  financial  abilities,  and  has 
shown  excellent  judgment  in  his  investments  in 
real  estate.  He  owns  160  acres  of  land  in  Kansas, 
eighty  acres  in  Mississippi,  and  a  very  pleasant 
home  in  Minonk,  where  he  and  his  amiable  wife  de- 
light in  entertaining  their  many  friends. 


RS.  MARTHA  M.  (MORSE)  CHEEDLE 
is  the  widow  of  the  late  Orin  C'heedle,  a 
former  intelligent,  prosperous  pioneer  of 
Woodford  County,  who  aided  in  its  de- 
velopment by  reclaiming  and  beautifying  a  good 
farm  from  the  wild  prairies  where  now  stands  Meta- 
mora  Township.  In  this  attract!  ve  home  that  he 
built  up  with  the  cheerful  and  able  assistance  of 
his  wife,  she  is  living  with  two  of  her  sons,  who 
are  successfully  managing  the  old  homestead  on 
which  they  were  born  and  bred. 

Mrs.  Cheedle  is  of  sterling  New  England  stock, 
and  is  herself  a  native  of  that  part  of  the  countiy. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  one  of  Woodford  County's 
well-known  early  pioneers  who  is  distinguished  in 
its  history  as  having  erected  the  first  house,  on  the 
present  site  of  Metamora,  and  he  assisted  in  plat- 
ting the  town  and  was  appointed  its  first  post- 
master. Coming  here  when  a  small  child  in  the 
very  early  days  of  the  settlement  of  the  county, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Mrs.  Cheedle  has  been  a  witness  of  its  entire  de- 
velopment, and  she  can  remember  when  deer  and 
wolves  used  to  roam  freely  across  the  spot  where 
the  flourishing  city  of  Metamora  now  stands. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Rochester,  Windsor 
Co.,  Vt.,  July  9,  1832.  Her  father,  Deacon  Parker 
Morse,  was  born  in  Antrim,  N.  II.,  Jan.  6,1803, 
and  was  the  son  of  Capt.  Parker  and  Jane  (Lang- 
don)  Morse,  for  whose  history  see  sketch  of  L.  P. 
Morse.  Mrs.  Cheedle's  father  was  twelve  years  old 
when  his  parents  removed  to  Vermont,  and  there 
lie  grew  up  and  married,  Rosanna  Childs  becoming 
his  wife.  She  was  born  in  Sharon,  Vt.,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  David  and  Ruth  Childs.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Morse  continued  to  reside  among  the  hills  of  Ver- 
mont till  1835,  when  they  emigrated  with  their 
family  to  the  distant  wilds  of  Illinois.  The}' 
started  on  their  long  and  tedious  journey  with  a 
team  to  Whitehall,  Vt.,  and  thence  proceeded  by 
canal  to  Buffalo,  where  they  embarked  on  a  boat 
for  a  voyage  on  the  lakes  to  Chicago,  and  were  on 
the  water  eighteen  days.  From  Chicago  they  drove 
with  a  team  to  Elk  Grove,  and  spent  a  few  months 
there,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  .year  they  pushed  on 
to  that  part  of  Tazewell  County  now  embraced  in 
Woodford  County.  Mr.  Morse  found  a  vacant 
log  cabin  one  mile  west  of  the  present  site  of  Mela- 
mora,  and  in  that  humble  abode'he  and  his  family 
spent  the  following  winter.  In  the  spring  he  built 
a  frame  house  on  the  sito  of  Metamora,  which  was 
the  first  house  ever  erected  within  the  present  cor- 
porate limits  of  the  city.  When  the  town  was 
platted  in  the  month  of  June  his  wife  entertained 
the  surveyors  at  dinner.  At  that  time  the  town 
was  named  Hanover,  and  when  the  postofflce  was  ! 
established  Mr.  Morse  was  appointed  postmaster. 
His  wife  took  a  magazine  in  those  days  called  the 
"Mother's  Magazine,"  which  was  the  only  periodical 
taken  in  the  county  at  that  time.  He  invested  in 
lots  and  continued  to  live  in  the  village  two  years, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  moved  his  house 
and  barn  to  his  land,  three  miles  northeastof  town, 
and  at  once  entered  upon  the  pioneer  work  of  im- 
proving a  farm  and  met  with  good  success  in  his 
attempts,  and  built  up  a  comfortable  home,  and 
laid  up  a  competence.  His  useful  life  was  rounded 
out  in  March,  1877,  and  that  of  his  wife  in  July, 


1880,  and  they  are  now  peacefully  sleeping  the  last 
sleep  side  by  side.  He  was  a  man  of  high  standing 
in  this  community,  noted  for  his  strict  integrity 
and  moral  principles.  He  was  a  devout  member  of 
the  Congregational  Church,  was  numbered  among 
its  most  zealous  workers,  and  assisted  materially  in 
building  the  church.  He  was  an  abolitionist,  a  true 
friend  of  the  poor  slaves,  and  his  house  was  a 
station  of  the  underground  railroad,  and  he  aided 
more  than  200  of  the  poor  creatures  to  obtain  their 
freedom.  Three  children  were  born  to  him  and 
his  wife,  namely;  Martha  M.  (our  subject),  Joseph 
O.  and  Mary  O.,  twins.  Joseph  is  living  on  the  old 
homestead.  Mary  married  Benjamin  O'Brien  of 
Groveland,  Tazewell  County,  where  she  died  Feb. 
27,  1889. 

Our  subject  was  three  years  old  when  her  parents 
brought  her  to  this  county,  and  here  she  grew  to 
womanhood  among  the  pioneer  scenes  of  the  early 
days  of  the  settlement  of  this  part  of  the  country, 
and  gained  her  education  in  the  earliest  schools 
that  were  ever  taught  here.  She  resided  with  her 
parents  till  her  marriage  to  Orin  Cheedle,  which  oc- 
curred in  October,  1858. 

Mr.  Cheedle  was  born  in  Stoekbridge,  Windsor 
Co.,  Vt.,  Sept.  6,  1822.  His  parents,  Timothy  and 
Mar}'  (Snow)  Cheedle,  were  natives  of  Vermont, 
and  there  spent  their  entire  lives.  He  received  a 
sound  education  in  his  native  state,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school  there  for  several  years,  fol- 
lowing that  vocation  in  the  summer  seasons.  He 
was  twice  married.  He  was  first  wedded  to  Miss 
Eliza  Lincoln,  a  native  of  Vermont,  their  marriage 
taking  place  in  1847.  He  bought  a  farm  in  Meta- 
mora Township,  but  lived  on  it  only  a  portion  of 
the  time,  as  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  school,  as 
was  his  wife  also,  who  was  a  school  teacher  before 
her  marriage.  His  first  wife  died  in  1848,  and 
he  then  went  back  to  his  old  home  among  the  green 
hills  of  Vermont.  He  lived  there  for  a  while  and 
then  returned  to  Woodford  County,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  marriage  with  our  subject  was  located 
on  his  farm,  where  his  family  now  resides.  In  the 
busy  years  that  followed  he  improved  it  greatly, 
erected  substantial  frame  buildings,  planted  an 
orchard,  and  beautified  the  lawn  by  setting  out 
ornamental  trees,  shrubbery  and  flowers.  This 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


227 


pleasant  home  remained  his  residence  till  his  un- 
timely death  Nov.  29,  1872  brought  to  a  close  a 
life  honorable  to  himself,  and  such  as  to  cast  credit 
on  the  community  of  which  he  was  a  greatly  re- 
spected and  influential  citizen.  He  was  a  man  of 
scholarly  tastes,  bringing  a  well-trained  mind  to 
bear  on  his  work,  and  his  relations  with  all  about 
him  were  most  pleasant  and  friendly.  In  his  do- 
mestic life  he  was  peculiarly  happy,  und  in  their 
charming  home,  four  sons  were  born  to  him  and 
his  wife — Joel  W.,  Parker  G.,  Harry  L.  and  Ed- 
ward M.  Stanton.  Joel  married  Mary  E.  Kindig. 
and  resides  in  Kearney,  Neb.;  they  have  two  chil 
dren,  Mary  M.  and  Owen.  Parker  is  engaged  in 
farming  in  Buffalo  County,  Neb.;  Harry  and  Ed- 
ward live  with  their  mother  and  manage  the  farm. 
Mrs.  Cheedle  is  a  worthy  example  of  the  brave, 
self-sacrificing,  hard-working  women  of  pioneer 
days  who  walked  steadily  by  the  side  of  father, 
husband  or  brother  through  all  the  trials  and  hard- 
ships of  life  on  the  frontier,  and  encouraged  and 
substantially  aided  them  in  their  great  struggle  to 
open  up  and  develop  the  country.  All  honor  to 
such  women.  May  their  part  in  building  up  the 
great  West  receive  just  recognition  from  the  his- 
torian and  biographer,  and  when  they  have  passed 
away  from  the  scenes  of  their  life-work,  may  their 
memories  be  cherished  and  reverenced  equally  with 
fathers,  husbands  and  brothers. 


LEASANT  H.  BIGGER.  For  a  period  of 
twenty-seven  years  Mr.  Bigger  has  been 
familiarly  known  to  the  people  of  El  Paso 
Township,  where  he  is  accounted  one  of 
its  most  prominent  and  successful  farmers  and 
stock-raisers,  owning  320  acres  of  land,  comprising 
some  of  the  choicest  soil  in  Woodford  County. 
His  homestead  is  finely  located  on  section  21,  and 
in  all  its  appointments  indicates  the  supervision  of 
a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence,  industry 
and  enterprise.  The  land  is  remarkably  fertile  and 
watered  by  Wolf  Creek,  a  cool,  clear  stream,  which 
seldom  fails  at  any  season.  Other  natural  advan- 
tages add  to  the  value  of  the  farm,  and  these  have 


been  enhanced  by  the  thorough  cultivation  it  has 
received  and  its  general  good  management. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  with  his  father 
to  McLean  County,  III.,  in  1836,  and  has  been  a 
resident  of  that  and  Woodford  County,  since  that 
time.  The  face  of  the  country  then  for  miles 
around  presented  an  unbroken  wilderness,  over 
which  the  foot  of  a  white  man  had  seldom  passed. 
The  few  settlers  who  had  ventured  hither  were  lo- 
cated near  the  timber,  as  the  prairie  was  considered 
practically  worthless. 

Our  subject  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  in 
Owen  County,  Ind.,  July  21,  1H20,  and  is  the  son 
of  James  Bigger,  a  native  of  Ohio.  The  paternal 
grandfather  was  John  Bigger,  who  came  of  Irish 
ancestry  and  is  believed  to  have  been  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, lie  spent  his  last  years  in  Indiana,  dying 
when  quite  aged.  James,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  reared  a  farmer's  boy,  and  was  first  married  in 
Ohio  to  a  Miss  Stewart,  by  whom  he  had  four  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  died  in  Ohio,  as  did  also  their 
mother. 

After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  James  Bigger 
emigrated  to  Owen  County,  Ind.,  where  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Hart.  This  lady  was  the 
daughter  of  Phillip  Hart,  who  settled  in  that 
county  at  an  early  day,  and  laid  out  the  town  of 
Spencer,  near  which  he  spent  the  latter  part  of  his 
life,  dying  when  ripe  in  years.  After  the  birth  of 
four  children  by  his  second  wife,  James  Bigger 
pushed  on  further  westward,  and  settled  in  Gridle}' 
Township,  McLean  Co.,  111.,  where  he  and  his  wife 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  The  father  died 
in  the  spring  of  1841,  when  fifty  years  old.  He 
fought  at  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe,  and  was  at  one 
time  Captain  of  an  Indiana  company  of  troops 
under  Col.  Bartholomew,  the  regiment  being  com- 
manded by  Gen.  Harrison.  Col.  Bartholomew  and 
Capt.  Bigger  were  warm  personal  friends,  and  the 
Colonel  died  one  year  prior  to  the  death  of  Mr. 
Bigger.  The  latter,  as  may  be  supposed,  was  a 
Whig  politically,  and  a  warm  supporter  of  Gen. 
Harrison  for  the  presidency.  His  second  wife  sur- 
vived him  a  number  of  years,  dying  in  1863,  aged 
sixty-six.  Both  were  members  in  good  standing 
of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Our  subject  was  the  eldest  of  six  children — three 


228 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


sons  and  three  daughters — all  of  whom  lived  to  be 
men  and  women.  He  remained  under  the  home 
roof  until  reaching  man's  estate,  and  assisted  in 
building  the  first  school-house  in  the  western  part 
of  McLean  County,  within  which  later,  he  pursued 
his  studies.  It  was  a  log  structure,  with  slabs  for 
seats  and  desks,  with  puncheon  floor,  and  the  chim- 
ney built  outside  of  earth  and  sticks.  The  school 
was  conducted  in  the  winter  season  alone,  all  the 
children  of  those  times,  and  especially  the  boys, 
being  required  to  make  themselves  useful  on  the 
farm  during  the  summer. 

Jan.  5,  1840,  our  subject  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Margaret  Bell.  This  lady  was  born  in 
Susquelianna  County,  Pa.,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
parents  who  were  likewise  natives  of  the  Keystone 
State.  They  died  when  she  was  quite  young,  and 
she  came  to  the  West  with  friends.  She  became 
the  mother  of  two  children,  and  survived  her  mar- 
riage only  five  years,  dying  at  the  early  age  of 
thirty-three,  at  their  home  in  Gridley  Township. 
McLean  County.  Their  son  James  married  Miss 
Amanda  Glimps,  and  is  a  resident  of  Kappa; 
Sarah  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Hanken,  a  hotel  pro- 
prietor of  York,  Neb. 

Mr.  Bigger  was  a  second  time  married  in  Mc- 
Lean County  to  Mrs.  Sarah  (Fuhrman)  Scott,  who. 
who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  Feb.  4,  1833.  Her 
parents  were  also  natives  of  that  State,  whence 
they  removed  to  Ohio,  where  their  daughter  Sarah, 
upon  reaching  her  womanhood,  was  married  to 
David  Scott.  Three  children  were  born  of  this 
union,  and  Mr  Scott  died  in  Ohio.  His  widow 
later  came  to  Illinois,  joining  her  parents,  who  had 
preceded  her,  and  settled  in  Woodford  County. 
Of  her  union  with  our  subject  there  have  been 
born  seven  children:  Ida  M.  is  the  wife  of  Adam 
Vogt,  and  they  live  on  a  farm  in  El  Paso  Town- 
ship; Laura  remains  at  home  with  her  parents; 
Judson  married  Miss  Miss  Mill}'  Grinder,  and  they 
live  on  a  farm  in  El  Paso  Township;  Alice,  Martha, 
Lott  and  Rose  remain  under  the  parental  roof. 

Mr.  Bigger,  politically,  votes  the  straight  Repub- 
lican ticket,  as  also  do  his  sons.  His  property  has 
been  accumulated  by  downright  hard  work  and  good 
management,  assisted  by  the  counsel  and  economy 
of  his  estimable  wife.  They  have  a  pleasant  and 


attractive  home,  which  is  represented  in  this  vol- 
ume by  a  fine  lithographic  engraving,  and  within 
its  pleasant  walls  is  gathered  a  family  of  bright,  in- 
telligent children,  held  in  high  esteem  by  their 
neighbors  and  acquaintances. 


P'RED.  T.  WAITE,  senior  member  of  the  firm 
of.Waite&Son,  has  been  for  someyears  con- 
ducting a  prosperous  hardware  trade  at  El 
Paso,  of  which  he  has  V>een  a  resident  since  1883. 
The  house  is  located  on  Front  Street,  and  they  carry 
a  well  selected  assortment  of  everything  in  their  line 
of  trade,  receiving  the  patronage  of  a  large  portion 
of  the  people  of  the  city.  Mr.  Waite  came  to  this 
county  in  1856,  and  first  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
land  in  Panola  Township,  on  its  eastern  line,  where 
he  founded  a  home  and  where  he  lived  until  his 
removal  to  El  Paso.  In  connection  with  farming 
he  made  a  speciality  of  Norman  horses  and  accum- 
ulated a  comfortable  property.  He  has  a  good 
home  in  the  city,  and  is  recognised  as  one  of  its 
most  enterprising  and  useful  citizens. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  Hartford, 
Vt.,  Aug.  24,  1824.  He  was  orphaned  by  the 
death  of  both  parents  when  very  young,  and  was 
taken  into  the  home  of  strangers,  by  whom  he  was 
reared  and  partly  educated,  and  thus  lost  nearly 
all  trace  of  his  family  connections.  He  was 
brought  up  on  a  farm,  but  upon  reaching  his  ma- 
jority entered  Norwich  (Vt.)  Military  Academy, 
where  he  remained  three  years,  but  finally  aban- 
doned the  idea  of  a  military  life;  subsequently  he 
engaged  in  teaching  during  the  winter  season 
while  he  farmed  in  summer. 

Young  Waite  saved  what  he  could  of  his  earn- 
ings during  those  years,  and  finally  emigrated  lo 
Tarrytown,  N.  Y.,  where  he  secured  the  position 
of  ticket  agent  for  the  Hudson  River  Railroad. 
At  that  place  he  was  married  to  Miss  Susan  Hazen, 
who  was  born  in  Hartford,  Vt.,  in  September, 
1825,  and  was  of  New  England  ancestry.  She 
was  reared  and  educated  in  her  native  place,  and 
for  siime  years  was  engaged  as  a  teacher  in  the 
public  schools.  She  possessed  rare  musical  talent, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


2-2  « 


and  was  a  fine  singer,  and  Mr.  Waite  also  being 
fond  of  music  and  possessing  a  good  voice,  they 
spent  many  pleasant  hours  together  in  this  recrea- 
tion. The  happy  home  circle  was  invaded  by 
death  and  the  mother  passed  away  Aug.  12,  1883, 
at  the  age  of  fifty -eight  years.  She  had  been  an 
active  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
was  a  lady  greatly  beloved  by  the  entire  com- 
munity. 

By  his  first  wife  our  subject  became  the  father 
of  six  children,  two  of  whom,  Maryetta  and  Frank 
H.,  are  deceased,  the  former  dying  when  quite 
young  and  the  latter  when  a  promising  young  man 
of  twenty-two  years.  He  had  been  educated  in 
music  in  the  Chicago  Musical  College,  and  was  a 
successful  teacher  of  that  art.  There  was  appar- 
ently a  bright  future  before  him,  and  his  untimely 
death  was  a  severe  blow  to  his  family.  Of  the 
surviving  children, Emma  is  the  wife  of  Walter  Ben- 
nett, a  prominent  attorney  of  El  Paso;  Lilly  mar- 
ried Harry  Jessop,  who  is  a  dentist  by  profession, 
and  they  are  at  present  (July,  1889)  in  Arizona. 
Azro  H.  is  the  partner  of  his  father,  in  the  hardware 
trade,  and  is  still  unmarried.  He  is  a  capable 
young  business  man,  temperate  and  upright,  and 
bids  fair  to  make  for  himself  a  fine  record  in  the 
the  business  and  social  circles  of  his  community. 
Fred.  H.,  a  dentist  by  profession,  is  in  Phoenix. 
Arizona. 

The  present  wife  of  our  subject,  to  whom  he  wns 
married  in  Lebanon,  N.  H.,  was  formerly  Mrs.  Mel- 
vina  (Howard)  Hazen.  She  was  born  in  Pomfret, 
Vt.,  in  1835,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Seth  and  Eliza 
(Lamberton)  Howard,  an  old  New  England  family 
of  the  Green  Mountain  State,  who  lived  on  a  farm 
and  there  spent  their  entire  lives,  the  mother  pas- 
sing away  in  1843  and  the  father  surviving  until 
1882.  Mrs.  Melvina  Waite  remained  with  her  fa- 
ther after  the  death  of  her  mother,  which  occurred 
when  she  was  a  young  girl  of  fourteen  years,  and 
was  first  married  to  Mr.  F.  S.  Hazen.  They  began 
life  on  a  farm  in  Vermont,  and  Mr.  Hazen  died 
when  forty-eight  years  old.  One  son  born  of  this 
marriage,  Fred  A.,  died  at  the  age  of  twent3'-one 
years.  He  was  possessed  of  a  bright  intellect,  and 
many  hopes  had  been  built  up  by  his  mother  in 
connection  with  his  future  career.  The  two  sur- 


viving children  of  this  marriage  are  twins,  Maude 
E.  and  May  B.  The  former  is  a  .stenographer  at 
De  Kalb,  this  State,  in  the  employ  of  the  Barb  Wire 
Company,  and  the  latter  remains  at  home  with  her 
mother. 

Mr.  Waite  has  bean  an  Elder  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church  for  the  last  five  years,  while  his  estimable 
wife  finds  her  religious  home  with  the  Congrega- 
timi.'ilisls.  Our  subject  has  held  some  of  the  local 
offices,  and  is  now  Treasurer  of  the  El  Paso  Agricul- 
tural Board,  which  was  organized  in  1881,  and  of 
which  he  is  one  of  the  founders.  Politically  he  was 
m  early  life  a  member  of  the  old  Whig  party,  and 
since  its  abandonment  has  given  his  cordial  sup- 
port to  the  Republicans. 


S.  ROBINSON  is  a  fine  representative  of 
the  sons  of  the  pioneers  of  Wood  ford 
County,  who,  reared  within  its  limits,  have 
stepped  to  the  front  to  take  their  part  in 
sustaining  and  extending  its  material  prosperity, 
and  making  it  one  of  the  richest  agricultural  cen 
tres  in  this  section  of  f.he  country.  Our  subject  is 
actively  and  extensively  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock-raising  in  Metamora  Township,  where  ho 
owns  one  of  the  largest  and  best  managed  farms  in 
the  locality.  The  land  is  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation,  the  improvements  are  of  the  best,  with 
all  the  appointments  of  a  model  farm,  including  a 
neat,  roomy  set  of  frame  buildings,  and  all  nuucl- 
ful  machinery,  every  thing  about  the  place  betoken- 
ing the  presence  of  a  master  hand  and  mind. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  the  town  of  Woodstock, 
Champaign  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  1,1846.  In  tracing 
the  family  history  back,  it  has  been  ascertained 
that  he  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  learned  and 
able  John  Robinson,  that  pious  minister  who  led 
the  Pilgrims  from  England  to  Holland  in  1608, 
there  to  seek  the  religious  freedom  denied  them  in 
the  mother  country.  He  was  educated  at  the  Col- 
lege of  Corpus  Christ!,  Cambridge,  receiving  :i 
fellowship  there  in  1598,  which  he  resigned  in  1604. 
During  that  time  he  had  commenced  preaching 
at  Norwich,  and  in  1608  went  with  his  devoted 


230 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


hand  of  followers  to  Leydcn,  Holland,  and  in  1609 
to  Amsterdam.      He  aided  in  planning  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  colony  on  American  soil,  and  there  is 
a  touching  picture  given  in  history,  of  the   good 
man  kneeling  with   his    little  flock  of  Pilgrims  on 
the  sands  and  earnestly  commending  them  to  the 
care  of  God.  and  imparting  to  them  wise  words  of 
counsel  and  hope  as  they  were  about  to  embark  on 
their  perilous   voyage    to   an    unknown    country, 
where  they  desired  to  found  new  homes  and  secure 
the  privilege  of  worshipping  their  Maker  as   heart 
and  conscience  dictated.     It  was  the  worthy  min- 
ister's   intention    to  follow  with  the  remainder  of 
the  church,  those  that  had  come  to  America  in  the 
Mayflower,    but   he  was  unavoidably  detained   in 
Holland,    and    his   noble,   self-sacrificing    life    was 
closed    in    that   country    in  1625.     His  son  Isaac 
came  to  America  in  1631,  and  after  living  in  Ply- 
mouth, Mass,  awhi'e,  resided   in  turn  in  Scituate, 
II.  I.,  Falmouth  and  Barnscable,  Mass.,  and  finally 
closed  his  earthly  pilgrimage  on  the  island  of  Mar- 
tha's Vineyard.     His   son,  Peter,  was  the  next  in 
line,  and  he  located  in  the  town  of  Scotland,  Wind- 
ham  Co.,  Conn.,  about   1723,  and  there  spent  his 
last   years.     His  son,    Peter,  came  next  in  order, 
and  he  was  born  about  1697,  and  died  in  the  afore- 
mentioned  town  of  Scotland.     After  him  came  his 
son  Experience,  who  spent  his  entire  life  in  Wind- 
ham  County,  Conn.     His  son,  Elias,  was  the  next  in 
line  of  descent.     He  married  Sybil  Lillie,  daughter 
of  Nathan  Lillie.     He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tion, and  died   Feb.  8,  1805,  at  an  advanced  age. 
His  son,  Capt.  Elias  Robinson,  the  grandfather  of 
our   subject,    was    born   Nov.    13,    1780,   and  was 
reared  to  the  life  of  a  farmer.     He  married  Fanny 
Francis,  and  removed  to  Ohio  with  teams  in  1820, 
and  became  a  pioneer  of  Union   County,  continu- 
ing his  residence  there  until  death.     He  received 
his  title  as  an  officer  in  the  War  of  1812. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  George  Robinson,  was 
born  in  Union  County,  Ohio,  and  was  reared  to  a 
stalwart  manhood  in  his  native  State.  He  remained 
a  resident  of  Union  and  Champaign  counties  until 
1853,  and  then  came  to  Wood  ford  County,  the 
removal  being  made  with  teams.  He  bought  a 
tract  of  land  in  Mctamora  Township,  only  a  part 
of  which  had  been  improved.  la  the  years  that 


followed    he  busied  himself  with  the  pioneer  task 
of  developing  a  farm,  which  he  brought  to  a  fine 
state  of  cultivation,  and  supplied  it  with  substantial 
buildings,  and  otherwise  greatly  increased  its  value. 
In  his  death,  March   11,    1883,   this   township  lost 
one  of  its  most  worthy  citizens,  one  who  had  con- 
tributed   his  quota    toward    its  advancement,  and 
had  always  been  warmly  interested  in  its  welfare. 
He  was  twice  married.     The  maiden  name  of  his 
first  wife,  mother  of  our  subject,  was  Lorana  Smith  . 
She  was  born  in  Woodstock,  Champaign  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  was  a   daughter    of   Sylvanus   and    Thankful 
(Kelsey)  Smith,   natives  of  Vermont.     She  closed 
her  eyes  in  death  in  her  native  State  in  1851.    The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  only  child  by  that 
marriage.     The  father  was  married  a  second  time 
Marcli  16,  1853,  Miss  Janet  Kellogg  becoming  his 
wife.     She  was  born    in    Lamoille   County,  Vt.,  a 
daughter  of  Warren  and  Jennie  (Gray)  Kellogg. 
She   is  now  living  at  a  venerable  age  on  the   old 
homestead  on  section  2. 

He  of  whom  this  biographical  review  is  written, 
was  six  years  old  when  his  parents  came  to  this 
county,  and  he  grew  to  manhood  here,  and  was 
given  the  educational  advantages  of  the  public 
schools.  He  remained  at  home  with  his  parents 
until  his  marriage,  when  he  located  on  the  farm 
which  he  now  owns  and  occupies.  It  comprises 
480  acres  of  fine,  well-improved  prairie  land,  on 
which  he  has  erected  neat  and  tasty  buildings,  and 
has  adorned  the  grounds  with  beautiful  shade  and 
fruit  trees.  He  has  his  farm  well-stocked  with 
cattle,  horses  and  hogs  of  good  grades,  from  the 
sale  of  which  he  derives  a  good  annual  income. 

In  the  building  up  of  this  pleasant,  attractive 
home  Mr.  Robinson  has  had  the  cheerful  co-opera- 
tion of  a  devoted  wife,  to  whom  he  was  united  in 
marriage  in  February,  1878.  To  them  have  come 
five  sons:  George  W.,  Francis,  Lewis  S..  Robert  C., 
and  Arthur  L.  Mrs.  Robinson  is  a  native  of 
Metamora  Township,  and  a  daughter  of  Marcellus 
and  Patience  (Fairchilds)  Wilson.  She  was  born 
in  Metamora  Township  Jan.  31,  1858. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robinson  are  sensible,  well-in- 
formed people,  of  high  social  standing,  and  they 
understand  well  how,  by  genial  courtesy  and 
thoughtful  attention  to  their  guests,  to  make  their 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


231 


pretty  home  attractive  to  friends,  of  whom  they 
have  many,  or  to  strangers  who  happen  to  come 
beneath  its  hospitable  roof.  Mr.  Robinson  has  all 
the  characteristics  that  mark  a  man  of  strong  mind 
and  manly  purpose,  and  Woodford  County  posses- 
ses no  more  loyal  citizen,  one  who  is  at  once  public- 
spirited  and  open-handed.  As  an  intelligent  man 
should,  he  interests  himself  in  politics,  and  exerts 
his  influence  in  favor  of  the  Republican  party. 


IF^OBERT  N.  RADFORD,  is  editor  of  the 
Eureka  Journal  and  is  conducting  one  of 
the  most  interesting  and  spicy  newspapers 
in  Central  Illinois,  and  evidently  lias  the 
proper  idea  of  the  manner  in  which  such  an  enter- 
prise should  be  managed.  He  is  a  terse  and  forci- 
ble writer  and  possesses  those  rare  social  qualities 
which  have  made  him  a  general  favorite'  in  his 
community.  He  gives  his  undivided  time  and  atten- 
tion 'to  the  Journal  which  is  independent  in  poli- 
tics, and  takes  an  active  interest  in  political  affairs, 
keeping  himself  thoroughly  posted  upon  current 
events.  The  Journal  has  become  one  of  the  Jo- 
dispensable  institutions  of  Woodford  County  and  is 
steadily  growing  in  popularity  as  well  as  in  a 
financial  point  of  view. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  comes  of  some  of  the 
best  blood  in  the  South,  being  the  son  of  Benjamin 
J.  and  Francis  T.  (Lawrence)  Radford  who  were 
both  natives  of  Virginia,  the  father  born  in  Cum- 
berland County  and  the  mother  in  Richmond. 
When  quite  young  and  prior  to  their  marriage,  the 
parents  removed  with  their  respective  families  to 
Christian  Country,  Ky.,  where  they  were  married 
in  1825.  They  lived  there  until  1834,  then  emi- 
grated to  Illinois  and  settled  near  the  present  site 
of  Eureka,  which  was  then  known  as  Walnut  Grove, 
and  to  which  point  they  had  been  preceded  only 
by  a  few  families.  The  father  followed  the  peace- 
ful pursuits  of  agriculture  and  at  the  same  time 
interested  himself  in  the  general  welfare  of  the 
community,  being  the  cncourager  of  religious  and 
educational  institutions  and  instrumental  in  the 
establishment  of  the  Christian  Church  in  Eureka. 


The    parents  both  died    at  the  old    farm,  the  father 
Sept.  12,  1857.  and  the  mother  Oct.  18,  1864. 

To  Benjamin  and  Frances  Radford  there  were 
born  four  daughters  and  seven  sons,  and  only  six  of 
the  children  are  living.  Four  of  the  sons  were  in  the 
Union  Army  during  the  Civil  War.  Two  of  the 
sons  met  death  while  fighting  for  their  country. 
Two  of  them  lived  to  return  home  and  are  now 
living  in  Eureka.  Robert  N.  was  the  fifth  child  of 
the  family  and  was  born  in  Christian  Count}',  Ky,. 
Sept.  30,  1833.  He  was  but  an  infant  when  his 
parents  took  up  their  abode  in  this  count}',  where 
he  was  reared  upon  the  new  farm  and  remained 
there  until  a  youth  of  eighteen  years.  For  the  fol- 
lowing three  years  he  was  employed  as  clerk  in  a 
general  stove.  Then  returning  home  he  assumed 
charge  of  the  farm  from  1858  to  1874,  after  which 
he  turned  his  attention  to  newspaper  work  and  pur- 
chased the  Eureka  Journal  of  which  he  has  since 
been  editor  and  proprietor. 

In  1881  Mr.  Radford  associated  himself  in  part- 
nership with  E.  J.  Davidson,  his  nephew,  and  the 
firm  is  familiarly  known  as  Radford  <fe  Davidson. 
In  connection  with  the  newspaper  is  a  well-equipped 
job  ottice,  doing  a  thriving  business.  The  business 
talents  of  Mr.  Radford  are  fully  in  keeping  with 
his  literary  acquirements,  and  he  has  placed  the 
Journal  upon  a  sound  basis  and  in  a  condition  in 
which  it  compares  favorably  with  the  other  lead- 
ing newspapers  of  this  part  of  the  State.  He  is  a 
man  prompt  to  meet  his  obligations,  while  his 
cordial  and  genial  temperament  secures  him  friends 
wherever  he  goes. 

Mr.  Radford  was  married  in  Tazewoll  County, 
this  State,  Sept.  25,  1861  to  Miss  Octavia,  daughter 
of  the  late  Dr.  Samuel  Landes  of  Hickman,  Ky. 
Mrs.  Radford  was  born  in  Hopkinsville,  Ky.,  May 
•25,  1840,  and  lived  only  twenty-one  months  after 
her  marriage,  her  death  occurring  June  27,  1862. 
She  was  a  lady  of  many  estimable  qualities  and  a 
member  in  good  standing  of  the  Christian  Church. 

Prior  to  the  division  of  Olio  and  Cruger  Town- 
ships Mr.  Radford  held  the  offices  of  Assessor,  Col- 
lector. Supervisor  and,  indeed,  about  all  the  offices 
within  the  gift  of  the  people  ;  and  he  has  ever  been 
found  faithful  and  efficient  in  the  discharge  of  the 
duties  pertaining  thereto.  He  is  a  man  of  decided 


•232 


PORTRAIT  A»D  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


views  not  easily  turned  from  his  convictions,  but 
one  who  at  all  times  is  credited  with  the  sincerity 
of  belief  which  makes  him  brave  in  the  assertion 
of  his  principles  and  sufficiently  aggressive  to  bat- 
tle for  what  he  believes  to  be  right.  He  takes  a 
warm  interest  in  all  the  enterprises  calculated  to 
benefit  Eureka  and  vicinity  and  no  question  which 
is  at  all  worthy  of  discussion,  passes  unnoticed  or 
fails  to  receive  the  proper  space  in  the  columns  of 
the  Journal.  Thus  its  advent  is  looked  for  each 
week  by  its  patrons  with  itn  interest  which  is  never 
allowed  to  flag,  and  each  year  adds  materially  to  its 
list  of  subscribers. 


E~  LIJAH  R.  MARSHALL,  a  pioneer  of  Wood- 
ford  County,  though  not  among  the  first 
comers,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Roan- 
oke  Township,  coming  here  in  the  prime  and  vigor 
of  early  manhood,  and  casting  in  his  lot  with  the 
sturdy,  practical  farmers  who  had  preceded  him, 
and  has  ever  since  devoted  himself  to  agricultural 
pursuits  on  this  rich  soil.  His  patient  toil  directed 
by  sound  discretion  and  an  energetic  spirit,  has 
been  amply  rewarded,  and  he  rejoices  in  the  pos- 
session of  a  large,  well  stocked  farm,  that  is  com- 
plete in  all  its  appointments,  and  ranks  with  the 
fine  farms  for  which  this  section  of  the  country  is 
noted. 

Our  subject  is  a  Vermonter  by  birth,  born  among 
the  hills  of  Sudbury,  in  Rutland  County,  Nov.  15, 
1826.  His  father,  Thomas  Marshall,  was  born  in 
Chester,  Windsor  Co.,Vt.,  March  13,  1801,  a  son 
of  Elijah  Marshall,  who  was  born  in  England  Nov.  6, 
1766.  Ilis  father,  John  Marshall,  was  born  in  Eng- 
land, Nov.  6,  1716.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife, 
the  great-great-grandmother  of  our  subject,  was 
Marion  Horton,  and  the  date  of  her  birth  was  Nov. 
28,  1721.  The  following  is  the  record  of  the  twelve 
children  born  to  them:  Joseph,  born  July  3,  1737; 
James,  Dec.  14,  1741;  Martha,  May  14,  1743; 
James  2d,  Dec,  21,  1744;  John,  Aug.  29,  1747; 
Sarah.  Feb.  25,  1749;  Mary,  April  7,  1752;  Re- 
becca, Oct.  30,  1754,  Isaiah,  Jan.  29.  1757;  Eliza- 
beth, Aug.  5,  1759;  Joseph  2d,  March  13,1764; 


Elijah.  Nov.  6,  1766.  The  grandfather  of  our 
subject  removed  from  his  home  near  Salem,  Mass., 
to  Vermont,  and  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Chester, 
of  which  he  was  a  resident  from  that  time  till  his 
death.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Mary 
Pearcc.  and  she  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born 
Sept.  5,  1768.  She  died  on  the  home  farm  in  the 
town  of  Chester. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  in  his  native 
State,  and  was  married  in  Windsor  County  to  Mar- 
tha Brooks,  a  native  of  Chester.  Her  father,  Sol- 
omon Brooks,  was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  and 
removed  from  there  to  Windsor  County,  Vt.,  and 
settled  in  the  town  of  Chester.  He  resided  there 
till  1844,  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  located  in 
Brimlield,  Peoria  County,  where  he  made  his  home 
with  his  son  until  his  death  of  cholera  in  1849. 
The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Millie  Fisher, 
and  she  died  in  1847.  After  marriage  Mr.  Mar- 
shall bought  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Sudbury,  Rut- 
land County.  But  on  account  of  ill-health  he  was 
obliged  to  return  to  Windham  County,  and  later  to 
Windsor  County,  where  he  bought  a  tract  of  land, 
lie  engaged  in  farming  there  till  1850,  when  he 
came  to  Illinois,  and  after  spending  his  first  sum- 
mer here  in  Metamora  Township,  he  bought  a  tract 
of  land  on  section  8,  Roanoke  Township.  A  few 
acres  were  broken,  and  he  improved  a  valuable 
farm,  on  which  he  resided  until  a  short  time  be- 
fore his  demise.  He  then  went  to  live  with  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Fisher,  in  Metamora  Township,  and 
died  in  her  home  Sept.  4,  1879.  His  wife  is  still 
living  with  Mrs.  Fisher,  and  she  has  attained  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-nine.  Those  worthy  people 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  six  of  whom  grew 
to  maturity,  as  follows:  Lestina,  born  March  31, 
1822,  is  the  wife  of  Abner  Bailey,  of  Ford  County  ; 
our  subject  and  his  sister  Mary  (twins),  the  latter 
the  wife  of  Samuel  Butteifield;  Amelia,  born  April 
23,  1830,  married  E.  A.  Fisher  of  Metamora  Town- 
ship; Solomon,  born  April  18,  1833,  lives  in  Roan- 
oke Township;  Cyrus,  born  Feb.  26,  1837,  lives  in 
Ford  County. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  the  oldest  son,  and  he 
was  reared  in  his  native  State,  receiving  a  fair  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools,  and  at  the  early  age 
of  eight  years  the  sturdy,  manly  little  lad  began 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


233 


to  earn  his  own  living.  He  continued  to  work  by 
the  month  till  1848,  and  then  started  for  the  great 
West,  coming  to  Illinois,  by  stnge  to  Troy,  N.  Y., 
thence  by  Erie  Canal  to  Buffalo,  from  there  by  the 
lakes  to  Chicago,  and  then  by  canal  and  Illinois 
River  to  Peoria.  He  visited  Woodford  County  at 
the  time,  and  sifter  a  stay  here  of  three  weeks  he 
and  his  companion  bought  six  horses  and  a  buggy 
and  returned  overland  to  Vermont.  In  March, 
1849,  our  subject  again  started  on  a  journey  to  this 
part  of  the  country,  coming  by  stage  to  Troy,  and 
thence  by  rail  to  Buffalo,  from  there  on  a  lumber 
wagon  to  Canada  and  Detroit,  and  from  the  latter 
place  he  walked  the  greater  part  of  the  way  to 
Peoria.  After  his.  arrival  lie  rented  a  farm  in 
Peoria  County,  and  operated  it  till  fall,  when  he 
came  once  again  to  Woodford  County,  and  in  Feb- 
ruary 1849,  he  made  a  claim  to  the  southeast  quar- 
ter of  section  8,  Roanoke  Township,  and  going  to 
Springfield  on  horseback  he  entered  it  at  the  gov- 
ernment land  office  in  that  city.  He  built  a  house 
on  the  place,  and  broke  about  forty  acres  of  the 
land  before  his  next  purchase  in  the  .month  of 
June,  the  same  year,  when  he  bought  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  7,  Roanoke  Township,  where  he 
now  resides.  There  was  a  log  house  standing  on 
the  land  at  the  time,  and  a  few  acres  were  broken. 
He  paid  $2.50  an  acre  for  the  land,  and  has 
lived  to  see  its  value  greatly  increased  by  his  ju- 
dicious management  and  the  many  fine  improve- 
ments that  he  has  made.  He  has  erected  a  good 
set  of  frame  buildings,  and  has  everything  about 
the  place  in  excellent  order.  A  portion  of  the  lum- 
ber from  which  his  substantial  dwelling  was  built 
was  drawn  from  Chicago.  He  has  added  to  his 
landed  property  till  he  is  now  the  proprietor  of 
320  acres  of  fine,  well  improved  land.  At  the  time 
he  located  here  there  were  but  four  houses  in  the 
township,  and  it  lias  been  his  good  fortune  to  assist 
in  the  development  of  the  country  from  a  wild 
prairie  to  a  wealthy  and  prosperous  community. 
In  the  early  days  of  his  settlement  here  there  were 
no  railways  in  Illinois,  and  he  aided  in  building 
the  first  railway  in  the  State.  For  some  years  Peo- 
ria, Spring  Bay,  and  Lacon  were  the  principal  mar- 
kets, and  it  was  much  more  difficult  for  a  farmer 
to  dispose  of  his  produce  in  those  days  than  in 


these  times  of  easy  communication  by  rail,  to  large 
towns  and  cities  that  have  grown  up  almost  under 
the  eyes  of  our  subject. 

Feb  12,  1853,  Mr.  Marshall  was  married  to  Miss 
Martha  S.  Fisher,  and  to  them  have  come  four 
children,  of  whom  the  following  is  recorded: 
Amos,  who  lives  on  the  home  farm,  was  born  Oct. 
24,  1854,  and  married  Oct.  19,  1882  to  Miss  Josie 
Scott;  Ira  K.,  a  practicing  physician  in  Chicago, 
was  born  Feb.  28,  1856,  and  was  married  Feb.  9, 
1888,  to  Miss  Emma  Mason;  Rolla  E.,  living  on. 
the  home  farm,  was  born  Jan.  30,  1863,  and  was 
married  Sept.  2,  1885,  to  Miss  Carrie  C.  Lightfoot; 
Orpha,  living  on  the  home  farm  with  her  parents, 
was  born  Sept.  18,1867.  She  learned  the  art  of 
dressmaking,  in  Chicago  and  is  skillful  at  her  trade. 
These  children  were  all  given  good  opportunities 
for  an  education.  The  two  elder  sons  were  grad- 
uated from  Alton  College.  Rolla  was  a  student  at 
Eureka  College,  and  Orpha  spent  one  year  at  Eu- 
reka College  and  one  year  at  Evanston  College. 

Mrs.  Marshall  is,  like  her  husband,  a  native  of 
Vermont,  born  at  Mention,  in  Rutland  County, 
June  10,  1832.  Her  father,  Amos  Fisher,  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Grafton,  Windham  Co.,  Vt.,  and 
his  father,  Dr.  Amos  Fisher,  was  born  in  Massa- 
chusetts. He  practiced  in  Grafton  many  years,  and 
was  well  known  in  all  the  country  round.  Mrs. 
Marshall's  father  was  reared  and  married  in  his  na- 
tive State,  and  was  a  resident  there  till  1843,  when 
he  came  to  Illinois  accompanied  by  his  wife  and 
eight  children.  The  entire  journey  was  made  with 
a  team,  they  having  a  covered  wagon  and  a  stove, 
and  they  cooked  and  camped  by  the  way.  They 
started  on  the  28th  of  September,  and  arrived  at 
Low  Point,  Cazenovia  Township,  December  3.  He 
there  bought  a  tract  of  land  and  began  the  improve- 
ment of  a  place.  His  life  was  not  prolonged  many 
years  after  his  settlement  in  this  count}',  as  his 
death  occurred  in  1850.  The  maiden  name  of  his 
wife,  Mrs.  Marshall's  mother,  was  Lydia  Stoddard, 
and  she  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Zeluah 
(Richmond)  Stoddard.  There  were  eight  children 
born  of  their  union:  Emerald  A.,  Martha  S.. 
Louisa,  Francis,  Annie,  Kosana,  Ezra,  Cynthia. 
After  her  husband's  death  Mrs.  Fisher  continued 
to  reside  on  the  homestead  until  1867,  and  then 


234 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


sold  the  place  and  removed  to  Cazenovia,  thence 
to  Metamora,  where  she  died  in  the  home  of  her 
son  Emerald,  May  29,  1879.  She  also  resided  sev- 
eral years  with  our  subject  prior  to  her  death. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marshall  and  their  children  are 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  by  their  con- 
duct in  the  every  da}-  affairs  of  life,  show  that  they 
are  sincere  believers  in  the  'faith,  and  that  their 
lives  are  guided  by  Christian  principles.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Marshall  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and 
although  he  is  a  strong  prohibitionist  he  stands  by 
his  party,  as  he  does  not  favor  a  division  in  its 
ranks  to  form  a  third  party.  He  has  always  taken 
an  interest  in  educational  matters,  and  besides  as- 
sisting in  organizing  the  first  school  district  in 
Roauoke,  was  one  of  the  School  Directors  of  the 
township  for  upwards  of  twenty  years.  Mr.  Mar- 
shall is  in  every  sense  a  steadfast,  reliable  man, 
one  whenever  betrays  a  trust,  and  who  is  at  all  times 
and  on  all  occasions  found  to  be  a  cheerful  and 
ready  helper  by  those  needing  assistance,  and  his 
neighbors  who  consult  him  in  regard  to  personal 
matters  find  him  a  wise  and  safe  counselor. 

In  18C4,  during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  our 
subject  was  drafted  into  the  service,  but  secured  a 
substitute,  for  which  he  paid  $700.  Our  subject 
erected  the  first  frame  barn,  and  first  frame  house 
in  Ronnoke  Township. 


£  I,  ;. 

&  '    * 


WILLIAM  STEVENSON.  In  this  gentle- 
man, Woodford  County  has  a  fine  repre- 
sentative of  the  citizen-soldiers  of  our 
land  whose  bravery  and  patriotism  saved  the  Union 
in  the  trying  times  of  the  late  Civil  War.  and  who 
since  then  have  been  important  factors  in  increas- 
ing and  extending  the  material  prosperity  of  our 
country.  lie  is  one  of  the  foremost  farmers  and 
stock  growers  of  Cazenovia  Township,  where  lie 
has  an  extensive  well-managed  farm,  amply  pro- 
vided with  conveniently  arranged,  commodious 
buildings,  and  all  other  appointments  of  a  well- 
regulated  estate. 

Our  subject  was  born   near  Blndensliurg,  Knox 
Co.,    Ohio,    Aug.    7,    1833.     His    father,    George 


Stevenson,  was  a  native  of  Washington  County, 
Pa.;  and  was  the  son  of  another  George  Stevenson, 
who  was  a  gallant  soldier  during  the  Revolution, 
and  after  the  close  of  the  war  was  captured 
by  the  Indians  and  taken  to  Canada  and  held  for 
ransom.  He  spent  his  last  years  in  quietness  in 
the  home  of  his  son  George  in  Knox  County,  Ohio. 
The  father  of  our  subject  spent  his  early  life  in  his 
native  State,  and  when  a  young  man.  crossed  the 
mountains  into  Ohio,  and  became  a  pioneer  of 
Knox  County,  buying  a  tract  of  heavily  timbered 
land  and  there  building  a  rude  log  house  in  which 
our  subject  was  born.  He  was  quite  prosperous  in 
his  career  as  a  farmer,  clearing  quite  a  large  farm, 
erecting  a  good  set  of  frame  buildings,  and  making 
many  other  valuable  improvements.  In  1854  he 
sold  his  property  in  Ohio  and  came  to  Tazewell 
County,  III.,  where  he  resided  until  March,  1856, 
when  he  removed  to  this  county  and  invested  in  a 
section  of  fine  farming  land,  comprising  the  north- 
east quarter  and  the  east  half  of  the  sonth 
west  quarter  of  section  12,  Cazenovia  Township. 
One  hundred  acres  of  the  land  were  broken  and 
fenced,  and  a  new  house  stood  on  the  place.  At 
that  time  Lacon  was  the  nearest  market,  and  Minonk 
was  the  nearest  railway  station.  During  the  few 
years  that  his  life  was  spared  after  coming  to  this 
county,  Mr.  Stevenson  made  many  improvements 
on  his  farm,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  the  fall  of  1862,  already  had  quite  a  good 
farm.  He  was  a  man  of  industrious  habits  and  of 
high  principles,  and  was  accounted  a  valuable  citi- 
zen. The  venerable  mother  of  our  subject  now 
makes  her  home  with  her  son  Thomas  on  the  old 
homestead,  and  she  has  attained  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty-seven  years.  Her  maiden  name  was 
Hannah  Le  Fever.  To  her  and  her  husband  came 
ten  children,  eight  of  whom  grew  to  maturity : 
Thomas.  James,  now  dead;  Martha  J.,  wife  of  C. 
F.  McCulloch;  our  subject:  Eliza,  the  wife  of  Rich- 
ard Jsorris;  George,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  late 
war,  enlisting  in  Company  C,  65th  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  and  dying  in  the  service;  Caroline  is 
the  wife  of  D.  H.  Norris;  Oliver,  now  dead. 

William  Stevenson,  the  subject  of  this  biog- 
raphical review,  was  reared  in  his  native  county, 
attended  the  early  schools  taught  on  the  subscrip- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


235 


tion  plan,  and  as  soon  as  large  enough  began  to 
help  his  father  on  the  farm,  receiving  from  him  a 
good  drill  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  came  to 
Illinois  with  his  parents  in  the  opening  years  of  his 
manhood,  and  remained  with  them  till  the  date  of 
his  entering  the  army.  Imbued  with  the  patriotic 
spirit  of  his  Revolutionary  grandsire,  Aug.  13. 
18(52  he  left  his  pleasant  home  at  his  country's  call 
and  inarched  to  her  defence,  enrolling  his  name 
as  a  member  of  Company  C,  77th  Illinois  In- 
f.intry,  and  serving  through  all  the  remaining 
years  of  the  war  till  the  cruel  strife  was  over,  and 
peace  was  declared.  He  went  through  the  entire 
"Vicksburg  campaign,  and  was  with  Gen.  Banks  on 
his  Red  River  expedition,  taking  an  active  part  in 
the  most  important  battles  fought  on  the  route. 
Later  he  was  present  at  the  battles  of  Spanish  Fort 
and  Fort  Blakely.  He  did  good  service  in  camp 
and  field,  and  proved  to  be  a  cool,  courageous, 
faithful  soldier,  always  prompt  in  obeying  orders 
and  ever  ready  to  follow  his  leader.  He  was  dis- 
charged with  his  regiment  at  Springfield  and  re- 
turned home  on  the  10th  day  of  August,  1865. 

After  his  experience  of  military  life,  our  subject 
quietly  resumed  farming,  and  in  1871  located  on 
his  present  homestead.  "He  has  met  with  more  than 
ordinary  success  in  the  pursuit  of  his  calling,  and 
has  one  of  the  best  farms  in  all  Cnzenovia  Town- 
ship. It  comprises  400  acres  of  land  of  exceeding 
fertility  and  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  so 
that  it  yields  to  the  utmost,  and  it  is  furnished 
with  a  neat  and  commodious,  well-arranged  set  of 
buildings  and  all  kinds  of  machinery  for  facilitating 
the  farm  labors.  It  is  admirably  adapted  to  raising 
stock,  and  Mr.  Stevenson  has  fine  herds  of  well- 
graded  horses,  cattle  and  hogs. 

In  his  efforts  to  build  up  this  pretty,  comfortable 
home  Mr.  Stevenson  has  been  warmly  seconded  by 
a  helpful,  capable  wife,  to  whom  he  was  united  in 
marriage  Nov.  2,  1870.  Their  pleasant  wedded  life 
has  been  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  three  chil- 
dren— Carrie  Elizabeth,  Lena  May,  Ralph.  Mrs. 
Stevenson's  maiden  name  was  Eleanor  Dodds,  and 
she  is  a  native  of  Ca/enovia  Township,  a  daughter 
of  William  and  Priscilla  Uodds,  of  whom  see 
sketch  on  another  page  of  this  book. 

Mr.   Stevenson   is  in   every  way  worthy  of    the 


high  respect  in  which  he  is  held  by  the  entire  com- 
munity, as  he  is  a  noble,  true-hearted,  loyal, 
Christian  gentleman,  one  in  whom  his  fellow-citi- 
zens place  implicit  trust.  He  possesses  in  a  high 
degree  the  foresight,  sagacity  and  sound  discrim- 
ination that  are  so  essential  to  success  in  any 
calling,  combining  with  these  a  due  sense  of  honor 
and  honesty.  He  and  his  estimable  wife  are  con- 
sistent members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  sin- 
cere in  their  religions  faith  as  betokened  by  their 
works.  Mr.  Stevenson  is  a  strong  Republican  in 
his  political  views,  voting  as  he  fought,  for  the  prin- 
ciples promulgated  by  that  party. 


AVID  EVANS.  Probably  no  man  has 
been  more  closely  identified  for  the  past 
eighteen  years  with  the  business  interests 
of  El  Paso  than  the  subject  of  this  biog- 
raphy. Since  1871  he  has  operated  extensively  as 
a  grain  dealer  and  from  that  year  until  1884,  was 
associated  in  partnership  with  Mr  Jenkins  who 
has  been  for  the  past  four  years  a  resident  of  Cali- 
fornia. The  firm  transacted  a  large  business  and 
since  being  dissolved,  Mr.  Evans  has  operated 
singly  and  alone.  He  came  to  Woodford  from 
Peoria  Connty,  where  he  had  been  occupied  in 
fanning  and  milling  on  the  Kickapoo  River,  fifteen 
miles  from  the  city  of  Peoria.  This  mill  was 
established  by  his  father  in  the  pioneer  times  and 
is  still  the  property  of  the  family. 

Our  subject  attained  his  majority  in  Peoria 
County,  111.,  of  which  he  became  a  resident  in 
1840.  Upon  reaching  manhood  he  succeeded  to 
his  father's  business  in  connection  with  the  mill 
which  was  established  in  1844  and  with  which  he 
remained  until  1871,  the  year  of  his  removal  to 
El  Paso.  He  was  born  in  Montgomery  Township, 
Montgomery  County,  Pa.,  his  early  home  being  on 
the  Bethlehem  Pike.  His  father,  Evan  Evans,  was 
likewise  a  native  of  Montgomery  County  and  the 
son  of  Walter  Evans  who  traced  his  ancestry  to 
Wales.  The  latter  settled  in  Pennsylvania  where 


236 


PORTRAIT  AMD  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


they  flourished  for  several  generations  and  were 
almost  invariably  occupied  in  farming  and  milling. 
They  were  generally  Baptists  in  religion. 

Walter  Evans,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  married  a  Pennsylvania  lady.  Miss  Smith, 
and  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in 
Montgomery  County,  passing  away  when  ripe  in 
years.  Their  son,  Evan,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  one  of  the  elder  members  of  a  large  family,  and 
he  upon  attaining  to  man's  estate  married  Miss 
Amelia  Morris,  a  lady  of  Welsh  descent.  They 
remained  in  Pennsylvania  until  the  birth  of  all 
their  family  and  then  about  1840  decided  to  change 
their  residence  to  the  farther  West.  After  being 
engaged  in  milling  a  number  of  years  the  father 
turned  his  attention  to  farming  exclusively.  The 
wife  and  mother  departed  this  life  when  about 
forty-five  3'ears  old,  and  the  elder  Evans  was  sub- 
sequently married  in  Montgomery  County,  Pa.  to 
Mary  A.  Hill.  There  were  born  to  the  latter  three 
children,  one  of  whom,  Sarah,  died  young.  Mr. 
Evans  and  his  second  wife  lived  to  be  quite  old. 
He  and  both  his  wives  and  most  of  their  children 
belonged  to  the  Baptist  Church. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  youngest  of 
the  three  children  of  his  father's  first  marriage, 
the  others  being  Walter  M.,  and  Elizabeth,  who 
are  deceased.  Both  had  been  married  and  left 
families. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  are  active  members  of 
the  Baptist  Church  in  which  Mr.  Evans  has  been  a 
deacon  for  many  years  and  to  which  he  contributes 
liberally.  Politically,  he  is  a  sound  Republican 
and  has  served  a  number  of  terms  as  School  Direc- 
tor, also  represented  his  ward  in  the  City  Council 
several  terms.  He  is  the  friend  of  education  and 
is  especially  interested  in  church  matters. 


HRISTIAN  RUVENCHT.  Among  those 
who  ventured  into  Woodford  County  dur- 
^^^/  ing  its  early  settlement,  was  a  large  repre- 
sentation from  across  the  Atlantic,  who  have  assis- 
ted greatly  in  developing  the  soil,  building  up  from 
the  prairie  beautiful  homesteads  adding  largely  to 


the  business  interests  of  this  section  and  develop- 
ing its  agricultural  resources.  The  subject  of  this 
notice  is  worthy  of  honorable  mention  among  the 
pioneers  of  Panola  Township,  to  which  he  came 
when  a  young  man  and  where  he  has  since  lived. 
By  a  course  of  arduous  labor  and  close  economy  he 
buift  up  a  valuable  homestead  of  which  he  is  now 
in  possession,  en  joying  all  the  comforts  of  life,  and 
which  is  pleasantly  located  on  section  3. 

A  native  of  the  province  of  Alsace,  formerly  be- 
longing to  France,  our  subject  was  born  Dec.  26, 
1834  and  lived  there  until  a  youth  of  eighteen 
years.  In  the  meantime  he  was  given  a  practical 
education  and  was  taught  those  habits  of  industry 
and  economy  whicli  have  enabled  him  to  fortify 
himself  against  want  in  his  old  age.  He  learned 
both  French  and  German  and  when  leaving  school 
was  occupied  principally  upon  a  farm.  He  was  an 
ambitious  lad  and  when  reaching  his  eighteenth 
year,  not  being  satisfied  with  his  prospects  in  his 
native  place  resolved  upon  emigrating  to  America. 

In  the  spring  of  1852  our  subject  repaired  to 
Havre  and  took  passage  on  a  sailing  vessel  which, 
after  an  ocean  voyage  of  fifty-two  days,  landed 
him  safely  in  New  Orleans.  Thence  he  came  di- 
rectly to  this  county  and  sought  employment  and 
for  several  years  thereafter  worked  as  a  farm 
laborer  until  saving  enough  to  prosecute  farming 
on  his  own  account.  He  began  on  rented  land  and 
in  due  time  purchased  forty  acres  for  which  lie 
paid  six  dollars  per  acre  and  which  is  included  in 
his  present  homestead.  This  was  then  a  wild  prai- 
rie upon  which  not  a  furrow  had  been  turned. 
Deer,  turkeys  and  wolves  were  plentiful  <ind  his 
neighbors  were  few  and  far  between. 

Always  making  it  a  rule  to  live  within  his  in- 
come Mr.  Ruvencht  soon  found  himself  on  the 
road  to  prosperity  and  invested  his  capital  in  ad- 
ditional land  until  he  became  the  owner  of  400 
acres  in  this  county,  and  240  acres  in  Livingston 
County.  While  laboring  and  waiting  he  has 
watched  with  warm  interest  the  growth  and  devel- 
opment of  his  adopted  State  and  may  properly  feel 
that  he  has  been  instrumental  in  bringing  it  to  its 
present  condition.  His  broad  fields  with  their  neat 
and  substantial  fences,  his  fat  cattle  and  horses 
with  his  farm  buildings  and  other  improvements, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


237 


indicate  in  .a  marked  manner  to  what  good  pur- 
pose he  has  labored  and  the  economy  and  pru- 
dence which  he  must  have  practiced.  Although 
having  very  little  to  do  with  outside  matters,  he 
keeps  himself  well  posted  upon  current  events  and 
votes  independently,  aiming  to  support  the  men 
whom  he  considers  best  qualified  for  office  irre- 
spective of  party.  Several  years  ago  he  was  a 
School  Director  in  his  district  and  also  officiated 
as  Pathmaster. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  1864  to  Miss  Cath- 
erine Risser  and  there  have  been  born  to  them 
three  children.  The  eldest,  a  daughter,  Annie,  is 
the  wife  of  Joseph  Bughman  of  Livingston  County. 
Barbara  and  Solomon  are  at  home  with  their  par- 
ents. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ruvenecht  belong  to  the  Men- 
nonite  Church  in  which  they  are  leading  members 
and  to  which  they  contribute  a  liberal  support. 
Although  having  labored  many  years,  they  are 
still  in  their  prime  and  well  fitted  to  enjoy  the 
fruits  of  their  early  industry. 


)  AMES  F.  BOURN  has  been  for  many  years 
identified  with  the  leading  interests  of  Mi- 
nonk  and  vicinity.  He  is  of  English  de- 
scent,  his  grandfather,  Elijah  Bourn,  hav- 
ing emigrated  to  America  from  the  shores  of  Al- 
bion when  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age.  Having 
reached  the  land  of  liberty  lie  made  his  home  in  the 
Old  Dominion,  whither  so  many  of  his  own  nation 
had  preceded  him.  In  Virginia  he  made  the  ac- 
quaintance of  the  lady  who  became  his  wife.  Their 
honeymoon  was  spent  in  a  manner  which  would 
certainly  have  the  charm  of  novelty  to  the  brides 
and  grooms  of  the  present  day,  who  hurry  across 
the  ocean,  or  seek  a  gay,  fashionable  summer  re- 
sort. ,  Grandfather  Bourn  and  his  young  wife  pro- 
ceeded the  day  after  their  marriage  to  Kentucky, 
not  in  the  usual  modern  way  of  traveling,  but  by 
horseback.  After  a  long,  fatiguing  journey  over 
the  mountains  of  Western  Virginia  they  at  last 
reached  their  future  home,  and  settled  on  a  small 


tract  of  land  two  miles  from  Nicholasville,  and 
twelve  miles  distant  from  the  city  of  Lexington. 
In  this  retired  spot  the  couple  passed  their  lives, 
the  wife  dying  in  middle  life,  while  the  husband 
lived  to  four  score  and  four  years.  His  first  mar- 
riage resulted  in  the  birth  of  eight  children,  of 
whom  Elijah  is  the  father  of  our  subject.  Grand- 
father Bourn  married  in  later  years,  but  there  were 
no  children  from  this  second  union. 

Elijah  Bourn  grew  to  manhood  in  Kentucky 
under  the  parental  roof,  but  at  the  age  of  twenty, 
five  went  to  Ojven  County,  Ind.,  when  he  was  mar- 
ried the  year  after  his  arrival  to  Miss  Nancy 
Alexander.  He  then  located  on  land  he  had  pre- 
viously purchased  in  Ray  Township,  Morgan 
Co.,  Ind.  This  Innd  was  heavily  timbered,  and  re- 
quired constant  and  diligent  labor  to  reduce  it  to 
a  state  of  cultivation.  However,  Elijah  Bourn  was 
successful  in  putting  into  good  condition  200 
acres  out  of  his  purchase  of  400  acres  of  the  tim- 
bered land.  He  at  one  time  owned  1,300  acres  of 
land,  and  was  even  for  those  times  a  large  land- 
holder. 

The  record  of  the  ten  children  born  to  Elijah 
Bourn  and  his  first  wife  is  as  follows:  James  F., 
Alexander,  Marietta,  Henry,  Mahala,  Emeline,  Jef- 
ferson, Perry,  Newton  and  Sarah.  The  oldest  of 
this  family  is  he  of  whom  we  write.  Alexander 
died  in  Morgan  County,  Ind.,  leaving  three  child- 
ren; Marietta  married  Samuel  Wheeler,  and  be- 
came the  mother  of  four  children,  thres  sons  and 
one  daughter.  She  died  in  Owen  County,  Ind.; 
Henry  is  a  resident  of  Morgan  County,  Ind.;  Ma- 
hala married  Thomas  Hodges,  of  Morgan  County, 
She  passed  to  her  last  rest,  leaving  three  children; 
Emiline  married  Elijah  Mannon  and  became  the 
mother  of  five  children.  She  died  at  her  home  in 
Morgan  County ;  Jefferson,  also  died  in  Morgan 
County,  leaving  three  fatherless  children;  Perry 
makes  his  home  in  Sherman  County,  Neb.;  Newton 
is  a  resident  of  Adams  County,  Neb.  The  young- 
est of  this  large  family,  Sarah,  resides  in  Morgan 
County,  Ind.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  mar- 
ried a  second  time,  and  passed  away  June  7,  1887, 
when  he  had  reached  the  advanced  age  of  seventy- 
nine  years. 

The  gentleman  whose  life  record  is    here  briefly 


238 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


outlined,  was  born  in  Morgan  County,  Ind.,  Jan. 
17,  1831,  was  reared  to  manhood  on  the  home 
fann,  and  as  the  majority  of  the  boys  of  that  day 
passed  tlieir  time,  he  also  was  early  put  to  such 
work  as  his  strength  and  experience  enabled  him  to 
perform,  and  in  the  winter  seasons  went  for  a  very 
few  months  to  the  district  school.  At  the  age  of 
nineteen  years  he  was  fortunate  enough  to  attend  a 
graded  school  in  Owen  County,  for  one  term,  and 
the  instruction  therein  received  was  of  material  ad- 
vantage to  him  in  his  life  work.  At  the  age  of 
twenty  years  he  became  a  clerk  for  his  uncle  who 
was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  and  was  his 
assistant  for  the  period  of  one  year,  then  he  re- 
turned to  his  father's  home. 

It  is  certainly  appropriate  that  the  biographical 
record  of  Mr.  Bourn  should  also  contain  an  out- 
line of  the  history  and  ancestry  of  her,  who  has 
been  for  these  many  years  a  devoted,  earnest  co- 
laborer,  ever  at  his  side,  ready  to  lend  assistance 
to  worthy  projects,  and  to  whose  material  aid  and 
sensible  advice  Mr.  Bourn  owes  no  little  of  his 
present  prosperity.  To  this  faithful  companion 
Mr.  Bourn  was  united  in  marriage  March  1,  1855. 
She  was  then  Miss  Barsheba  E.  Trowbridge,  and 
was  a  native  of  Washington  County,  Ind.,  and 
born  Jan.  23,  1832.  Her  parents  were  Dempsey 
and  Edith  (Scketton)  Trowbridge,  natives  respec- 
tively of  Virginia  and  Kentucky.  She  w«s  only 
four  years  old  when  her  father  was  taken  from  the 
family  by  death,  so  she  is  not  familiar  with  her  pa- 
ternal ancestry.  Mr.  Dempsey  Trowbridge  was  a 
man  universally  respected,  of  firm  character, 
and  strength  of  will  and  was  by  profession  a 
teacher  and  minister  in  the  Christian  Church:  Mrs. 
Trowbridge  survived  her  husband  for  a  long  time, 
dving  in  the  autumn  of  1865,  when  the  winter  of 
her  life  was  rapidly  approaching.  She  died  in 
Marshall  County,  111. 

Rev.  and  Mrs.  Dempsey  Trowbridge  had  a  fam- 
ily of  eleven  children,  whose  names  follow:  Samuel 
W.,  Allen  H.,  Robert  T.,  Elizabeth  A.,  Mary  J., 
Barsheba  E.,  (the  wife  of  our  subject),  Martha  E., 
James  M.,  Sandford,  Melinda  A.  and  Dempsev  H.  ; 
The  eldest  of  these,  Samuel  W.,  died  in  Morgan 
County;  Allen  H.,  is  a  minister  in  the  Christian 
Church,  at  Rutland,  111.,  and  is  well  known  among 


the  ranks  of  that  church,  as  an  able  preacher,  an 
earnest  man,  and  a  sincere  Christian.  He  is  follow- 
ing in  the  footsteps  of  his  father,  and  is  held  in  high 
esteem  among  his  parishioners.  Robert  T.,  the  third 
son.  died  in  his  early  manhood  in  Indiana:  Eliza- 
beth A.  married  Jefferson  C.  Gray,  and  passed 
away  in  Jasper  County.  Ind.;  Mary  J.  married 
Washington  Bennington,  but  is  dead,  this  event  oc- 
curring at  her  home,  in  Marshall  County,  III.; 
Martha  E.,  the  third  daughter,  became  the  wife  of 
William  Potts,  and  resides  in  Mitchell  County, 
Kan.;  Sanford  died  when  young;  Melinda  A.  mar- 
ried John  Brown  and  died  in  Jasper  County,  Ind.; 
Dempsey  H.,  the  namesake  of  his  father,  has  been 
gifted  with  a  fine  voice,  and  is  an  instructor  in  vo- 
cal music  in  AVymore,  Neb.,  where  James  M.,  also 
resides. 

Thus  assuming  the  responsibility  of  a  family  at 
the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  our  subject  has  been 
prospered  in  his  enterprises  and  has  enjoyed  the 
blessings  of  a  happy  home  and  a  comfortable  in- 
come. After  his  marriage  Mr.  Bourn  settled  on 
some  land  owned  by  his  father,  situated  on  the 
White  River  bottoms.  Here  lie  built  a  house  after 
the  primitive  manner  of  carpentering.  For  nine 
years  he  remained  here,  shaking  with  the  ague, 
which  had  him  completely  under  power.  In  1863 
he  came  to  drier,  sunnier  climes  in  Marshall 
County,  III.,  which  was  his  home  until  1865,  when 
he  settled  in  Minonk.  He  rented  land  at  12.25 
per  acre  in  Marshall  County,  but  upon  changing 
his  location  purchased  land,  now  his  farm.  Eor 
one  year  of  his  residence  in  Minonk  he  was  en- 
gaged in  a  store,  and  for  one  year  also  was  a  mil- 
ler. For  a  period  of  three  years  he  rented  and 
tilled  400  acres  of  land,  lie  gained  an  excellent 
reputation  as  a  farmer,  for  whatever  he  undertook 
was  executed  in  a  thorough,  systematic  manner  to 
the  very  best  of  his  ability.  The  passer-by  would 
always  notice  the  absence  of  weeds,  those  destruc- 
tive enemies  of  the  farmer,  and  would  also  admire 
the  general  air  of  neatness  on  the  farm,  whije  at 
present  his  garden  is  kept  in  a  manner  worthy  of 
his  reputation,  being  clean  and  beautiful,  and  con- 
taining only  the  choicest  articles  of  garden  pro- 
duce. 'I  he  farm  owned  by  Mr.  Bourn  is  capable 
of  remarkable  cultivation,  and  one  year  our  sub- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


243 


ject  gathered  1 1 ,000  bushels  of  corn  off  of  1 50  acres 
of  land.  Now,  however,  his  principal  attention  is 
concentrated  on  gardening. 

Mr.  Bourn  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church, 
and  serves  as  Deacon,  besides  giving  liberally  to 
the  support  and  maintenance  of  the  cause.  In 
general  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  being  in  full 
sympathy  with  the  principles  advocated  by  that 
party,  but  in  affairs  of  local  importance  only,  he 
aims  to  vote  for  the  man  not  for  the  party,  being 
very  liberal  in  his  views. 

The  family  of  Mr.  Bourn  is  small  now,  though 
in  the  past  five  children  clustered  around  the  table 
and  fireside.  One  of  these,  a  daughter,  Anna,  by 
name,  died  in  childhood.  Four  are  now  living: 
James  Dempsey,  better  known  under  his  pseudonym 
of  "Owen  Bartlett,"  is  a  theatrical  manager.  The 
second  son,  William  Parris,  is  now  farming  in  this 
county;  Rose  E.,  the  only  surviving  daughter,  lives 
in  Abilene,  Kan.,  and  is  the  wife  of  R.  S.  Jacobs 
of  that  place.  She  has  one  child  named  Oscar  F. ; 
the  youngest  of  the  family  is  Fred  P.,  who  is  living 
at  home. 

Thus  conspicuous  among  the  many  residents  of 
Wood  ford  County  is  Mr.  Bourn,  as  a  man  of  in- 
dustry, prudence, |far-sceing  and  kind-hearted.  He 
and  his  estimable  wife  represent  the  best  society  in 
their  adopted  home,  and  are  everywhere  welcomed 
as  respected  guests. 


lEV.  ARMISTED  KERRICK.  "Mr.  Kerrick 
has  traveled  more  miles,  preached  more  ser- 
mons, made  more  prayers  than  any  other 
||||  local  preacher  in  the  State."  The  above  is 
quoted  from  the  Rev.  John  W.  Rogers,  endorsed 
by  the  Rev.  Richard  Haney.  one  of  the  pioneer 
ministers  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  his  son.  the 
Rev.  James  Haney.  Not  only  has  Mr.  Kerrick 
delivered  many  discourses  but  he  is  also  noted  for 
the  ability  and  the  power  displayed  through  the 
medium  of  his  sermons.  He  is  known  by  everyone 
within  many  miles,  and  wherever  he  has  gone 
his  name  is  a  household  word,  as  belonging  to  a 
minister  who  has  accomplished  a  great  good  in  his 


county  and  State.  He  is  very  outspoken  in  his 
opinions,  and  speaks  his  sentiments  without  fear  or 
favor. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Kerrick  resides  in  Bennington 
Township,  Marshall  County,  where  his  home  has 
been  from  the  year  1856.  He  is  the  son  of  Thomas 
and  Phoebe  (Carethers)  Kerrick.  The  Kerrick 
family  are  of  Irish  extraction,  but  for  many  gen- 
erations have  been  residents  of  the  United  States. 
In  1824  the  family  removed  from  their  Eastern 
home  to  what  was  then  considered  the  far  away 
West,  Muskingum  County,  Ohio.  Later  their  resi- 
dence was  in  Franklin  County,  Ind.  Thomas  Ker- 
rick was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  but  before  leaving 
his  first  home  in  Virginia  he  met  with  an  accident 
which  debarred  him  from  working  longer  in  this 
trade.  He  had  been  injured  in  Virginia  by  a  run- 
away horse,  and  was  left  a  cripple  for  life.  When 
he  left  his  native  State  he  was  scarcely  able  to  walk, 
while  he  carried  his  arm  in  a  sling  for  some  time. 
He  had  only  $27.50  to  carry  himself  and  his 
family  to  their  new  home,  but  after  reaching  Mus- 
kingum County  he  taught  school  and  two  of  the 
sons  engaged  in  cutting  wood.  The  wood  thus 
obtained  they  exchanged  for  salt,  for  which  they 
paid  twenty  cents  per  bushel.  The  autumn  suc- 
ceeding their  arrival  they  were  enabled  to  get  the 
means  to  continue  their  westward  journey,  and  with 
a  one  horse  team,  emigrated  to  Franklin  County. 
From  that  place  they  again  removed  in  1840  to 
Decatur  County,  Ind.  In  this  county  the  boys 
grew  up,  obtaining  such  education  as  was  possible, 
which  as  may  be  readily  imagined  was  very  limited. 
Their  land  was  rented,  and  they  were  compelled  to 
work  very  hard  especially  at  first,  to  make  both 
ends  meet. 

Thomas  Kerrick  for  many  years  employed  him- 
self as  a  teacher,  for  which  position  he  was  nat- 
urally adapted  by  his  thoroughness  and  patience, 
as  well  as  by  his  education.  During  the  latter  part 
of  his  life  he  was  quite  deaf  and  almost  blind,  so 
that  he  would  consent  to  take  only  very  small 
schools.  He  passed  away  in  1856,  at  the  home- 
stead in  Decatur  County.  His  wife  lived  some 
years  thereafter,  and  during  the  last  portion  of  her 
life  was  also  nearly  blind. 

Thomas  Kerrick  and  his  wife   had  ti  f:imily  of 


244 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


eight  children,  whose  names  are  given  as  follows: 
Nimrod,  a  resident  of  Bloomington,  111.;  James, 
who  died  in  Decatur  County;  Walter,  who  died  in 
Marshall  County,  111. ;  Armisted,  of  this  sketch ;  Jo- 
hanna and  Stephen  both  died  in  Deeatur  County, 
Ind. ;  Hugh  passed  from  earth  in  Rush  County. 
Ind.;  Mary  married  James  Throp,  of  Decatur 
County. 

Armisted  Kerrick  is  a  native  of  Loudoun  County, 
Va.,  and  was  born  Feb.  21,  1819.  The  principal 
portion  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  was  spent  in 
Franklin  County,  Ind.  At  the  age  of  twenty  years 
he  went  to  Decatur  County  to  clear  up  some  land 
and  prepare  it  for  a  residence  for  his  parents,  who 
removed  there  the  following  year.  When  prepared 
to  establish  domestic  ties  of  his  own  our  subject 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  A.  Sloan. 
He  was  a  brave  man,  assuredly,  for  when  he  formed 
a  home  of  his  own  he  was  penniless,  but  with  f.he 
natural  courage  of  youth  he  feared  no  future,  how- 
ever dark.  His  wife  was  born  in  Union  County, 
Ind.  After  their  marriage  he  rented  land,  and  be- 
gan by  persevering,  unremitting  work  to  lay  the 
foundation  of  future  comfort.  He  was  able  in  1845 
with  the  assistance  of  his  father,  to  purchase  eighty 
acres  of  land  in  Franklhi  County,  on  which  he 
settled. 

Rev.  Mr.  Kerrick  was  prevented  from  assiduous 
labor  for  a  long  period,  on  account  of  an  unfortu- 
nate accident  which  occurred  before  his  marriage. 
He  had  his  knee  cut  by  an  ax,  and  it  was  suffi- 
ciently severe  to  cripple  him  for  some  time.  He 
suffered  from  poor  health  often  after  that,  but 
never  allowed  it  to  interfere  with  his  chosen  calling, 
the  preaching  of  the  Gospel. 

From  Indiana  Mr.  Kerrick  and  his  family  re- 
moved to  Low  Point,  Wood  ford  Co.,  111.  He  was 
now  the  possessor  of  about  $3,000  in  money,  and 
the  first  year  of  his  residence  in  the  new  home  he 
cleared  123  acres  of  land  in  three  different  pieces. 
He  has  occupied  his  present  home  since  1864,  and 
is  now  the  owner  of  566  acres  of  land,  which  he 
has  improved  until  it  is  in  good  condition. 

Mrs.  Kerrick  died  "in  1870,  March  19,  leaving 
nine  children,  two  having  already  preceded  her  to 
rest.  Their  names  are:  Joanna,  wife  of  Ahua 
Rogers;  Mary,  Stephen,  deceased;  Josiah,  Thomas, 


resides  in  Kansas;  Jacob  W.,  deceased;  Harrison, 
James,  in  Minonk;  Henry,  of  Bloomington,  111.; 
Benjamin  B.  and  Pho;be. 

The  second  wife  of  Mr.  Kerrick,  who  yet  remains 
by  his  side,  was  Mrs.  Jane  (Burleigh)  Soures.  She 
was  born  in  Perry  County,  where  her  father,  Taza- 
lear  Burleigh,  still  lives.  By  his  second  union  Mr. 
Kerrick  has  had  three  children,  namely:  John  B., 
Tazalear,  and  one  daughter,  named  Orpha.,  who 
died  when  only  five  years  old.  Mrs.  Kerrick,  by 
her  former  marriage,  had  one  child,  a  daughter, 
Minnie  Soures.  In  politics  Mr.  Kerrick  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  is  very  proud  of  the  fact  that  in 
1840  he  voted  for  Gen.  W.  H.  Harrison,  and  in 
1888  for  Benjamin  Harrison  for  the  Presidency  of 
the  United  States,  and  has  five  boys  who  voted 
for  Harrison. 

Mr.  Kerrick  for  many  years  has  been  an  orna- 
ment to  the  Methodist  Church, 'of  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois. He  has  benefited  the  church  in  which  he  of- 
ficiates as  minister,  by  the  purity  of  his  life  which  is 
an  example  all  men  might  follow.  He  will  be  sadly 
missed  when  called  away  from  the  ranks,  but  can 
rest  in  the  knowledge  of  the  fact  that  he  has  been 
faithful  in  the  few  things  which  have  been  com- 
mitted to  his  care,  and  thus  will  be  prepared  for 
the  greater  joys  that  yet  remain  unto  the  people 
of  God. 

As  in  turning  over  the  pages  of  the  family 
Album  the  eye  pauses  longest  before  the  faces  of 
those  we  most  tenderly  love  and  most  highly  es- 
teem, so  in  perusing  this  ALBUM,  the  reader's  gaze 
will  rest  lingeringly  and  lovingly  upon  the  por- 
traits of  Mr.  Kerrick  and  his  wife,  who  have  grown 
old  in  the  Lord's  vineyard. 


ER1T  PATTERSON  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock-raising  on  section 
29,  Palestine  Township.  He  is  a  leading 
and  influential  citizen  of  the  community, 
and  is  well  and  favorably  known  throughout 
the  entire  county,  where  he  has  many  friends. 
As  a  public  spirited  and  progressive  man,  he  is  well 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


245 


worthy  of  a  representation  in  this  volume,  and  »vu 
are  pleased  to  record  bis  sketch,  which  is  as  fol- 
lows: 

He  was  born  in  Rush  County  Ind..  May  30th, 
1833,  and  is  descended  from  an  early  Vir- 
ginian family.  His  grandfather,  James  Patterson, 
who  was  a  native  of  Germany,  left  his  native  land 
and  emigrated  to  America  during  the  colonial 
days  of  this  country,  settling  in  Lo*ndoun  County 
Va.  The  ancestry  of  the  family  were  noted  for  long- 
evity, and  lie  died  at  a  ripe  old  age  on  the  old 
homestead  where  he  settled  immediately  after  com- 
ing to  this  country. 

The  father  of  our  subject.  Joshua  Patterson,  was 
one  of  a  large  family  of  eleven  children,  almost  all 
of  whom  lived  to  an  advanced  age.  He  was  born 
in  Loudoun  County ,Va.,  where  he  was  reared  to  man- 
hood and  married  Miss  Mary  Elizabeth  Bell, 
daughter  of  James  and  (Mary  Patterson1)  Bell,  who 
passed  their  entire  lives  in  the  Old  Dominion.  The 
mother  died  when  her  daughter  was  an  infant,  and 
she  was  reared  by  an  older  sister,  Mrs.  Lydia  Bax- 
ter, with  whom  she  removed  to  Kentucky  in  an 
parly  day.  They  settled  in  Scott  County,  that 
State,  and  it  was  there  that  she  became  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Patterson.  Ten  children  were  born  of  their 
union,  seven  sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom 
grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood,were  married  and 
had  families,  while  four  sons  and  two  daughters  arc 
yet  living.  In  early  life,  Mr.  Patterson  had  learned 
the  blacksmith's  trade,  and  after  his  marriage 
followed  that  occupation  for  a  number  of  years.  Be- 
lieving that  he  could  better  his  condition  by  a 
removal  from  Kentucky,  he  made  a  trip  on  horse- 
back to  Indiana  with  a  view  to  selecting  a  locution. 
and  chose  Rush  County  as  the  scene  of  his  future 
operations.  The  mother  of  our  subject  accompa- 
nied his  father  on  that  journey;  they  were  at 
Indianapolis  where  there  was  but  one  house  at 
that  time,  and  that  was  a  log  house.  He  then  re- 
turned to  his  home  and  in  1825,  accompanied  by 
his  family  again  started  for  the  county  in  which  he 
had  resolved  to  locate.  They  made  the  journey 
with  teams  through  an  almost  unbroken  wilder- 
ness, but  at  length  reached  their  destination  in 
safety.  They  located  in  Richland  Township,  where 
Mr.  Patterson  cleared  1 60  acres  of  land,  situated 


on  what  was  known  as  the  school  section,  and 
placed  the  entire  amount  under  cultivation.  He 
made  many  improvements,  built  a  good  home  and 
from  that  time  until  his  death  resided  upon  the 
farm  which  he  had  first  purchased.  He  was  called 
from  the  busy  scenes  of  this  life  Dec.  23,  1851,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-one  years,  his  wife  surviving 
him  until  Nov.  14,  1873,  when  she  also  passed  to 
her  final  rest.  In  early  life,  Mrs.  Patterson  was  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  but  after  becoming 
a  resident  of  Indiana,  both  she  and  her  husband 
united  with  the  Christian  Church,  and  died  in  that 
faith. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  manhood  upon  his 
father's  home  farm  and  received  a  common  school 
education  in  his  native  county.  On  Oct.  2,  1856, 
he  was  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony 
with  Miss  Mary  A.  Mitchell,  who  was  born  in 
Pickaway  County  Ohio,  Sept.  8.  1830,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Cornelia  (Foster)  Mitchell, 
who  are  now  residents  of  Andersonville, Franklin  Co. 
Ind.,  where  for  a  nnmber  of  years  Mr.  Mitchell 
engaged  in  his  trade  of  chair  making,  but  now 
owns  a  store.  Both  are  now  more  than  seventy 
years  of  age.  The  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Patterson 
was  for  a  number  of  years  a  minister  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  but  his  wife  is  a  member 
of  the  Christian  Church.  Unto  them  was  born  a 
family  of  twelve  children,  six  sons  and  six  daugh- 
ters, while  three  sons  and  six  daughters  are  yet 
living,  and  with  the  exception  of  one  son  and  one 
daughter  all  are  married. 

The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Patterson  has  been 
blessed  by  a  family  of  six  children,  five  of  whom 
are  yet  living — Elsworth  L.,  the  first  born,  married 
Margaret  Wilson,  and  now  resides  in  Secor,  where 
he  is  engaged  at  his  trade  of  carpentering;  Charles 
M.,  a  resident  farmer  of  Palestine  Township,  wed- 
ded Sarah  Gassner;  William  Leslie  is  still  at  home, 
and  assists  in  the  cultivation  ^f  the  farm;  Everett 
is  yet  with  his  parents;  Lillie  is  the  wife  of  S.  C. 
Platt,  who  for  many  years  was  a  prominent  teacher 
at  Luverne  Iowa;  one  child  died  in  infancy.- 

Since  attaining  his  majority,  Mr.  Patterson  has 
followed  the  occupation  of  farming,  and  has  been 
very  successful  in  that  business.  He  now  owns 
and  operates  160  acres  of  arable;  land  on  section 


246 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


29,  Palestine  Township,  where  he  has  made  his 
home  since  1869,  covering  a  period  of  twenty 
years.  He  has,  however,  resided  in  the  township 
since  1864,  the  year  of  his  arrival  in  the  county. 
His  land  is  now  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
well  improved  and  stocked  with  good  grades  of 
horses  and  cattle.  His  residence  is  a  neat  and 
substantial  dwelling  and  is  one  of  the  most  pleas- 
ant homes  in  the  community,  while  the  entire  sur- 
roundings indicate  thrift  and  refinement.  As  a 
business  man,  Mr.  Patterson  is  sagacious  and  pru- 
dent, yet  entertains  progressive  ideas,  and  is  now 
numbered  among  the  prosperous  farmers  of  Wood- 
ford  County.  Though  his  life  has  not  been  with- 
out adveisity,  he  possesses  a  resolute  will  and 
steadfastness  of  purpose  which  overcome  all  diffi- 
culties and  insure  success.  In  politics,  he  is  a  warm 
advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party, 
to  which  he  gives  his  earnest  support.  He  is  ever 
ready  to  aid  in.thc  advancement  of  those  enterprises 
which  are  calculated  to  benefit  the  general  public, 
and  lias  done  no  inconsiderable  part  towards  secur- 
ing the  best  educational  advantages  for  the  com- 
munity, having  frequently  served  as  school  director. 
Himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church  in  which  they  are  active  workers,  Mr. 
Patterson  having  served  as  Elder  since  its  organi- 
zation. Their  many  friends  throughout  the  county 
will  receive  this  brief  sketch  of  their  lives  with 
pleasure,  for  they  are  widely  and  favorably  known. 


ARION  POTTER.  Many  years  have  gone 
by  since  Ephraim  Potter  first  came  to 
Wood  ford  County,  with  a  view  to  estab- 
lishing here  a  permanent  home.  He  was  a 
g3iitleman  of  Southern  birth,  and  had  been  recently 
married  to  a  young  lady  in  Indiana.  TJie  greater 
portion  of  their  married  lives  was  passed  in  this 
State,  and  there  the  subject  of  this  brief  biographi- 
cal record  was  born,  April  2,  1843.  He  is  thus 
now  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  has  accumulated 
around  him  the  comforts  of  this  world,  having  320 
acres  of  improved  land  in  Palestine  Township,  on 


section  16.  Not  only  does  he  farm  with  success, 
but  he  is  also  a  stock-raiser,  and  in  this  has  been 
prospered,  gaining  a  reputation  among  all  who 
know  him,  as  a  breeder  of  fine  stock,  as  well  as  an 
agriculturist  of  more  than  ordinary  ability  and 
business  management. 

Briefly  told,  the  life  of  Ephraim  Potter,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  is  as  follows:  He  was  of  Southern 
birth,  and  possessed  the  agreeable,  fascinating 
social  qualities  for  which  the  Southern  people  are 
famous.  He  was  reared  in  North  Carolina,  his 
native  State,  and  upon  attaining  years  of  maturity 
came  to  Indiana,  where  he  married  his  second  wife, 
Elizabeth  Hedrick.  She  was  born  in  Georgetown, 
and  was  there  reared  and  married.  After  marriage 
Ephraim  Potter  and  his  wife  came  to  Illinois, 
nnd  made  their  home  in  Palestine  Township,  then 
a  wild,  uncultivated  land,  with  but  few  inhabit- 
ants, and  those  separated  by  wide  distances  of 
seemingly  uninhabitable  land.  Mr.  Potter,  with  a 
clear,  prophetic  knowledge  of  what  Ihe  future  had 
in  store  for  this  land,  sent  to  his  old  Southern 
home  and  persuaded  his  parents  to  come  North 
and  make  their  residence  with  him.  This  they 
did,  spending  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in  the 
country  chosen  as  the  abode  of  their  sou.  They 
were  quite  aged  when  they  passed  to  their  final 
rest.  Ephraim  Potter  and  his  wife  lived  and  died 
on  the  homestead  which  they  had  built  up  on  first 
coming  to  this  county,  and  when  called  to  rest 
were  universally  regretted  and  mourned.  The 
father  died  Dec.  1,  1862,  when  about  sixty  years 
of  age,  but  the  mother  survived  him  at  her  old 
home  until  December,  1881 ,  when  she  too  died. 
She  was  the  second  wife  of  Mr.  Potter,  for  by  a 
former  marriage  he  became  the  father  of  ten  chil- 
dren. His  first  wife  died  in  Indiana.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ephraim  Potter  were  both  members  of  the 
Christian  Church,  and  he  was  in  politics  a  strong 
Democrat.  In  the  pioneer  social  circles,  they  were 
universally  esteemed  as  among  the  most  generous 
and  hospitable  people  of  the  whole  county. 

Marion  Potter  was  among  the  younger  of  the 
nine  children  by  the  last  marriage.  He  had  four 
brothers  and  four  sisters,  most  of  whom  are  yet 
living.  In  this,  his  native  county,  our  subject 
spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood,  which  were  happily 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


247 


passed  in  the  various  employments  necessary  to 
the  successful  cultivation  of  a  very  large  farm. 
Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  wav,  although  under 
age,  our  subject  determined  to  do  battle  for  the 
cause  of  the  Union,  and  accordingly  enlisted  in  the 
88th  Illinois  Infantry,  Company  F,  Capt.  Chicker- 
ing  commanding.  He  enlisted  in  the  latter  part  of 
1862,  and  went  with  his  regiment  to  the  South, 
fighting  witli  them  at  Perryville,  Ky.  He  was 
honorably  discharged  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  after  thir- 
teen months'  service. 

Before  the  return  of  peace  to  the  country,  Mr. 
Potter  was  united  in  marriage,  Jan.  28,  1864,  with 
Miss  Mary  A.  Fry,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  Nov.  8. 
1 845.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Rebecca 
(Billenger)  Fry,  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  resi- 
dents of  Ohio  for  many  years.  About  I860  they 
came  West,  and  died  in  Palestine  Township,  after 
farming  there  several  years  with  good  results. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fry  had  a  family  of  three  children, 
of  whom  Mary  A.  was  the  only  daughter.  Her 
education  was  commenced  in  Ohio  and  completed 
in  Illinois,  and  she  received  practical  training 
which  prepared  her  to  take  the  household  reins  and 
assume  the  duties  of  a  house,  witli  little  effort  and 
good  success.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Potter  had  a  family 
of  seven  children,  of  whom  two  are  now  deceased, 
having  died  in  infancy.  Those  living  are:  Legetta 
M.,  Berta  L.,  Chelsa.O.,  Viola  A.  and  Gilford  E. 
These  children  all  remain  under  the  parental  roof- 
tree,  and  are  receiving  practical  educations  in  the 
schools  of  the  district.  In  politics  Mr.  Potter  is  a 
Democrat. 


BENJAMIN  D.  HERRICK  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Woodford  County  ever  since  the 
year  1856,  with  the  exception  of  eight  years 
(1878 — 1886),  which  time  was  passed  by  him 
in  Marshall  County.  He  owns  and  operates  120 
acres  of  land  on  section  6,  Clayton  Township,  and 
also  cultivates  120  acres  of  land  which  he  rents 
and  which  adjoins  his  own  property. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Loudoun  County,  Va.,on 
the  20th  day  of  November,  1831,  and  is  the  son  of 


William  and  Rowena  (Holmes)  Ilerrick,  natives 
respect! vely  of  Virginia  and  Massachusetts.  The 
Ilerrick  family  for  many  generations  were  resi- 
dents of  Massachusetts,  where  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject  was  a  Baptist  minister,  and  where  his 
entire  life  was  passed.  He  was  regarded  as  a  man 
of  powerful  mental  vigor  as  well  as  great  charity 
toward  all.  He  devoted  his  life  to  deeds  of  kind- 
ness ;ind  raised  a  family  of  sons  and  daughters 
who  walked  in  his  footsteps. 

William  Ilerrick  was  the  oldest  son  of  his  father, 
and  in  his  youth  was  captivated  by  tales  of  ocean 
life,  and  so  became  a  sailor.  In  due  course  of 
time  he  was  promoted  to  be  captain  of  a  ship  that 
traversed  the  Atlantic.  As  he  grew  older,  how- 
ever, sea  life  lost  its  charms,  so  he  settled  down  in 
Virginia,  and  engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Loudoun 
County.  There  he  married,  and  in  1837  removed  to 
Franklin  County,  Ind.,  where  he  followed  the  pro- 
fession of  a  teacher.  P^or  a  period  of  his  life  he 
taught  school  in  Ohio.  He  passed  from  earth  at 
his  home  in  Decatur  County,  Ind.,  in  1853,  when  he 
had  attained  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  His  wife, 
the  mother  of  our  subject,  lived  until  1885,  dying 
at  the  age  of  eighty -two  years. 

To  William  Herrick  and  his  wife  there  were 
born  nine  children,  viz.,  Joshua,  a  resident  of  Jef- 
ferson County,  Neb.;  Benjamin  D.,  of  this  sketch; 
Martha,  who  became  the  wife  of  S.  H.  Hamilton, 
and  lives  in  Kingman  County,  Kan.;  Electa.  who 
married  Angus  Thorn,  of  Minonk;  William  D..  who 
makes  his  home  in  Table  Rock,  Neb.;  Rowena,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Abram  Frost,  of  Jefferson  Count}', 
Neb. ;  Stephen  H .,  also  a  resident  of  Jefferson  County, 
Neb.;  Edwin  M.,  who  was  a  member  of  the  86th 
Illinois  Infantry,  and  died  of  small-pox  in  New 
York  City  while  on  his  way  home.  He  was 
wounded  in  a  skirmish  near  Savannah;  Gilbert, 
who  also  enlisted,  and  served  four  months,  con- 
tracting disease  which  ultimately  caused  his  death. 
After  the  close  of  the  war  he  became  a  pioneer  of 
Jefferson  County,  Neb. 

Our  subject  removed  to  Indiana  with  his  parents 
when  ho  was  a  lad  of  six  years,  and  there  the  main 
portion  of  his  youth  was  passed.  He  early  learned 
the  lesson  of  work,  and  willingly  did  whatever  his 
hands  found  to  do.  In  1856  he  moved  a  little 


246 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


further  toward  the  setting  sun,  coming  to  Illinois, 
where  he  broke  prairie  land  for  two  years.  He 
then  was  able  to  rent  land,  and  to  the  frontier 
home  thus  prepared  brought  his  mother  and  the 
family. 

A  few  years  after  his  arrival  in  Illinois  he  estab- 
lished a  home  of  his  own,  his  marriage  with  Miss 
Elizabeth  Houck  being  solemnized  March  1,  1860. 
She  was  reared  to  womanhood  in  this  county,  being 
the  daughter  of  Jacob  C.  Houck,  of  Washburn. 

The  family  of  Mr.  Benjamin  D.  Herrick  consists 
of  his  wife  and  two  children,  both  sons,  William 
E.  and  Jacob  B.  Mrs.  Herrick  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  Mr.  Herrick  con- 
tributes of  his  means  generously  to  the  maintenance 
not  only  of  the  church,  but  all  organizations  which 
are  calculated  to  uplift  the  people.  Politically  he 
votes  the  Republican  ticket,  but  has  never  desired 
public  office,  although  ever  willing  to  assist  those 
of  his  friends  who  are  anxious  for  public  honors. 


EACON  EMERALD  A.  EISHER.  Wood- 
lord  County,  is  greatly  indebted  for  its 
present  wealth  and  high  standing  to  the 
sturdy,  intelligent,  enterprising  tillers  of 
the  soil  who  have  been  instrumental  in  developing 
its  vast  agricultural  resources.  As  a  worthy  mem- 
ber of  its  farming  population,  who  has  contributed 
his  quota  towards  its  advancement,  it  gives  us 
pleasure  to  present  to  the  readers  of  this  work  a 
brief  review  of  the  life  of  Deacon  Fisher.  A  repre- 
sentative of  an  honorable  pioneer  family,  he  has 
himself  performed  the  pioneer  task  of  improving  a 
farm,  which  is  located  on  section  1,  Metamora 
Township,  and  is  in  all  points  comparable  with  the 
most  desirable  in  the  neighborhood. 

Our  subject  is  of  New  England  birth  and  ante- 
cedents. He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Mendon, 
Rutland  Co.,  Vt.,  March  19,1831,  theson  of  Amos 
Fisher,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Vermont,  born 
in  the  town  of  Grnfton,  Winclham  County,  Nov. 
2,  1802.  His  father,  Dr.  Amos  Fisher,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Bridgewater.  Mass.,  where  he  practiced 


medicine  prior  to  his  removal  to  Vermont.  He 
went  to  that  State  during  the  Revolutionary  War, 
and  became  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Grafton, 
where  he  bought  a  tract  of  forest  covered  land.  He 
practiced  his  profession  there  while  he  superin- 
tended the  improvement  of  a  farm,  and  was  a  resi- 
dent there  until  his  death,  when  the  town  and  county 
were  deprived  of  a  valued  citizen. 

The  father  of  our  subject  grew  to  manhood  in 
his  native  town,  and  was  there  married  to  Lydia 
Stortdard,  a  native  of  Dummerston,  Vt.,  and  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Zerviah  (Richmond)  Stod- 
dard.  After  marriage  he  removed  to  Mendon, 
Rutland  County,  and  purchased  land  there  on 
which  he  made  his  home  several  years.  In  1842 
he  sold  his  property  in  Vermont,  and  in  the  fall  of 
the  year  started  with  his  family  for  the  distant  State 
of  Illinois,  making  the  entire  journey  overland, 
fording  the  various  streams  en  route,  and  crossing 
Illinois  River  on  the  ice  the  1st  day  of  December, 
pushed  on  to  Wood  ford  County.  He  located  in 
Cazenovia  Township,  taking  possession  of  a  vacant 
log  cabin  14x16  feet,  in  which  the  family  spent 
the  winter.  During  that  season  other  fatmilies 
joined  them  from  the  East,  and  one  night  twenty- 
eight  persons  slept  in  that  small  habitation.  Mr. 
Fisher  purchased  a  tract  of  land  on  section  20,  Ca- 
zenovia Township,  about  1846,  five  acres  of  which 
were  broken  and  fenced.  His  means  were  very 
limited,  and  he  sought  employment  at  various 
kinds  of  work  to  keep  his  family  provided  with 
the  necessaries  of  life.  Fortunately  deer,  turkeys, 
and  other  wild  game  were  plentiful,  and  bread  stuffs 
were  cheap,  so  that  they  managed  very  well.  The 
father  opened  a  good  farm,  and  built  a  comfortable 
home  ere  his  death,  which  took  place  March  15, 
18nO.  His  community  was  then  deprived  of  one 
of  its  most  useful  and  respected  citizens,  who  in  all 
the  relations  of  life  had  done  his  duty  in  a  manly, 
straightforward  way.  His  good  wife  survived  him 
many  years,  dying  finally  in  the  home  of  our  sub- 
ject, May  29,  1879,  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy- 
six  years.  There  were  twelve  children  born  of 
their  married  life,  eight  of  whom  grew  to  ma- 
turity. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  eleven  years  old 
when  lie  accompanied  his  parents  to  this  State,  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


249 


he  has  a  clear  remembrance  of  the  incidents  of  their 
journey,  and  of  the  strange  pioneer  life  that  fol- 
lowed their  settlement  in  this  then  wild,  thinly  in- 
habited region.  He  attended  the  pioneer  schools ' 
of  the  county,  and  early  commenced  to  assist  his 
father  in  the  development  and  improvement  of  his 
farm.  He  remained  at  home  with  his  parents  till 
he  attained  manhood,  ard  at  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage located  in  Roanoke  Township.  He  resided 
there  three  years,  and  then  bought  the  place  where 
he  now  lives  on  section  1,  Metamora  Township. 
II is  years  of  steadfast  and  persevering  toil,  have 
been  amply  rewarded,  and  as  old  age  approaches,  it 
finds  him  well  fortified  ag.iinst  poverty  and  want. 

Nov.  30,  1 853,  Deacon  Fisher  took  unto  himself 
a  wife  in  the  person  of  Miss  Amelia  Marshall,  who 
has  proved  to  him  an  invaluable  helpmate.  She 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Chester;  Windsor  Co.,  Vt., 
to  Thomas  and  Martha  (Brooks)  Marshall.  •  For 
her  parental  history,  see  sketch  of  E.  R.  Marshall, 
on  another  page  of  this  volume. 

The  power  of  honest}-  and  integrity  is  well  illu- 
strated in  the  quiet,  unpretentious  life  of  Deacon 
Fisher,  as  all  agree  who  know  him,  and  all  who 
come  in  contact  with  him,  realize  that  he  is  a  Chris- 
tian man  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  and  practices 
Christianity  in  deed  and  in  truth.  He  and  his  wife 
are  valued  members  of  the  Roanoke  Baptist  Church, 
and  he  has  served  as  Deacon  since  he  was  twenty 
years  of  age,  in  this  and  other  churches.  He  loves 
the  church  with  which  he  has  been  connected  for 
nearly  a  life-time,  and  lends  a  ready  hand  in  sup- 
port of  its  interests. 


\T  AMES  C.  IRVING,  a  well  known  citizen  of 
Metamora,  connected  with  the  Wood  ford 
County  Circuit  Court  as  Clerk,  a  position  for 
which  he  is  eminently  fitted,  is  regarded  as 
one  of  the  most  intelligent  and  able  of  our  public 
officials.  He  comes  of  good  Scottish  blood  and  of 
fine,  old  Revolutionary  stock,  his  great  grandfather, 
Daniel  Irving,  coming  to  America  from  Scotland 
in  ColQiiial  times,  and  becoming  a  prominent  cilizen 


of  Somerset  County,  N.  J.,  and  during  the  struggle 
of  the  Colonists  for  freedom  from  the  mother  coun- 
try, he  took  an  active  part  in  the  war  as  a  gallant 
officer  of  a  New  Jersey  regiment.  He  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  days  in  Somerset  County,  his  life 
having  been  prolonged  to  the  advanced  age  of  one 
hundred  years.  His  son,  James,  grandfather  of  pur 
subject,  was  born  in  Somerset  County,  and  passed 
hl.sviilire  life  in  his  native  New  Jersey.  He  was  a 
carpenter  and  wagon  maker  by  trade,  and  also  car- 
ried on  farming.  He  also  rounde-l  out  a  long  life, 
dying  at  the  age  of  ninety-one.  The  maiden  name 
of  his  wife  was  Sarah  Castner.  She  was  a  native 
of  New  Jersey,  and  a  daughter  of  Peter  Castner. 

David  Irving,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
the  village  of  Liberty  Corner,  Somerset  Co.,  N.  J., 
in  the  year  1820.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  na- 
tive State,  and  early  learned  the  trade  of  a  brick 
mason,  which  he  followed  in  New  Jersey  till  1839, 
when  he  came  to  Illinois.  He  first  located  in  Jack- 
sonville, and  was  actively  engaged  in  his  calling 
there,  that  city  being  nothing  more  than  a  small 
hamlet.  He  erected  several  buildings,  among  them 
some  important  public  buildings,  including  the  asy- 
lum for  the  deaf  and  dumb.  In  1844,  he  came  to 
Woodford  County,  as  lie  had  secured  the  contract 
to  build  the  court  house,  and  at  once  commenced 
to  make  the  brick  for  it,  and  it  stands  to-day  as  a 
monument  of  his  handiwork  and  skill  in  his  craft,  it 
having  been  completed  in  the  season  of  1845-46. 
He  has  been  a  continuous  resident  of  this  county, 
and  for  many  years  was  engaged  in  building  and 
contracting,  whereby  he  won  a  sufficient  compe- 
tence for  all  his  wants.  The  maiden  name  of  his 
wife  was  Esther  E.  Perry,  and  she  was  born  in 
Chester  County,  Pa.,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Franklin  Perry,  and  died  in  Metamora  Township, 
March,  1873.  There  were  five  children  born  to  her 
and  her  husband,  of  whom  the  following  three  are 
living:  Our  subject;  Peivival  B.,  a  resident  of  Met- 
amora; Eugene  Douglas,  living  in  Metamora  Town- 
ship. The  father  of  our  subject  has  been  a  man 
of  much  prominence  in  this  county  since  making 
his  home  here,  taking  an  active  part  in  its  upbuild- 
ing, contributing  to  its  material  prosperity,  and 
assisting  in  the  maintenance  of  law  and  order  as  a 
civic  official,  at  one  time  serving  with  honor  as 


250 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Sheriff  of  the  County.  He  has  always  been  a  faith- 
ful supporter  of  the  Democratic  party,  in  whose 
policy  he  is  a  firm  believer. 

James  C.  Irving,  of  whom  we  write,  is  a  native- 
born  citizen  of  Wooclford  County,  Metamora 
Township  being  the  place  of  his  birth,  and  Dec.  10, 
1850,  the  date  of  that  important  event  in  his  life. 
In  the  public  schools  of  this  city  the  bright  studious 
lad  received  the  preliminaries  of  a  sound  educa- 
tion. At  the  youthful  age  of  thirteen  he  com- 
menced lite  on  his  own  account  as  a  clerk  in  a 
grocery  store,  and  was  engaged  at  that  occupation 
the  greater  part  of  the  time  till  1867,  when,  ambi- 
tious to  better  his  education,  he  entered  Eureka 
College  and  took  an  excellent  course  of  study,  rank- 
ing high  in  his  classes  during  the  two  years  that  he 
was  a  student  in  that  institution,  notwithstanding 
that  he  had  to  devote  a  part  of  his  time  to  manual 
labor  to  pay  for  his  board.  In  1869,  he  left  col- 
lege and  returned  to  Metamora,  turning  his  at- 
tention to  acquiring  the  art  of  printing  in  the 
office  of  the  Wood  ford  Sentinel,  gaining  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  craft,  so  that  in  a  few  years  he 
rose  to  the  responsible  position  of  foreman  of  the 
office,  having  full  charge  of  the  local  department 
of  the  paper.  He  gave  perfect  satisfaction  and 
was  retained  as  head  of  that  department  till  the 
month  of  December,  1880,  when  he  resigned  to 
accept  the  office  of  Deputy  Circuit  Clerk.  He 
served  eight  years  and  became  thoroughly  conver- 
sant with  all  the  duties  connected  with  the  position, 
and  doing"  such  faithful  and  efficient  work  that  it 
was  justly  considered  by  his  constituents  that  no 
man  was  better  qualified  for  the  higher  position  of 
Circuit  Clerk,  and  he  was  accordingly  elected  to  his 
present  office  at  the  expiration  of  the  time  men- 
tioned, and  is  one  of  the  most  popular  officials  about 
the  court  house. 

Mr.  Irving  and  Mrs.  Carrie  S.  Kern  (nee  Hirsch) 
were  united  in  marriage  Jan.  11, 1877.  Mrs.  Irving 
was  born  in  the  pleasant  town  of  Snncook,  N.  H., 
and  is  a  daughter  of  F.  F.  and  Caroline  (Starrett) 
Hirsch. 

Our  subject  has  honored  industry  and  intelligence 
in  thought  and  cx'imple.  and  he  has  many  pleasant 
social  qualities  that  render  him  a  favorite  with  his 
associates.  lie  and  his  amiable  wife  are  members 


in  high  standing  of  the  Congregational  Church,  con- 
tributing liberally  to  its  support.  In  politics,  he  is 
a  steady  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party,  strongly 
sustaining  its  policy  on  all  proper  occasions. 


OHN  G.  ZELLER,  M.  D.  One  of  the  grand, 
est  of  all  professions  is  that  of  the  physi- 
cian.  While  the  mission  of  the  minister  is 
to  heal  the  wounds  of  the  sonl  and  comfort 
aching  hearts,  that  of  the  physician  is  the  almost 
equally  important  one  of  healing  the  body,  and  fit- 
ting it  to  become  the  proper  receptacle  for  its  ten- 
ant, the  soul.  The  precious  tidings  proclaimed  by 
the  Gospel  teacher  would  have  but  little  effect  on 
a  diseased  mind  and  body,  unfitted  to  receive  the 
messages  sent  to  it.  But  the  physician  with  his 
courageous  mind  and  willing  hand  here  steps  in,  and 
with  dextrous  touch  and  quick  perceptive  powers 
remedies,  as  far  as  possible,  the  condition  of  the 
body. 

The  grandeur  and  importance  of  his  profession 
is  fully  understood  by  Dr.  John  G.  Zeller.  Among 
all  the  luminaries  of  this  branch  of  life-work  he 
holds  no  inconspicuous  place,  and  his  light  is  not 
dimmed  by  the  reflection  of  those  around  it.  For 
thirty-five  years  he  has  held  an  honored  place  in 
the  affections  and  respect  of  the  people,  and  has 
in  this  time  been  enabled  to  save  many  persons  to 
longer  life,  and  has  also  comforted  many  sad  hearts 
when  at  last  even  skill  and  knowledge  were  of  no 
avail. 

Dr.  Zeller  is  a  child  of  America  only  by  adop- 
tion, as  his  birthplace  is  Bavaria,  Germany,  where 
he  was  born  Dec.  10,  1828.  He  inherits  the  energy 
and  indomitable  perseverance  of  a  long  line  of 
German  ancestry,  and  this  in  a  great  measure  is  the 
cause  of  his  success.  His  grandfather  was  Mathew 
Zeller,  a  native  also  of  the  same  place,  where  he 
passed  the  main  portion  of  his  life  and  where  he 
passed  away  in  1853,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five 
years.  The  son  of  Mathew  Zeller,  and  the  father  of 
John  G.  Zeller,  was  Anthony  Zeller,  also  a  native 


/%/  /       ^ 

'-Z-a^M    A^^ 

V(7  s    ;tf  <?    XX    A 
^ — o^-^*^/^  -     <L^>C<C<tA/fa . 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


251 


of  Bavaria,  where  lie  lived  all  the  days  allotted  to 
him.  He  was  born  in  1805,  and  was  by  occupa- 
tion a  farmer  during  the  earlier  part  of  his  life,  but 
later  became  a  real-estate  agent.  His  death  is  re- 
corded as  having  occurred  in  1873. 

To  Anthony  Zeller  and  his  wife  Josephine  there 
were  born  four  children,  viz.:  Josephine,  Mathew, 
Charles,  and  John  G.,  the  subject  of  this  record. 
Josephine  still  remains  in  the  Fatherland;  she  mar- 
ried Mr.  Ruess,  of  Bavaria,  where  they  make  their 
home.  Of  their  two  children,  one,  a  son,  remains 
in  Germany,  but  the  other,  a  daughter,  is  living  in 
Spring  Bay,  111.  Mathew  has  been  twice  married, 
his  first  wife  being  Miss  Schnitzler,  of  Bavaria. 
His  second  wife  is  also  a  native  of  the  same  place. 
He  is  the  father  of  seven  children.  Charles  is  sin- 
gle and  resides  in  Butler  County,  Neb.,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  farming,  but  is  now  retired. 

Dr.  Zeller  first  came  to  America  in  1847  and  re- 
mained two  years,  devoting  his  time  in  various 
ways  until  1849,  when  he  returned  to  his  native 
land.  After  a  four  years'  sojourn  there  his  thoughts 
turned  longingly  to  the  country  across  the  waters, 
and  thither  he  retraced  his  steps  in  1853,  entering 
the  college  at  St.  Louis.  Here  he  passed  two  stud- 
ious terms  and  was  then  graduated,  having  acquit- 
ted himself  witli  honor  to  his  own  name  and  credit 
to  his  teachers.  Immediately  thereafter  he  came 
to  Spring  Bay,  Wood  ford  Co.,  111.,  and  opened  an 
office.  Like  all  young  physicians  among  strangers 
his  beginning  was  modest,  but  his  intelligence  and 
practical  preparation  for  his  life  work  soon  met 
with  the  merited  recognition,  and  from  that  time 
thenceforward  he  has  occupied  a  prominent  place 
among  all  the  physicians  of  the  county. 

Dr.  Zeller  has  been  twice  married,  the  first  union 
being  with  Miss  Caroline  Nicholas.  Four  of  their 
children  are  living,  viz. :  Charles  A.,  George  A., 
Josephine  and  Fredericka  C.  The  eldest  of  these, 
Charles,  married  Caroline  Miller,  of  Woodford 
County,  by  whom  he  has  two  children — Clara  and 
George.  He  is  occupied  as  a  merchant  and  also  as 
boatman  on  the  Illinois  River;  George  A.  married 
Sophia  Kline,  of  Henry  County,  111.,  and  they  are 
now  enjoying  a  delightful  wedding  tour  in  Europe. 
Upon  their  return  they  will  locate  in  Peoria,  where 
he  is  a  physician  and  surgeon.  Like  his  father  he  is 


a  graduate  of  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College,  hav- 
ing completed  his  course  there  in  1879;  the  daugh- 
ters remain  at  home. 

Dr.  Zeller  was  a  second  time  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Caroline  Winkler,  of  Woodford  County, 
111.  Her  parents  are  natives  of  Germany.  Of  the 
union  of  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Zeller  there  have  been 
born  three  children,  as  follows:  Julius  C.,  Christine 
and  William  L.  Julius  is  attending  school  at 
Evanston,  while  the  others  remain  at  home. 

Mrs.  Dr.  Zeller  and  her  daughters  are  members 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  Dr.  Zeller  contributes 
liberally  to  its  support,  as  -.veil  as  to  the  support  of 
all  societies  and  organizations  calculated  to  uplift 
humanity  and  benefit  the  world  at  large.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Woodford  County  Medical  Associa- 
tion, and  also  of  the  Illinois  State  Association.  In 
politics  he  is  in  sympathy  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  uniformly  votes  that  ticket.  He  has 
served  with  so  much  success  as  Supervisor  of  his 
township  that  he  has  been  called  on  to  act  in  that 
capacity  for  three  terms. 


p.*-g) 


LMON  H.  DANFORTH,  of  the  firm  of  C. 
R.  Danforth  &  Company,  bankers,  Min- 
onk,  holds  a  prominent  position  among  the 
esteemed  and  honored  citizens  of  Wood- 
ford  County,  and  it  is  with  pleasure  we  place  a  brief 
synopsis  of  his  life  in  this  biographical  volume. 
He  is  a  native  of  New  England,  born  in  Dana, 
Worcester  Co.,  Mass.,  June  24,  1824,  being  the  son 
of  Samuel  and  Mehitable  (Marshall)  Danforth, 
both  natives  of  Massachusetts.  In  looking  over 
the  genealogical  records,  we  find  that  the  Dan- 
forths  came  from  England  to  America  many  gen- 
erations ago  and  locating  in  New  England,  at  once 
identified  themselves  with  its  best  interests,  and 
assisted  in  its  growth  and  advancement. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  who  died  at  an 
advanced  age,  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 
He  reared  a  large  family  of  children,  of  whom 
Samuel,the  father  of  our  subject, became  a  fanner  in 


252 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Massachusetts,  and  lived  there  until,  enfeebled  by 
old  age,  he  went  to  New  Hampshire,  and  spent  his 
last  years  with  one  of  his  daughters,  dying  at  the 
venerable  age  of  eighty-six  years,  his  wife  having 
preceded  him  a  short  time  before  at  the  good  old 
age  of  eighty-two  years.  To  this  worthy  couple  were 
born  a  family  of  ten  children,  of  'vhom  one  died 
in  infancy,  one  was  killed  when  he  was  twelve 
years  old  by  being  thrown  from  a  horse,  and  the 
remaining  eight  grew  to  maturity,  the  following 
being  recorded  of  them: — Henry,  a  Baptist  minis- 
ter, died  in  Evans,  Erie  Co.  N.  Y. ;  Apleton,  a 
Baptist  minister,  and  for  ten  years  missionary  to 
Assam,  India,  died  in  Philadelphia;  Richard,  now 
living  in  New  Hampshire, is  a  tanner  by  occupation ; 
George,  a  farmer,  died  in  Minonk,  where  he  located 
in  1856;  Almon  H. ;  Abigail,  married  Warren 
White  and  died  in  Bristol.  N.  H. ;  Nancy,  wife  of 
Theodore  Patterson,  died  in  Minonk;  Jane,  wife  of 
Rev.  Oliver  P.  Pitcher,  a  minister  of  the  Metho- 
dist denomination,  died  in  New  York  State. 

Almon,  of  whom  we  write,  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm,  and  received  a  substantial  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  State,  having 
been  a  diligent  and  observing  pupil.  .At  the  age 
of  seventeen  years,  desiring  to  work  at  a  trade 
rather  than  to  till  the  soil,  he  learned  the  business 
of  a  tanner  and  followed  that  occupation  in  Bristol, 
N.  H,,  until  1856.  In  the  spring  of  that  year,  Mr. 
Danforlh,  attracted  by  the  great  agricultural  re- 
sources of  Illinois,  came  to  Woodford  County,  in 
March,  and  purchasing  160  acres  of  raw  prairie 
land  in  MinonkTownshipcourageously  began  its  cul- 
tivation. In  farming,asin  all  other  pursuits.there  are 
many  obstacles  to  be  contended  with, but  patience 
andpcrseveranceare  usually  rewarded,and  after  thir- 
teen years  of  successful  labor  our  subject,  who  had 
in  the  interim  improved  his  land  and  erected  a 
good  set  of  buildings,  disposed  of  his  property  at 
an  advantage  and  engaged  in  the  drug  business  in 
Minonk.  He  continued  thus  occupied  until  1879 
when,  in  partnership  with  a  nephew,  Charles  R. 
Danforlh,  he  succeeded  A.  G.  Danforth  &  Co.,  in 
the  banking  business  under  the  firm  name  of  C.  R. 
Danforlh  &  Co.,  and  the}'  have  since  conducted  a 
general  banking  business,  their  bank  being  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  safest  and  most  reliable  in  the 


count}-.  Onr  subject,  however,  has  retired  from 
the  active  cares  of  business  and  lives  a  quiet  and 
happy  life  in  his  pleasant  home  in  Minonk,  occa- 
sionally re-visiting  the  scenes  of  his  early  life  in 
New  England. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Danforth  with  Miss  Hannah 
Rowe,  a  native  of  Guilford,  N.  H.,  was  solemnized 
in  that  place  in  1  849.  Airs.  Danforth's  father,  Ben- 
jamin Rowe,  was  a  native  of  Brentvvood,  N.  H., 
and  was  married  there  to  Miss  (Susannah  Tuck) 
also  a  native  of  Brentwood ;  he  followed  farming 
during  his  entire  life  in  his  native  place  and  reared 
a  family  of  five  children,  who  are  all  living  except 
one  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-two  years;  the 
mother  died  on  the  24th  of  August,  1882,  aged 
eighty-seven  years.  The  father  died  March  1st, 
1884,  aged  nearly  ninety-four. 

Mr.  Danforth  is  a  fine  representative  of  the  self- 
made  men  of  this  county,  his  property  having 
been  acquired  by  his  own  efforts,  the  only  legacy 
ever  devised  him  having  been  the  small  sum  of 
eighteen  dollars,  which  can  scarcely  be  called  the 
nucleus  of  his  present  competency.  In  his  politi- 
cal views  our  subject  is  a  firm  Republican,  and 
when  a  young  man  filled  the  local  offices  of  his 
township  acceptably  to  all,  but  during  his  later 
years  has  declined  to  accept  all  such  honors.  Re- 
ligiously he  is  an  esteemed  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  where  he  has  held  the  office  of  Deacon 
most  of  the  time  since  coming  to  Illinois,  and  of 
which  he  is  one  of  the  original  founders,  and  has 
since  been  prominently  identified  with  its  success, 
always  contributing  generously  to  its  support. 


(I  ESSE  HAMMERS  was  a  distinguished  and 
prominent  pioneer  of  Woodford  County, 
and  not  only  witnessed  almost  its  entire 
growth,  but  was  instrumental  in  bringing 
about  its  present  wealth  and  high  standing.  He 
was  a  man  of  enterprise  and  keen  foresight,  and  in 
him  this  section  of  the  country  found  one  of  its 
most  enlightened  and  public-spirited  citizens,  who 
had  a  hand  in  all  things  that  in  any  way  benefited 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


253 


his  township  or  county.  He  was  one  of  the  lead- 
ing agriculturists  here,  possessing  more  than  or- 
dinary practicality  and  skill  in  his  vocation,  and 
was  the  owner  of  one  of  the  finest  and  best-ap- 
pointed farms  in  Cazenovia  Township,  a  model  in 
nil  respects. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Fayette  County,  Pa., 
May  7,  1804,  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth 
(Manna)  Hammers.  Amid  the  pleasant  scenes  of 
his  birth  he  grew  to  a  ruggei'  manhood,  continuing 
to  make  his  home  there  till  1835,  when  in  the 
prime  and  vigor  of  life  he  made  his  way  to  Illi- 
nois, and  casting  his  lot  with  the  hardy,  courage- 
ous pioneers  of  Woodford  County,  became  an 
early  settler  of  Cazenovia  Township,  and  from  that 
day  till  the  day  of  his  death  was  an  honored  resi- 
dent here.  He  entered  a  tract  of  wild  land  from 
the  Government,  located  on  section  32,  and  imme- 
diately began  its  improvement.  His  first  work  was 
to  erect  a  log  house  and  a  double  log  barn,  and 
then  he  had  to  prepare  his  land  for  tillage.  After 
years  of  persistent,  patient  toil  he  brought  it  into 
a  fine  condition,  and  erected  a  commodious,  con- 
veniently-arranged set  of  frame  buildings  in  place 
of  the  first  rude  structures  that  we  have  mentioned. 

Mr.  Hammers  was  twice  married.  The  wife  of 
his  early  manhood  was  Eleanor  Buckingham,  a 
a  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Sarah  (Jones)  Bucking- 
ham. She  was  a  thoroughly  good  woman,  and  de- 
voted her  life  to  his  interests.  Her  death  occurred 
Feb.  14,  1850.  The  maiden  name  of  the  second 
wife  of  our  subject,  a  woman  of  great  worth  and 
amiability,  was  Ruah  (Garrison)  Buckingham,  who 
was  the  widow  of  Morgan  Buckingham.  She  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mr.  Hammers  May  4, 
1851,  and  during  the  remaining  years  of  their 
wedded  life,  was  his  faithful  companion,  trusted 
friend,  and  devoted  helpmate. 

Mr.  Hammers  was  a  wise,  just,  and  able  man, 
and  in  his  death,  Sept.  3,  1881,  Woodford  County 
was  deprived  of  the  counsel  and  presence  of  one 
of  her  best  citizens,  who  for  nearly  half  a  century 
made  its  interests  his  own.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
members  of  the  County  Agricultural  Society,  as- 
sisting in  its  organization,  and,  as  its  first  Presi- 
dent, was  largely  instrumental  in  making  it  a 
success,  a  power  of  good,  and  for  disseminating 


useful  knowledge  among  the  farmers  and  stock- 
raisers  of  this  part  of  Illinois,  and  thus  raising  the 
standard  of  agriculture.  He  took  a  conspicuous 
part  in  securing  the  passage  of  the  Tonica  and  Peters- 
burg Railway,  was  one  of  the  stockholders  and 
Vice-president  of  the  Company,  and  at  the  meet- 
ing of  the  Directors  to  commence  work  on  the  road- 
bed, in  the  absence  of  the  President  of  the  road, 
he  threw  the  first  shovelful  of  dirt.  He  was  a  man 
of  high  religious  principles,  and  one  of  the  leading 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


R.  JOHN  Q.  ADAMS.  The  subject  of 
this  notice  needs  little  introduction  to  the 
people  of  Woodford  County,  as  he  has 
been  a  resident  of  this  part  of  the  State 
for  more  than  thirty  years.  After  a  long  and 
prosperous  career  as  a  physician  and  surgeon,  he 
retired  from  active  practice,  and  is  now  taking  life 
easy,  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  accumulations  of 
former  years  of  close  application  to  his  profession. 
He  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  well-to-do  citizens 
of  El  Paso,  and  Vice-president  of  its  National 
Bank,  in  the  founding  of  which  he  was  largely  in- 
strumental, and  since  its  organization  has  been  one 
of  its  most  trusted  officials.  He  is  the  owner  of  105 
acres  of  choice  land  within  the  corporate  lines  of 
El  Paso,  besides  a  well  improved  farm. 

The  history  of  Dr.  Adams  indicates  that  he  is 
essentially  a  self-made  man,  one  who  was  thrown 
upon  his  own  resources  at  an  early  age  and 
has  fought  his  own  way  unaided  up  to  success. 
He  came  to  Illinois  in  1855  and  to  El  Paso  ten 
years  later.  Possessed  of  an  excellent  constitution 
and  robust  frame,  his  uniformly  good  health  has 
been  a  valuable  accessory  to  his  mental  attain- 
ments. Upon  landing  in  Illinois,  he  first  settled  at 
Washington,  in  Tazewell  Count3r,  where  he  fol- 
lowed his  profession  successfully  ten  years,  and 
prior  to  going  there  secured  a  tract  of  land,  which 
he  improved  and  which  became  of  considerable 
value.  He  believed,  however,  that  in  Woodford 
County  there  would  be  a  wider  field  for  his  ambi- 


254 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


tion.  Here,  as  before,  he  soon  built  up  a  success- 
ful business  as  a  physician  and  invested  his  capital 
in  real  estate,  at  the  same  time  superintending  tlie 
operations  of  a  farm.  He  acquired  a  reputation  as 
a  man  prompt  to  meet  his  obligations,  and  soon 
became  prominent  in  financial  circles,  so  that  his 
importance  began  to  be  felt  in  all  the  channels  of 
trade,  while  at  the  same  time  he  gained  precedence 
in  social,  religious  and  political  circles. 

Our  subject  was  born  near  Cadiz,  in  Harrison 
County,  Ohio,  Feb.  18,  1818,  and  when  but  a 
youth  was  deprived  by  death  of  a  father's  counsel 
and  assistance.  In  a  will  left  by  the  latter  at  his 
death,  it  was  stipulated  that  John  Quincy  was  to 
remain  with  his  mother  on  the  farm  until  reaching 
his  majority.  The  youth,  however,  was  ambitious 
for  an  education,  and  finally,  after  considerable  so- 
licitation, was  given  his  time  by  his  mother,  and 
htf  set  about  in  earnest  the  achievement  of  his 
wishes.  After  leaving  the  primary  school  he  en- 
tered Franklin  College  and  about  that  time  had  re- 
solved to  take  up  the  study  of  medicine. .  He 
taught  and  studied  alternately,  and  finally  began 
reading  medicine  under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  A.  G. 
Osborne.  Later  he  entered  Willoughby  (Ohio; 
Medical  College,  and  was  graduated  that  same 
year,  1847,  shortly  prior  to  the  time  the  school 
was  divided,  a  part  of  it  being  removed  to  Cleve- 
land and  the  remainder  to  Columbus. 

Dr.  Adams  commenced  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Median icsburg,Carroll  Count}',  afterward 
at  Van  Wert,  Ohio.  He  was  there  associated  with  Dr. 
Bolnnd,  and  after  coming  to  Illinois  practiced  at 
Washington,  ten  years  alone — then  entered  into  a 
partnership  with  Dr.  Lamb,  formerly  of  Woodford 
County  and  now  deceased.  This  branch  of  the 
Adams  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  blood;  and  Will- 
iam Adams,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  where  he  was  partly 
reared,  and  then,  with  more  than  the  ordinary  am- 
bition and  courage  of  youth,  set  out  alone  for 
America  in  the  early  part  of  the  present  century. 
He  made  the  voyage  on  a  sailing  vessel  and  was 
sixteen  weeks  on  the  ocean.  lie  located  first  in 
Washington  County,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  until 
becoming  of  age  and  where  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Welch.  This  lady  was  of  birth  and  ancestry 


similar  to  his  own,  and  after  their  marriage  they 
began  farming  in  a  small  way  in  Washington 
County,  Pa.  They  remained  there  until  after  the 
birth  of  a  part  of  their  family,  then  removed  into 
tlie  wilderness  of  Harrison  County,  Ohio.  They 
had  very  little  means,  and  Mr.  Adams  worked  on 
a  canal  boat  until  earning  enough  money  to  enter 
160  acres  of  Government  land.  This  was  heavily 
timbered,  but  with  the  aid  of  his  wife  and  children, 
he  put  up  his  cabin  and  began  to  clear  his  ground 
from  the  timber.  They  endured  all  the  hardships 
and  privations  incident  to  the  time  and  place,  but 
their  industry  and  perseverance  have  met  with  their 
reward,  and  they  have  succeeded  in  building  up  a 
comfortable  home. 

During  the  first  settlement  of  the  Adams  family 
in  Ohio,  a  wagon  was  an  object  of  great  curiosity 
and  something  not  often  seen.  Mr.  Adams  be- 
came owner  of  one  of  the  first  vehicles  of  this  kind 
that  was  brought  into  that  section.  Jt  was  a  com- 
mon occurrence  for  the  early  settlers  of  Harrison 
County  to  travel  on  pack  horses  to  Pennsylvania, 
a  distance  of  seventy-five  miles,  after  salt,  which 
was  then  a  valuable  commodity.  The  old  farm  is 
still  in  the  possession  of  the  grandchildren  of  the 
old  pioneer.  William  Adams  departed  tliis  life  in 
August,  1835,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  He 
was  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  and  always  actively  in- 
terested in  its  prosperity.  He  was  assisted  in  his 
religious  labors  by  his  faithful  and  conscientious 
wife,  who  survived  him  until  1 855,  dying  at  the 
age  of  seventy-five. 

Our  subject  was  the  youngest  son  of  his  parents 
and  is  the  only  surviving  member  of  a  family  con- 
sisting of  seven  daughters  and  four  sons.  Two  of 
the  daughters  died  young;  the  other  children  all 
lived  to  be  married,  and  the  oldest  attained  the 
age  of  over  eighty  years.  The  Doctor  was  first 
married  near  bis  old  home  in  Cadiz,  Ohio,  March 
2,  1847,  to  Miss  Chelnissa  D.  Cassell.  This  lady 
was  a  native  of  Mary  land,  as  likewise  were  her  par- 
ents. Her  father,  Jacob  Cassell,  was  of  German 
descent  and  spoke  the  language  of  the  Fatherland 
fluently.  He  followed  farming,  and  was  married 
in  his  native  State  to  a  Miss  Devilbiss.  After  a 
few  years  spent  in  their  native  State,  they  removed 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


255 


to  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  locating  on  a  farm  in 
the  vicinity  of  Cadiz,  and  there  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cas- 
sell  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  dying  at 
the  ages  of  eighty-one  and  sixty  years  respectively. 
Both  were  active  members  of  the  Methodist 
Churcb. 

Mrs.  Adams  was  the  only  daughter  in  a  family 
of  four,  and  by  her*  marriage  with  our  subject  be- 
came the  mother  of  nine  children,  one  of  whom, 
John  Quincy,  Jr.,  the  second  child,  is  now  de- 
ceased, having  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of  thirty 
years;  he  was  for  some  time  successfully  engaged  in 
the  drug  business  at  El  Paso.  Jacob  C.  is  a  phy- 
sician and  surgeon  of  Gridley,  McLean  Co.,  111.; 
he  was  graduated  from  Cincinnati  (Ohio)  Medical 
College  and  married  Miss  Lois  Chatbourne.  Chel- 
nissa  V.  is  the  wife  of  Charles  W.  McCoy,  a  real 
estate  dealer  of  Wichita,  Kan.;  Mary  Elizabeth  is 
the  wife  of  C.  S.  Hoagland,  now  deceased,  who 
during  his  lifetime  was  a  stockholder  in  and  travel- 
ing agent  for  the  Peru  Plow  and  Implement  Com- 
pany; his  widow  and  familj-  reside  in  Council 
Bluffs,  Iowa.  Alice  M.  is  the  wife  of  James  Rogers, 
a  real  estate  dealer  of  Wichita,  Kan.;  Melvin  A.  is 
a  farmer  by  occupation  and  makes  his  home  with 
his  parents;  Maria  M.  is  the  wife  of  T.  8. 
McCoy,  a  civil  engineer  of  Wichita,  Kan.;  Martha; 
Luella  is  at  home;  Charles  G.  was  graduated 
from  the  dental  college  in  Chicago  and  is  at  pres- 
ent at  home  with  his  father.  The  mother  of  these 
children  passed  away  March  3,  1887,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-four  years.  In  early  life  she  was  identified 
with  the  Methodist  Church,  but  later  having  ex- 
perienced a  change  in  her  religions  views,  joined 
the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Dr.  Adams  contracted  a  second  marriage  in 
Nov.  29,  1888,  with  Mrs.  Mary  (Tyire)  Dorward, 
daughter  of  David  and  Mary  (Salmond)  Tyire, 
who  were  natives  of  Scotland,  where  they  spent 
their  last  days  and  where  their  daughter  Mary  was 
born,  Aug.  2,  1827,  in  Forfarshire.  The  mother 
passed  away  prior  to  the  decease  of  her  husband 
and  the  latter  lived  to  be  eighty-three  years  of  age. 
Miss  Mary  was  first  married  in  her  native  shire  to 
John  Dorward,  whose  birthplace  was  not  far  from 
that  of  her  own.  Soon  after  their  marriage  the 
young  people  set  out  for  America  on  a  sailing  ves- 


sel, and  after  a  voyage  of  nine  weeks  landed  in  New 
York  City.  Theuce  they  made  their  way  directly 
westward,  landing  in!Tazewell  County,  this  State, 
and  later'came  to  Wood  ford  County^,  and  located  on 
a  farm  near  El  Paso.  Mr.  Dorward  here  engaged 
industriously  in  agricultural  pursuits  and  died  in 
1871  at  the  age  of  forty  years.  There  had  been 
born  to  them  four  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  a 
son,  Peter,  is  married  and  farming  in  the  vicinity 
of  Indianola,  Neb.;  Charlotte  is  married  to  Will- 
Ham  North  and  lives  on  a  farm  near  El  Paso,  this 
county;  William  N.  and  John  L.  are  dentists  lo- 
cated in  Omaha,  Neb.;  the  former  is  married. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Adams  are  prominently  connected 
with  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  our 
subject  has  been  an  Elder  for  the  long  period  of 
forty  years,  and  to  which  he  has  contributed  liber- 
ally. Politically  he  is  an  active  Republican  and 
has  represented  his  ward  in  the  City  Council.  A 
man  liberal  and  public-spirited,  he  has  always  taken 
a  warm  interest  in  the  success  and  prosperity  of 
his  adopted  county  and  has  contributed  his  full 
quota  toward  this  end. 


NDREW  JOHNSON.  Panola  Township 
has  among  her  citizens  many  intelligent, 

'j  IB  enterprising  and  business-like  men  who  are 
actively  engaged  in  carrying  on  her  great 
farming  and  stock-raising  interests,  of  whom,  we 
may  venture  to  say,  not  one  is  more  worthy  of 
representation  in  this  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM  than 
this  gentleman.  He  has  a  large  farm  on  section 
31,  that  is  considered  one  of  the  best  in  this  locality 
on  account  of  its  extensive  improvements,  fine 
buildings,  and  ample  conveniences  for  carrying  on 
agriculture  to  its  best  advantage. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany, 
Dec.  10,  1827.  When  he  was  about  three  years 
old  his  father's  death  occurred,  shortly  after  that  of 
his  mother.  Thus  sadly  bereft  at  a  tender  age  of 
the  loving  care  of  his  parents,  the  poor  little  orphan 
was  thrown  on  the  cold  charity  of  strangers,  and 
life  went  pretty  hard  with  him  during  his  childhood 


256 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  youth.  He  was  reared  to  farm  labor,  and 
when  quite  young  had  to  seek  work  to  earn  his 
own  living.  He  grew  to  a  stout,  self-helpful  man- 
hood, and  in  the  summer  of  1853,  wisely  determin- 
ing to  better  his  condition,  he  emigrated  to  the 
United  States,  taking  passage  in  a  sailing  vessel  at 
Bremen,  and  after  a  voyage  of  seven  weeks  landed 
in  New  York  City,  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land. 
He  hastened  to  Illinois  and  was  located  in  Tazewell 
County  the  ensuing  two  years,  working  as  a  farm 
hand,  and  for  ashorttime  on  the  railway.  April  14, 
1859,  he  took  an  important  step  toward  providing 
himself  with  the  comforts  of  a  home,  by  his  mar- 
riage at  that  date  with  Miss  Mary  Gibson,  a  native 
of  Jo  Daviess  County,  111.  Nine  children  have 
been  born  to  thorn,  seven  of  whom  are  living,  as 
follows:  Melinda,  now  Mrs.  Cotton,  of  El  Paso; 
George,  a  resident  of  this  county;  Isaac,  a  resident 
of  this  county;  Sarah,  residing  in  this  county,  is 
the  widow  of  James  Coverly;  Tina  died  July  19, 
1889;  Charles  and  Arthur,  who  are  living  at  home 
with  their  parents. 

Mr.  Johnson  settled  on  his  present  farm  in  the 
winter  of  1868,  and  has  made  his  home  here  since. 
At  that  time  it  comprised  113  acres  of  wild  prairie 
land,  on  which  not  a  furrow  had  been  turned,  or 
any  attempt  made  to  improve  it.  It  was  only  by 
years  of  sturdy,  unremitting  toil  and  excellent 
management  on  his  part,  that  it  has  become  to-day 
one  of  the  richest  and  most  highly  improved  farms 
in  this  section  of  the  county.  Its  bounds  have 
been  extended  until  it  embraces  nearly  300  acres 
of  highly  cultivated  soil  and  substantial  and  com- 
modious buildings  have  been  erected,  and  every- 
thing provided  to  lighten  labor  and  make  it  an 
attractive  place. 

Mr.  Johnson  and  his  family  are  people  of  good 
social  standing  in  this  community,  and  their  home 
is  the  center  of  an  agreeable  hospitality,  where 
every  guest  is  made  to  feel  at  ease  by  the  true 
politeness  of  the  host  and  hostess.  Mr.  Johnson  is 
in  every  sense  of  the  word  a  self-made  man,  as  he 
came  to  this  country  without  means,  and  has  ac- 
quired a  handsome  competence  by  the  exercise  of 
those  traits  that  mark  him  as  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  push  and  foresight,  endowed  with  ex- 
cellent powers  of  calculation  and  discrimination. 


Withal,  he  is  a  just  and  honest  man,  and  his  gains 
have  never  been  obtained  by  unfair  dealings,  or  by 
cheating  another  of  his  du".  It  is  not  to  be  won- 
dered at,  therefore,  that  all  men  have  confidence  in 
him  and  accept  his  word  as  a  bond.  Religiously, 
he  is  in  sympathy  with  the  doctrines  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church;  politically,  he  affiliates  with  the 
Democrats.  He  has  done  the  township  a  good 
service  as  School  Director. 


eAPTAIN  WILLIAM  E.  K RATER  is  a  fine 
representative  of  the  soldier  element,  that 
has  been  such  an  important  factor  in  pro- 
moting the  various  industries  of  our  country,  and 
lias  contributed  to  its  material  prosperity  in  many 
ways.  Our  subject  was  a  gallant  soldier  in  the 
late  Civil  War,  in  which,  while  winning  an  honor- 
able military  record,  he  sacrificed  health  and  his 
excellent  prospects  of  a  prosperous  career  in  busi- 
ness. For  several  years  after  leaving  the  army  he 
carried  on  farming  operations  in  Woodford  Count}', 
in  Cazenoviaand  Linn  townships.quitesucce-sfully, 
till  his  failing  health  required  him  to  give  up  all 
active  business.  In  the  spring  of  1884  he  re- 
moved to  Low  Point,  where  he  has  since  Jived  in 
retirement  in  his  comfortable  home.  For  the  past 
four  years  he  has  been  entirely  helpless,  a  physical 
wreck  of  his  former  self.  But  he  bears  his  afflic- 
tion with  the  patient  heroism  of  a  true  soldier, 
and  his  mind  being  as  bright  and  active  as  ever, 
he  still  interests  himself  in  the  affairs  of  the  world, 
and  keeps  himself  well-posted  as  to  passing  events. 
Captain  Krater  was  born  in  Pine  Grove,  Schuyl- 
kill  Co.,  Pa.,  on  the  29th  of  September,  1827.  His 
father,  Jacob  Krater,  was  born  in  the  same  county 
in  the  town  of  Friedenburg,  Oct.  21,  1805,  while  his 
father,  Anson  Krater,  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
and,  so  far  as  known,  the  only  member  of  his  fam- 
ily to  come  to  America.  He  married  in  the  Father- 
land, and  after  the  birth  of  eight  children  he  and 
his  wife  brought  their  family  to  this  country.  They 
located  in  Friedensburg,  Pa.,  and  he  there  taught 
a  German  school  for  twenty-five  years,  passing  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


257 


rest  of  his  life  there.  The  father  of  our  subject 
was  the  only  member  of  the  family  born  on  Ameri- 
can soil,  and  he  was  the  only  son  that  reared  a 
family.  He  grew  to  man's  estate  in  his  native 
county,  and  early  learned  the  trade  of  a  weaver  and 
dyer,  which  he  followed  for  a  few  years,  and  then 
rented  land  and  turned  his  attention  to  farming. 
In  1851  he  came  to  Illinois  and  lived  in  Marshall 
County  till  1856,  and  then  came  to  Woodford 
County,  and  was  prosperously  engaged  in  farming 
here  for  several  years.  He  now  lives  in  retire- 
ment in  Washburn.  He  has  led  a  sober,  industrious 
life,  guided  by  excellent  principles,  and  is  justly 
held  in  regard  by  all  who  know  him.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  worthy  wife  was  Margaret  Deitzler, 
and  she  was  born  in  Pine  Grove,  Pa.  Her  father, 
Jacob  Deitzler,  was,  it  is  thought,  born  in  Ger- 
many, and  his  death  occurred  in  Pine  Grove,  Pa. 
The  following  are  the  names  of  the  seven  children 
born  to  the  parents  of  our  subject:  William  E., 
Mary  A.,  (the  wife  of  Dr.  N.  V.  Maloney),  John 
II.,  Christiana,  (wife  of  A.  T.  Norris),  M.  Eliza- 
beth (wife  of  Frank  St.  Claire),  Jacob  A.,  Susan, 
(wife  of  William  Ball). 

When  our  subject  was  a  young  boy  his  parents 
moved  to  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  and  there  he  was 
reared  to  a  vigorous  manhood,  continuing  to  make 
his  home  with  his  father  and  mother  till  his  mar- 
riage. He  started  out  in  life  to  make  his  own  way 
in  the  world  very-  early,  as  at  the  age  of  nine 
years  he  was  engaged  in  driving  horses  on  the  tow 
path  of  the  Schuylkill  Navigation  Canal.  He  was 
promoted  to  do  more  responsible  work,  and  at  the 
youthful  age  of  fifteen  commanded  a  boat.  lie 
continued  to  act  in  that  capacity  on  the  canal  until 
the  year  1859.  In  that  year  he  opened  a  hotel  in 
the  town  of  Marietta,  Lancaster  County,  which  he 
managed  very  profitably  till  18(52.  In  that  year 
he  laid  aside  all  personal  aims  and  ambitions,  to 
answer  his  country's  call  in  the  hour  of  her  bitter- 
est need,  enlisting  for  nine  months  in  Company  II, 
135th  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  and  was  at  once 
commissioned  1st  Lieutenant  of  his  compaii}'.  He 
proved  to  be  possessed  of  true  soldierly  qualities, 
and  three  months  later  was  promoted  to  the  Cap- 
taincy, and  commanded  his  company  from  that 
time  till  his  discharge  with  his  regiment.  TJie 


most  important  battle  in  which  he  took  an  active 
part  was  that  at  Clmncellorsville.  The  hardships 
and  exposures  of  military  life.were  too  much  for 
his  naturally  strong  constitution,  and  never  at  any 
time  has  he  in  any  measure  regained  his  health. 
After  his  discharge  the  captain  returned  to  Marietta 
Pa.,  and  remained  there  till  the  1st  of  December, 
1863,  when  he  came  to  Woodford  County  and  gave 
his  attention  to  farming  in  both  Cazenovia  and 
Linn  Townships  till,  as  before  stated,  he  was  obliged 
to  retire  to  private  life,  and  is  now  living  at  Low 
Point. 

Captain  Krater  was  married  Jan.  5,  1851,  to 
Catherine  Nase,  and  she  has  been  to  him  a  true 
and  devoted  wife,  carefully  looking  after  his  com- 
fort, and  in  the  past  lightened  his  labors  as  much 
as  possible.  She  is  a  sincere  Christian,  and  she 
and  her  children  are  consistent  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  She  is,  like  her  husband,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  Marietta,  Lancas- 
ter County,  Dec.  16,  1828.  Her  father,  Samuel 
Nase,  was  born  in  the  same  county,  while  his  father, 
Adam  Nase,  was  a  native  of  England.  He  came 
to  America  and  settled  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa., 
and  there  died.  Mrs.  Krater's  father  was  reared 
and  married  in  his  native  county,  and  there  fol- 
lowed for  a  few  years  the  trade  of  a  tanner,  which  he 
had  learned  of  his  father.  After  marriage  he  en- 
gaged in  farming,  and  in  1851  came  to  Illinois, 
and  locating  in  Savanna,  Carroll  County,  died 
there.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Cather- 
ine Wise.  She  was  born  in  Lebanon  County,  of 
French  parentage.  She  was  left  an  orphan  at  a 
very  early  age,  and  spent  her  last  years  in  Lancas- 
ter County.  Pa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Krater  have  four 
children — Clara,  Margaret,  Mary  Emma,  and  Will- 
iam Nase. 

Captain  Krater,  the  true,  brave  hearted  gentle- 
man who  has  sacrificed  so  much  for  his  country,  is 
well  deserving  a  place  in  this  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM 
of  Woodford  County,  and  it  gives  us  great  pleas- 
ure to  transcribe  to  these  pages  this  short  review 
of  his  life.  He  has  an  intelligent,  well-balanced 
mind,  and  other  qualities  that  have  rendered  him 
a  valued  citizen  and  a  desirable  neighbor,  and  in 
his  domestic  relations  he  is  all  that  a  considerate 
husband  and  father  can  be.  Well  understanding 


258 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  value  of  learning,  he  has  always  taken  a  keen 
interest  in  educational  affairs,  and  has  done  his 
township  good  serVice  as  a  member  of  the  School 
Board  for  many  years.  For  two  terms  he  held  the 
office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  discharged  its 
duties  with  characteristic  dignity  and  fairness. 
His  interest  in  politics  continues  unabated.  In 
early  years  he  was  a  Whig,  and  cast  his  first  vote 
for  President,  for  Gen.  Taylor.  In  1860  he  voted 
for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  has  ever  since  stood 
stanchly  by  the  Republican  party. 


OHRISTIAN  H.  SCHERTZ.  On  section  5, 
Metamora  Township,  two  and  one-half 
miles  north  of  the  village,  is  a  very  de- 
sirable farm  of  200  acres  of  choice  tillage  and 
pasture  land,  which  is  second  to  none  in  the 
variety  and  extent  of  its  improvements,,  and  is 
the  seat  of  as  cozy  and  substantial  a  home  as  may 
be  found  within  the  limits  of  Woodford  County. 
The  fortunate  possessor  of  this  valuable  property, 
is  the  gentleman  whose  name  is  at  the  head  of  this 
biographical  review,  and  here  he  is  prosperously 
engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock-raising,  de- 
riving a  handsome  income  as  the  result  of  his  well- 
directed  toil. 

He  is  a  native  born  citizen  of  the  county,  his 
birth  taking  place  in  Worth  Township,  Nov.  22, 
1844.  His  father,  John  Sehertz,  a  sturdy  pioneer  of 
this  part  of  Illinois,  was  born  in  France.  He  was 
there  reared  and  educated,  and  after  attaining  man- 
hood he  came  to  America.  Landing  at  New  Or- 
leans, he  made  his  way  directly  to  Illinois  by  the 
way  of  the  Mississippi  River,  and  then  ascended 
the  Illinois  River  as  far  as  Peoria,  then  a  small 
hamlet.  He  was  in  limited  circumstances,  and  he 
sought  various  kinds  of  employment  by  which  to 
earn  a  livelihood.  About  1843  he  came  to  Wood- 
ford  County,  and  buying  a  tract  of  wild,  timbered 
land  in  Worth  Township,  he  became  one  of  its 
earl}'  settlers.  He  devoted  his  time  assiduously  to 
the  improvement  and  cultivation  of  his  land,  and 
in  time  developed  a  fine  farm,  on  which  he  lived 


until  three  or  four  years  before  his  death,  when  he 
sold  it  and  moved  to  another  farm  of  his  in  Linn 
Township.  He  had,  sometime  before  that,  bought 
a  quarter  section  of  wild  prairie  land,  and  subse- 
quently eighty  acres  of  improved  land,  and  after 
his  removal  to  Linn  he  purchased  another  tract  of 
land  comprising  240  acres  of  choice  farming  land. 
His  death  occurred  in  his  pleasant  home  in  Linn 
Township,  in  1879,  at  a  ripe  old  age.  He  was  in 
ever}'  sense  a  self-made  man,  beginning  life  with 
no  adventitious  aids  of  fortune  or  favor,  but  by 
the  sole  heritage  of  a  sound  constitution,  an  active 
disposition  and  a  good  capacity  for  practical  labor, 
he  accumulated  a  goodly  property.  During  his  many 
years  residence  in  this  county,  which  he  helped  to 
develop,  he  won  the  respect  and  regard  of  all 
about  him  by  the  strength  of  his  sturdy  character, 
and  by  his  kind  and  upright  dealings.  His  good 
wife,  mother  of  our  subject,  departed  this  life  on  the 
home  farm  in  Worth  Township.  Her  maiden  name 
was  Magdalena  Engel,  and  she  came  from  her  na- 
tive France  to  America  with  her  parents,  John  and 
Magdalena  Engel,  pioneers  of  Woodford  County. 
Of  the  nine  children  born  of  her  marriage  seven 
grew  to  maturity,  as  follows:  Christian  H.,  Cathe- 
rina,  Magdalena,  Annie,  John,  Peter,  Joseph  F. 
By  another  marriage  the  father  of  our  subject  had 
one  child  who  is  still  living,  Jacob. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  the  hum- 
ble log  house  that  his  father  erected  on  his  Worth 
homestead  soon  after  it  came  into  his  possession. 
He  grew  to  man's  estate  in  his  native  township, 
and  gained  his  education  in  its  schools.  He  in- 
herited sterling  habits  of  thrift  and  industry  from 
his  worthy  parents,  and  as  soon  as  large  enough, 
began  to  assist  his  father  on  the  farm,  continuing 
to  be  an  inmate  of  the  parental  household  till  he 
was  twenty-one.  At  that  age  he  went  to  live  on 
land  that  belonged  to  his  father  in  Linn  Township, 
and  worked  it  on  shares  the  ensuing  five  years. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  settled  on  the 
farm  where  he  now  resides,  which  is  pleasantly  lo- 
cated, as  before  stated,  on  section  5,  Metamora 
Township.  It  is  amply  supplied  with  an  excellent 
set  of  buildings,  neatly  kept  and  in  good  order,  in- 
cluding a  large  frame  house,  and  a  good  sized 
barn  built  in  1880,  the  latter  being  of  a  modern 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


26! 


style  of  archi lecture,  52x36  feet,  with  18  feet 
posts  and  a  stone  basement. 

Mr.  Schertzand  Miss  Annie  Gingrich  were  united 
in  marriage  in  1869,  and  they  now  have  Dve  chil- 
dren living,  namely:  Elvina,  Lucinda,  Annie,  Ed- 
ward and  Susie.  Mrs.  Schertz  is,  like  her  husband, 
a  native  of  Woodford  County,  her  birthplace  be- 
ing in  Partridge  Township.  Her  parents,  Peter 
and  Magdalena  (Naffcinger)  Gingrich,  were  na- 
tives, respectively,  of  Hesse-Darmstadt  and  of 
France,  and  they  were  early  settlers  of  Woodford 
County. 

As  an  honorable,  fair-minded  man,  well  en- 
dowed mentally  and  physically,  with  a  frank,  warm 
heart  and  an  unsullied  reputation,  our  subject  is  a 
credit  to  the  citizenship  of  his  native  county.  He 
is  classed  among  its  substantial  farmers,  whose  prac- 
tical skill  in  their  calling  has  contributed  to  its 
elevation.  In  politics,  Mr.  Scherz  is  a  Republican. 
Religiously,  he  and  his  amiable  wife  are  members 
of  the  Omish  Church. 


IFj^EN.JAMIN  GROVE.  The  pioneers  of  the 
country  are  fast  passing  away,  but  their 
memories  will  be  cherished  long  years  after 
a  stone  alone  remains  to  tell  the  history  of 
their  lives,  and  their  earnest  efforts  to  carve  out  a 
home  for  themselves  and  their  children.  Among 
those  respected  and  esteemed  by  their  younger 
friends,  as  well  as  by  the  few  remaining  of  the  same 
age,  is  the  subject  of  this  review,  Benjamin  Grove. 
For  many  years  he  has  beheld  with  the  natural  inter- 
est of  a  worker,  the  many  improvements  which  are 
rapidly  changing  the  face  of  the  country,  and  which 
he  has  assisted  in  bringing  about.  He  now  lives  the 
life  of  a  retired  farmer,  while  his  sons  attend  to  the 
interests  of  the  home  place;  but  his  existence  is  not 
an  inactive  one,  for  his  interests  are  as  great  and  his 
hands  are  as  ready  to  do  what  they  can  as  they 
were  forty  years  ago.  Truly  the  life  of  an  active 
man  is  the  ideal  one,  and  when  he  comes  to  his 
rest,  "  his  labors  do  follow  him." 

Benjamin  Grove  is  a  native  of  Augusta  County, 


Va.,  and  was  born  on  the  28th  of  March,  1816. 
His  father,  Simon  Grove,  was  a  native  of  Lancas- 
ter County,  Pa.,  but  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Augusta  County,  Va.,  and  there  made  his  home  un- 
til after  his  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Rinehart, 
whose  nativity  was  in  Pennsylvania,  while  that  of 
her  father  was  German.  Simon  Grove,  after  his 
marriage  emigrated  to  Harrison  County,  Ind.,  in 
1816.  He  had  heard  of  the  prospects  of  the  Great 
West,  and  thought  to  build  up  a  fortune  there. 
But  after  years  of  toil  he  removed  to  Woodford 
County,  111.  While  a  resident  of  Indiana  he  was 
called  upon  to  endure  more  than  the  usual  trials 
that  await  the  pioneer.  He  signed  a  note  for  a 
friend,  and,  as  so  often  happens,  was  obliged  to  pay 
the  claim.  To  do  this  he  had  to  sell  his  stock  and 
farming  implements,  and  during  a  long,  cold  winter 
his  little  boys  had  to  carry  wood  on  their -backs 
from  the  forests  in  order  to  keep  from  freezing. 
At  last  they  broke  a  pair  of  calves,  and  were  after- 
ward enabled  to  haul  their  wood.  Finally  they  se- 
cured a  team  and  wagon,  and  worked  by  the  day 
so  as  to  pay  their  way  and  save  for  the  future.  In 
1844,  after  their  removal  to  Woodford  County, 
the  father  died,  the  mother  surviving  him  until  the 
year  1858. 

To  Simon  Grove  and  his  wife  there  were  born 
twelve  children,  eleven  of  whom  are  living,  namely  : 
Barhary,  Jacob,  Hannah,  Mary  Ann,  Elizabeth, 
Abraham,  Henry,  Susan,  Isaac,  Sarah  and  Benja- 
min. Barbary  first  married  Willis  Scliaffer,  a  resi- 
dent of  Indiana,  who  died  in  this  county  in  1842. 
To  them  were  born  three  children.  She  after ivard 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Joseph  Meek,  a  resi- 
dent of  tli is  county,  and  a  farmer  of  known  ability 
and  resources.  They  have  one  child.  Jacob  mar- 
ried Miss  Leah  Kindig,who  resides  in  Davis  County, 
Mo.  There  he  is  engaged  in  farming  and  also 
officiates  as  a  minister  in  the  Christian  Church. 
They  have  five  children.  Hannah  married  John 
Taunton,  a  native  of  England,  and  a  farmer  near 
El  Paso.  There  have  come  to  bless  their  home 
two  children.  Mary  Ann  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Andrew  Page  of  this  count3r.  Their  home  is 
now  in  the  far-off  West,  in  Wyoming  Territory, 
where  the  husband  and  father  administers  to  the 
spiritual  wants  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  assists 


262 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in  the  ^maintenance  of  his  family  by  farming.  One 
sad  fact  recorded  in  their  family  history  is  the  totil 
blindess  of  one  of  their  six  children.  This  little  girl 
had  one  of  her  eyes  injured  accidentally,  and  in 
the  performing  of  an  operation  lost  the  sight  of 
both.  Elizabeth  became  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Brownfield,  who  formerly  resided  in  this  county, 
but  now  resides  in  Cooper  Count}',  Mo.,  where  he 
is  engaged  as  a  farmer.  Seven  children  have  been 
born  to  them.  Abraham  first  married  a  Miss 
Brownfield,  and  some  time  after  her  death  he  se- 
lected as  his  life  partner  Miss  Thompson,  with  whom 
he  now  lives  in  McLean  County,  111.  They  have 
two  children,  and  the  father  is  occupied  as  a  farmer. 
Henry  chose  as  his  wife  Catherine  Stein,  a  na- 
tive of  this  county,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  three  children.  Their  home  is  at  present  in 
Kansas,  where  Mr.  Grove  is  a  tiller  of  the  soil. 
Susan  was  united  in  marriage  with  Lewis  Hall, 
who  resides  in  Butler  County,  Kan.,  and  they  have 
live  children.  Isaac  was  the  husband  of  Sarah 
Houks,  a  native  of  this  county,  but  now  deceased. 
Isaac  served  in  the  late  War,  belonging  to  Corn- 
pan}'  G,  108th  Regiment,  Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  a 
valiant  soldier,  and  gave  his  life  for  his  country,  fall- 
ing mortal ly  wounded  at  Red  River,  Ark.,  during  an 
engagement  there  under  General  Banks.  He  left  an 
orphan  child,  a  daughter,  who  lives  with  her  grand- 
parents at  Washburn  in  this  county.  Sarah  became 
the  wife  of  Charles  Stein,  a  farmer  of  this  county, 
and  they  are  the  parents  of  three  children. 

The  early  life  of  Benjamin  Grove  has  been  par- 
tially given  ill  connection  with  that  of  his  father. 
Suffice  it  to  say  with  reference  to  his  youth,  that  he 
received  a  common-school  education,  which  in  the 
years  of  few  settlers  and  little  money,  was  rude  and 
primitive,  compared  with  the  fine  education  re- 
ceived by  children  of  the  present  day.  In  the 
course  of  time  he  established  home  ties  of  his  own, 
and  his  companion  for  many  years  afterward  was 
one  who  in  her  youth  was  Hannah  Rinehart,  of 
German  ancestry,  and  a  native  of  Augusta  County, 
Va.  She  was  born  in  1816,  and  deported  this 
life  in  1886.  Of  her  union  with  our  subject  there 
were  born  six  children,  four  of  whom  survive  to  the 
present,  namely:  Washington,  William  H.,  Elias 
and  Sarah.  Washington  married  Mary  Ddlen- 


bnugh,  of  Germany,  and  they  have  five  children, 
William  II.  married  Mary  Ann  Lindenfelser,  a  na- 
tive of  Tazewell  County,  III.  Her  ancestry  was 
German.  They  are  the  parents  of  two  children; 
Sarah  remains  at  home;  Elias  married  Lena  Lin- 
denfelser. and  they  reside  with  her  father  in  Taze- 
-yell  County,  on  the  old  homestead.  Nancy  J.  was 
united  in  marriage  with  John  Woodcock,  and  died 
leaving  two  children. 

Benjamin  Grove  has  been  very  successful  in  at- 
taining the  comforts  of  life,  and  many  of  the  lux- 
uries. He  can  attribute  this  all  to  bis  own  unaided 
efforts,  and  to  the  assistance  of  his  noble  helpmate. 
He  is  now  in  the  enjoyment  of  excellent  physical 
health,and  though  he  has  passed  his  three-scote  years 
and  ten,  bids  fair  to  outlive  many  of  the  younger 
generation.  For  so  regular  have  been  his  habits, 
and  so  free  has  he  kept  himself  from  all  that  injures 
the  system,  that  he  can  look  for  many  years  of  com- 
parative ease  and  comfort.  He  has  a  fine  farm  of 
improved  land,  consisting  of  180  acres  of  prairie 
and  forty  acres  of  timber  land.  In  politic'il  affairs 
he  has  been  astrong  Republican  for  a  life-time,  and 
has  held  many  local  offices  of  prominence. 

The  ALBUM  of  Woodford  County  would  be  in- 
complete without  the  portrait  of  so  valuable  a  cit- 
izen, so  cherished  a  friend,  so  venerable  a  pioneer 
as  he  whose  biographical  sketch  is  thus  briefly 
outlined.  It  is  therefore  with  pleasure  that  we 
present  to  our  many  readers  a  fine  portrait  of  Mr. 
Grove. 


J~)  ACOB  MICHAEL  is  one  of  the  rising,  thrifty 
young  farmers  of    Woodford    County,  anct 
!    is    located    on    one    of     the    best   80    acre 
'    farms  in  all  the  county.     Although   young 
in  years,  he    is  already  financially  well-to-do,  and 
looks  forward  to  a  prosperous  and    happy    future. 
He  is  a  native  of  this  county,  and  has  therefore  ex- 
perienced the  hardships  and  toil  of  pioneer  life  dur- 
ing the  entire  period  of    his    life.     But  now  the 
county    has    so  changed  its    appearance   that  few 
would  recognize  the  former  uncultivated,  wet  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


263 


unbroken  land,  in  that  wbich  is  now  in  flue  condi- 
tion and  under  admirable  tillage.  Thus  our  subject 
has  commenced  to  enjoy  the  results  of  the  toil  on 
the  part  of  himself  and  his  father.  His  farm  is  lo- 
cated on  section  22,  in  Panola  Township,  and  our 
subject  moved  upon  it  in  the  spring  of  1889. 

Jacob  Michael  was  born  Nov.  28,  1859,  and  is 
the  son  of  Philip  and  Anne  Michael,  both  natives 
of  Germany.  They  emigrated  to  America  some 
time  in  the  fifties,  and  coming  to  Woodford 
County,  settled  upon  their  present  farm,  situated 
two  and  one-half  miles  east  of  Secor,  which  has  been 
their  home  ever  since.  The  father  first  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land,  which  was  covered  with  stumps 
and  brush,  and  there  had  never  been  a  furrow 
turned  upon  it.  It  was  in  a  wild,  primitive  con- 
dition, probably  about  as  the  Indians  had  left  it. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phillip  Michael  were  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  of  whom  five  remain  at  the  present 
writing,  namely:  Margaret,  Elizabeth,  Mary  A., 
Philip,  and  Jacob,  our  subject.  They  are  mem  hers 
of  the  German  Evangelical  Church,  and  Mr.  Mi- 
chael has  served  as  choir  leader  in  the  church  for  a 
long  time.  Politically  he  supports  the  Republican 
party,  and  votes  their  ticket,  but  has  never  held 
any  office  of  great  importance,  nor  has  he  had  any 
political  aspiration?.  He  has  now  reached  the  sev- 
enty-second year  of  his  age,  while  his  wife  is  seventy 
years  old. 

Our  subject  wns  the  youngest  son  of  his  parents, 
and  grew  to  manhood  amid  the  primitive  scenes  of 
a  new  country.  His  early  education  was  obtained 
in  the  common  schools,  and  has  been  supplemented 
by  an  extensive  course  of  reading,  and  now  he  is 
considered  a  well-read  man,  as  he  avails  himself  of 
every  opportunity  to  become  informed  upon  sub- 
jects of  general  importance.  He  was  reared  upon 
a  farm,  and  became  an  experienced  master  of  the 
details  of  farm  life  even  before  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority. 

A  few  years  since,  Mr.  Michael  cast  aside  the 
cares  of  bachelorhood  and  chose  as  his  wife,  Miss 
Ann  R.  Boland,  who  has  become  the  mother  of  one 
child,  a  daughter,  Doris.  Mrs.  Michael  inherited 
the  farm  on  which  she  and  her  husband  reside,  from 
her  mother.  Like  his  father,  he  is  a  Republican 
in  politics,  and  is  even  at  this  early  date  considered 


a  leader  in  political  affairs  in  his  native  county. 
His  farm  is  well  supplied  with  farm  buildings,  and 
is  valued  at  $70  per  acre,  while  he  is  also  the  owner 
of  ten  acres  of  land  in  Greene  Township,  making 
ninety  acres  in  all.  He  has  a  prosperous  future 
before  him,  and  the  ALBUM  takes  pleasure  in  pre- 
dicting for  him  the  successful  fulfillment  of  the 
many  hopes  doubtless  cherished  by  himself  and 
his  friends. 


ACOB  H.  TJADEN  is  denominated  one  of 
the  best  and  most  skilful  farmers  of  Illinois. 
He  stands  among  the  foremost  men  of  that 
calling  in  Woodford  County,  where,  by  un- 
common capacity,  energetic  enterprise  and  shrewd 
foresight,  he  has  accumulated  a  fortune.  An  early 
settler  of  Linn  Township,  he  may  rightly  be  con- 
sidered one  of  its  public  benefactors,  as  it  was 
through  Ijis  example  and  influence  that  this  large 
body  of  land,  much  of  which  was  so  low  and 
swampy  as  to  be  considered  unfit  for  cultivation, 
was  drained  and  reclaimed  from  its  wild  state,  and 
now  constitutes  one  of  the  finest  farming  regions 
in  the  State.  Mr.  Tjaden  owns  here  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  substantially  improved  farms  in 
this  section  of  the  county,  and  here  he  and  his 
good  wife  live  contentedly  and  happily,  somewhat 
retired  from  the  active  labors  of  life,  in  a  beautiful 
and  orderly  home. 

Mr.  Tjaden  is  a  native  of  the  province  of  Hano- 
ver, Germany,  June  17,  1817,  the  date  of  his  birth 
in  that  far-away  country  across  the  sea.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  Ludwig  Tjaden,  and  his  father, 
Heika  Tjaden,  were  born  in  the  same  province,  and 
there  their  entire  lives  were  passed.  His  father 
served  in  the  German  army  a  few  years,  and  after- 
ward engaged  in  his  farming  operations.  He  was 
a  well-educated  man  and  a  practical  farmer,  and  he 
took  pains  to  instruct  his  children  in  agriculture 
as  well  as  in  books,  and  by  early  training  they  be- 
came model  farmers.  This  wise,  able,  prudent, 
high]}'  esteemed  man  departed  this  life  in  1843, 
leaving  his  community  to  mourn  the  loss  of  its 
best  citizen,  and  his  family  of  a  kind  husband  and 


264 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


a  wise,  tender  father.  There  were  eleven  children 
born  to  him  and  his  wife,  of  whom  the  following  six 
came  to  America:  Jacob  H.,  Theda,  Mary,  Ludwig, 
Katherina  and  Reinhard. 

Jacob,  of  whom  we  write,  attended  school  from 
the  age  of  five  years  till  he  was  fifteen,  gaining  in 
the  excellent  schools  of  his  native  land  a  substantial 
education.  After  leaving  school  he  became  of 
great  assistance  to  his  father  in  carry  ing  on  his  farm 
work,  and  remained  an  inmate  of  the  parental 
household  till  after  his  father's  death.  In  1857,  in 
the  prime  of  a  vigorous,  manly  manhood,  he  came 
to  America,  having  resolved  to  try  life  in  this 
country.  He  set  sail  from  Bremen,  and  ten  weeks 
later  landed  in  New  Orleans,  and  from  the  Cres- 
cent City  made  his  way  by  the  Mississippi  and 
Illinois  rivers  to  Peoria,  where  he  spent  the  winter. 
In  the  following  spring  he  came  to  this  county, 
and  cpmmenced  life  here  by  renting  land  in  Linn 
Township.  After  the  war  he  bought  160  acres  of 
land  in  Linn  Township,  and  from  time  to  time  he 
has  invested  his  money  in  other  land,  till  he  now 
owns  720  acres  of  as  fine  farming  land  as  is  to  be 
found  anywhere  in  this  region.  When  Mr.  Tjaden 
located  here  he  found  the  greater  part  of  the  town- 
ship so  Io"v  and  flat  that  water  stood  on  it  almost 
the  year  round,  rendering  it  unfit  for  cultivation. 
His  keen,  practiced  e_ye  saw  that  by  drainage  and 
proper  cultivation,  it  would  make  superior  soil  for 
farming  purposes,  and  he  was  the  first  to  agitate 
the  subject  of  its  complete  drainage.  The  people 
could  with  difficulty  be  brought  to  believe  in  the 
possibility  of  its  reclamation.  But  he  set  about 
draining  his  land,  and,  having  the  law  on  his  side, 
compelled  others  to  do  the  same  with  their  land, 
and  in  due  course  of  time  Linn  Township  was  im- 
proved to  its  present  fine  condition  In  1888  Mr. 
Tjaden  erected  a  fine  brick  house,  with  all  the  con- 
veniences, while  it  is  neatly  and  tastefully  fur- 
nished, and  in  this  retreat  he  and  his  wife  are 
enjoying  the  ample  fortune  that  he  has  accumu- 
lated, surrounded  by  their  children,  whom  they 
have  reared  to  be  useful  and  honored  members  of 
society. 

Mr.  Tjaden  and  Miss  Mana  E.  Hine,  a  native  of 
Hanover,  were  united  in  marriage  in  1844,  and  they 
have  seven  children  living:  Ileika,  John,  Mcnke. 


Henry,  Jacob,  Ludwig  and  Hermon.  The  three 
youngest  were  born  in  America.  They  have  one 
of  the  pleasantest  and  most  attractive  homes  in 
Linn  Township,  where  every  comfort  is  provided 
for  its  inmates,  and  hospitality  reigns  supreme. 

It  will  be  seen  in  perusing  this  brief  outline  of 
the  life  of  our  subject,  that  he  is  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  intelligence,  thoughtfulness  and  discrimi- 
nation, bringing  a  well-trained,  practical  mind  to 
bear  on  the  problems  of  agriculture,  with  which,  as 
we  have  seen,  he  has  so  successfully  coped.  He 
combines  with  an  energetic,  pushing  disposition, 
careful  and  methodical  habits.  His  business  trans- 
actions, though  shrewd  and  keen,  and  managed 
with  a  view  to  profit,  are  always  fair  and  perfectly 
honest.  In  politics  he  is  a  stalwart  Democrat,  and 
lends  material  aid  to  his  party  in  this  part  of  the 
county.  Religiously,  both  he  and  his  estimable 
wife  are  devoted  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
and  they  may  truly  be  said  to  live  up  to  their  pro- 
fessions of  Christianity. 


eURTISS  &  EVANS,  editors  and  proprietors 
of  the  El  Paso  Journal,  have  conducted 
this  leading  newspaper  since  February, 
1889.  It  has  exerted  considerable  influence  since 
ils  establishment  in  1863,  and  under  the  present 
management  has  obtained  a  firmer  foothold  than  it 
ever  before  enjoyed.  The  paper  is  an  eight-page, 
six-column  weekly,  and  enjoys  a  circulation  of 
about  1,400.  Under  the  caption  of  the  El  Paso 
Gazette,  its  first  issue  was  submitted  to  the  public 
on  the  1st  of  February,  1863.  It  has  changed  hands 
several  times,  and  while  successful  from  the  start, 
its  present  proprietors  have  given  to  it  a  new  in- 
terest and  impetus  which  is  folly  appreciated  by  the 
people  of  this  section.  It  has  always  been  inde- 
pendent in  politics  and  closely  devoted  to  the  in- 
terests of  the  people.  In  connection  with  the 
publication  of  the  paper  is  a  well-equipped  job  of- 
fice, which  receives  a  liberal  patronage  from  the 
people  in  this  part  of  the  county. 

George  R.  Curtiss  was  born  in  Galesburg,  Knox 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


205 


County,  this  State,  Jan.  17,  1859,  whence  he  was 
taken  by  his  parents  when  a  mere  child  to  Henry,  in 
Marshall  County,  later  to  Peoria  and  in  1864  to  El 
Paso.  Here  the  father,  Samuel  Curtiss.  who  is  rep- 
resented elsewhere  in  this  volume,  established  him- 
self as  a  merchant  tailor,  to  which  business  he  has 
since  devoted  his  time  and  attention.  George  R.,  j 
received  a  good  education  in  the  city  schools,  and  I 
when  completing  his  studies,  began  his  apprentice- 
ship  at  the  printer's  trade  in  the  office  of  the  paper 
of  which  he  is  now  part  owner.  Subsequently  he 
worked  on  the  Peoria  Freeman,  and  afterward  on 
the  Streator  Times,  and  the  National  Heal  Estate 
Index,  of  Kansas  City,  and  was  manager  in  the 
printing  department  of  the  latter,  with  which  he 
was  connected  for  some  time.  Subsequently  he  re- 
turned to  the  Journal  office,  and  a  year  later  asso- 
ciated himself  with  his  present  partner  as  part 
proprietor.  He  is  a  young  man  of  correct  habits 
and  great  energy,  and  is  enabled  to  put  his  expe- 
rience to  excellent  use. 

Mr.  Curtiss  was  married  on  the  28th  of  August, 
1889,  to  Miss  Kittie  McLafferty,  of  Hutchinson, 
Kan.,  but  formerly  a  resident  of  Woodford  County, 
in  which  county  she  was  born  and  reared  to  wom- 
anhood. She  is  the  daughter  of  Joel  and  Sarah 
(Swartout)  McLafferty,  pioneer  settlers  of  Wood- 
ford  County.  The  father  is  deceased,  and  the 
mother  resides  at  Hutchinson,  Kan.,  she  having  re- 
moved to  that  place  recently. 

The  following  from  the  Hutchinson,  Kan.,  News 
will  prove  interesting  to  their  many  friends. 

'•  An  event  not  long  expected  to  be  sure  by 
Hutchinson  young  people,  to  whom  the  existence 
of  Illinois  beaux  was  unknown,  but  nevertheless  of 
great  importance  to  the  high  contracting  parties,  I 
and  of  interest  to  our  readers,  took  place  at  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  and  pleasant  homes  of  the  city, 
last  evening.  It  was  nothing  less  than  a  double 
wedding  at  the  commodious  residence  of  Mrs.  S. 
A.  McLafferty,  on  Sherman  street,  east,  wherein  two 
of  her  cultured  daughters  were  wedded  to  promi- 
nent gentlemen,  from  their  previous  home.  At  ex- 
actly 8  o'clock  the  wedding  march  was  sounded, 
with  Miss  Adelaine  Mathews  at  the  piano.  Rev. 
A.  F.  Irwin,  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 
took  his  place  and  in  the  most  impressive  manner 


performed  the  ceremony  which  made  Miss  Helen 
P.  McLafferty  the  wife  of  Mr.  Charles  F.  Hildreth, 
of  El  Paso,  III.,  and  Miss  Kalherine  S.  McLafferty 
the  wife  of  Mr.  George  R.  Curtiss,  of  the  same 
place.  Little  Hazel  Dorsey,  of  Chebanse,  111., 
niece  of  the  brides,  acted  as  bridesmaid,  and  Mas- 
ter Roland  Trott,  of  Kansas  City,  a  cousin  of  the 
brides,  officiated  as  the  grooms'  best  man.  After 
the  brief  ceremony  a  bounteous  repast,  most  tempt- 
ing and  delicious,  and  all  the  more  relished  by  the 
newly  made  benedicts  because  largely  prepared  by 
the  delicate  but  practical  hands  of  the  fair  young 
wives,  was  served  by  their  mother,  assisted  by  their 
sister,  Miss  Franc. 

The  wedding,  while  complete  in  all  its  appoint- 
ments, was  an  exceedingly  quiet  affair,  the  guests 
being  limited  to  the  relatives  and  three  or  four 
special  friends  of  this  city.  Among  the  former 
were  Mr.  M.  Dorsey,  of  Chebanse,  111.,  and  wife 
(one  of  the  sisters)  and  their  three  children;  Mrs. 
Dr.  S.  E.  Trott  and  son,  Roland,  of  Kansas  City, 
Mo.,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cooley,  of  this  city,  the 
two  ladies  last  named,  being  sisters  of  Mrs.  McLaf- 
ferty. 

A  large  number  of  expensive  and  beautiful  pres- 
ents were  received,  and  just  before  taking  carriages 
for  the  9:45  east  bound  Rock  Island  train,  upon 
which  they  departed  for  their  future  Illinois  home, 
they  were  fairly  showered  with  congratulatory  tel- 
egrams from  friends  at  a  distance. 

The  parties  of  this  important  affair  are  of  the 
highest  social  and  business  standing.  Mr.  Hildreth 
is  a  railroad  man,  being  joint  agent  for  the  Illi- 
nois Central  and  the  Toledo,  Peoria  and  Western 
railroads  at  El  Paso,  111.,  and  Mr.  Curtiss  is  editor 
and  publisher,  of  the  El  Paso  Journal.  Both  are 
spoken  of  in  the  most  flattering  terms  by  friends 
in  this  city  who  have  known  them  for  many  years. 
They  were  attired,  last  evening,  in  the  fashion 
usually  adopted  by  gentlemen  on  such  occasions. 

The  brides  looked,  as  brides  are  always  expected 
to  look,  both  sweet  and  pretty,  in  light  brown,  tai- 
lor-made traveling  suits,  exactly  alike,  point  lace 
and  diamonds.  They  have  only  been  residents  of 
Hutchinson  a  few  months,  coming  some  time  after 
their  mother.  Mrs.  S.  A.  McLafferty,  had  established 
herself  in  her  present  beautiful  home.  However, 


266 


PORl'RAIT  A3JD  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


both  have  made  hosts  of  friends  among  our  best 
people,  and  the  social  circles  of  Hutchinson  regret 
their  loss  and  sincerely  mourn  their  departure. 

The  News  joins  their  other  admirers  and  friends 
in  most  sincere  congratulations,  and  wishes  both 
them  and  theirs,  long,  happy  and  prosperous 
lives." 

Robert  J.  Evans,  junior  partner  of  the  above 
mentioned  firm,  was  born  in  Panola  Township,  this 
county,  Aug.  22,  1863,  and  is  the  son  of  one  of  its 
pioneer  settlers,  Robert  J.  Evans,  Sr.,  who  came  to 
this  county  with  his  wife  and  family,  the  former 
of  whom  was  in  girlhood  Miss  Nancy  Gregg. 
Both  had  been  reared  and  married  in  Greene  County, 
Pa.,  and  lived  there  until  after  the  birth  of  five 
children  and  until  1855.  Upon  coming  lo  this 
county  they  settled  in  Greene  Township,  but  later 
the  father  purchased  a  farm  in  Panola  Township, 
where  he  resided  until  the  fall  of  1887,  then  re- 
moved to  El  Paso,  where  he  and  his  estimable  wife 
are  still  living,  retired  from  active  labor  and  sur- 
rounded by  all  the  comforts  of  life.  -Both  are 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  in  which  Mr.  Ev- 
ans has  been  a  Deacon  for  many  years. 

Robert  J.  Evans,  Jr..  was  reared  upon  the  farm, 
and  trained  to  habits  of  industry,  becoming  famil- 
iar with  agricultural  pursuits.  He  obtained  his 
rudimentary  education  in  the  common  school,  later 
was  a  student  of  the  High  School  at  Normal,  111., 
and  subsequently  followed  very  successfully  the 
profession  of  a  teacher  until  the  spring  of  1885. 
Then  starting  out  to  see  something  of  the  world,  he 
halted  at  Emporia,  Kan.,  where  he  was  for  some 
time  employed  on  the  Democrat,  and  later  was  a 
reporter  for  the  Emporia  Evening  News.  In  Em- 
poria he  was  married  Jan.  15,  1889,  to  Miss  Nellie 
Rooke.  This  lady  was  born  in  London,  England, 
April  14,  1868,  and  came  to  America  witli  her  par- 
ents— George  and  Ann  (Harris)  Rooke.  about 
1871.  They  lived  for  ten  years  in  the  State  of 
Connecticut,  then  decided  to  seek  the  great  West, 
and  settled  in  Emporia  where  Mr.  Rooke  has  since 
conducted  a  hotel.  Mrs.  Evans  received  careful 
home  training  and  a  good  education,  and  remained 
with  her  parents  until  hrr  marriage.  She  is  a 
member  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  while  Mr.  Evans 
is  a  Baptist,  religiously.  The  firm  of  Curtiss  <fc 


Evans,  are  rapidly  establishing  themselves  in  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  their  fellow-citizens,  from 
whom  the  Journal  receives  a  liberal  support.  It 
is  devoted  to  local  interests  and  has  become  quite 
indispensable  to  the  people  in  this  part  of  the 
county. 


EWIS  J.  JOHNSON  is  one  of  the  principal 
citizens  of  his  native  township  (Partridge), 
as,  connected  with  its  agricultural  interests, 
he  is  one  of  its  leading  farmers,  and  as  a  public 
man  he  represents  the  township  in  the  County 
Board  of  Supervisors.  He  is  managing  the  old 
homestead  where  he  was  born,  and  of  which  he  is 
now  the  possessor,  with  very  satisfactory  results, 
so  as  to  be  classed  among  the  most  substantial  cit- 
izens of  the  place. 

Joseph  K.Johnson,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Luzerne  County,  Pa.,  Jan.  10,  1800.  His 
father,  John  Johnson,  is  also  supposed  to  have 
been  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  The  father  of  our 
subject  passed  his  early  life  in  his  native  count}', 
and  when  a  young  man  went  to  Ohio,  and  having 
previously  learned  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith,  he 
established  himself  at  that  in  Hamilton  Township, 
Franklin  County,  residing  there  thus  engaged  till 
1828.  In  thatyear  he  came  to  Illinois,  the  removal 
hither  being  made  with  teams,  one  wagon  being 
drawn  by  four  horses  and  the  other  by  two  horses. 
The  family  brought  their  household  goods,  cooking 
utensils  and  a  tent,  and  when  noon  or  night  over- 
took them  they  camped  by  the  way  and  cooked 
their  meals.  On  his  arrival  in  Illinois,  Mr.  Johnson 
and  his  wife  and  children,  stopped  two 'months  with 
Mrs.  Johnson's  father  on  the  Kickapoo,  four  miles 
from  the  present  site  of  Peoria,  which  was  then 
called  Fort  Clark.  There  was  a  fort  there  at  the 
time  and  thirteen  dwellings,  of  which  all  but  one 
was  built  of  logs.  During  that  two  months  Mr. 
Johnson  explored  the  country,  and  finally  selected 
a  claim  in  Tazewell  County,  ten  miles  southeast  of 
Peoria,  and  on  his  removal  to  that  place  became  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  of  that  region.  Two  hewed 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


267 


log  cabins  and  twenty  acres  of  land  fenced  and 
broken,  constituted  the  only  improvements,  and 
after  he  had  settled  there  he  entered  the  land  at  the 
land  oflice  in  Springlield.  He  built  a  shop  and 
worked  at  bis  trade  seven  years,  and  then  sold,  and 
in  1835  came  to  what  is  now  Partridge  Township, 
Woodford  County,  and  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  few 
pioneers  that  had  preceded  him  to  this  then  wild 
and  lonely  country.  He  bought  a  tract  of  land  or. 
which  there  were  no  buildings,  so  he  erected  a  log 
cabin,  into  which  his  family  moved  and  resided 
there  a  number  of  years.  He  then  purchased  an- 
other place  on  the  same  section,  on  which  he  built 
up  a  comfortable  home,  of  which  he  was  an  inmate 
until  in  August,  1859,  when  he  was  removed  by 
the  hand  of  death.  During  his  life  he  occupied  an 
honorable  place  among  the  energetic,  intelligent, 
self-reliant,  self-sacrificing  pioneers  of  Woodford 
County,  and  industriously  aided  them  in  its  devel- 
opment, and  his  name  and  memory  will  justly  be 
held  in  reverence  by  coming  generations,  as  he  was 
one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  Central  Illinois.  His 
wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1825,  is  distin- 
guished as  being  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  Cen- 
tral Illinois,  now  living.  At  the  venerable  age  of 
eighty-two  years  she  enjoys  good  health,  and  her 
mental  faculties  are  unimpaired.  She  possesses  a 
bright  mind,  is  a  good  talker,  and  relates  with 
vivacity  many  interesting  incidents  of  pioneer  life. 
Her  maiden  name  was  Nancy  Caldwell,  and  she 
was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Ohio,  Feb.  25,  1807. 
Her  father,  William  Caldwell,  was  a  native  of  Mary- 
land, where  his  father,  Patrick  Caldwell,  a  native 
of  Scotland,  had  settled  in  Colonial  times,  and  there 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Mrs.  Johnson's 
father  went  to  Ohio  when  a  young  man,  and  was 
an  earlv  settler  of  Franklin  County.  He  bought  a 
tract  of  land  in  the  primeval  forests,  eight  miles 
from  Columbus,  and  erected  a  log  house,  and  in 
that  humble  pioneer  abode  Mrs.  Johnson  was  born. 
He  cleared  quite  a  farm,  on  which  he  resided  till 
1827,  and  in  that  year  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  after 
residing  one  year  in  Kickapoo,  made  a  claim  in 
Greenland  Township.  Tazewell  County,  and  became 
one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  to  settle  in  that  region, 
and  continued  his  residence  there  till  death.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Elizabeth  Brown,  and 


she  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and  died  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Tazewell  County.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Greer  Brown,  a  native  and  life-long  resident 
of  New  Jersey.  He  married  Jane  Campbell,  and 
they  reared  a  large  family.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject lived  with  her  parents  till  her  marriage,  and 
was  instructed  in  all  the  household  duties  and 
accomplishments  that  were  the  necessary  part  of  a 
young  girl's  education  in  those  early  days,  and  for 
some  years  after  her  marriage  she  spun  and  wove 
all  the  cloth  used  in  her  family.  She  has  four 
children  living:  John,  a  resident  of  Partridge 
Township;  Alexander,  a  resident  of  Indian  Terri- 
tory; Ann,  the  wife  of  George  L.  Jones,  of  Part- 
ridge Township;  and  our  subject. 

The  latter,  the  youngest  member  of  the  family, 
was  born  in  Partridge  Township,  on  the  farm  where 
he  now  lives,  Jan.  9,  1851.  He  was  eight  years  of 
age  when  the  sad  death  of  his  father  deprived  him 
of  a  father's  care  and  wise  guidance,  lie  remained 
with  his  mother,  and  by  her  was  well  trained  in  the 
duties  of  life  and  in  all  that  goes  to  make  an  honor- 
able man.  He  gleaned  a  good  education  in  the 
public  schools,  and  as  soon  as  large  enough  assisted 
in  the  farm  work,  and  with  the  exception  of  four 
years,  has  always  lived  on  the  homestead.  He  early 
displayed  a  special  aptitude  for  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  has  developed  into  a  very  skillful  farmer. 
His  buildings  arc  neat  and  well  arranged,  his  fields 
are  carefully  tilled  and  yield  abundant  harvests, 
and  there  is  every  evidence  of  the  good  order  and 
thrift  which  show  that  a  thoroughly  methodical, 
practical  man  has  charge  of  affairs. 

In  1879,  Mr.  Johnson  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Isabelle  Snyder,  and  he  thus  happily 
secured  an  amiable  companion  and  a  good  help- 
mate, one  who  is  a  true  home-maker.  She  was,  like 
himself,  born  in  Partridge  Township,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Hannah  (Leighton)  Snyder. 
For  parental  history  see  sketch  of  J.  J.  Snyder. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  have  three  children:  Will- 
iam Isaac,  Arthur  and  May. 

Partridge  Township  is  fortunate  in  its  citizens, 
who  are  wide-awake,  thoughtful,  far-sighted  men, 
who  advance  the  public  good  while  working  for 
private  interests,  and  prominent  among  these  is 
our  subject,  a  manly,  straightforward,  clear  minded 


268 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


young  man.  His  fellow  citizens,  among  whom  his 
entire  life  has  been  passed,  regard  him  so  favorably 
that  they  have  twice  selected  him  to  fill  the  respon- 
sible office  of  Supervisor,  to  represent  this  township 
on  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors,  electing  him 
first  in  1888,  and  re-electing  him  in  1889.  In  pol- 
itics he  stands  high  in  the  councils  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party  in  this  section  of  the  county. 


^,,,'DAM  SMISER,  a  prominent  and  highly 
>f(JV  respected  citizen  of  Palestine  Township, 
engaged  in  farming  on  section  33,  is  of 
German  birth.  He  was  born  in  the  prov- 
ince of  Byron,  Germany,  on  the  loth  day  of  April, 
1830,  and  is  the  only  one  of  the  family  that  ever 
became  a  resident  of  the  United  States.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  his  native  land,  and  when 
a  j'oung  man  determined  that  he  would  try  his  for- 
tune in  America,  where  he  believed  better  oppor- 
tunities were  furnished  young  men  than  the  coun- 
tries of  the  old  world  afforded.  On  leaving  home  he 
went  to  Havre,  France,  where  he  embarked  for 
America  and  at  length  safely  arrived  in  New  York 
City.  He  reached  Illinois  in  1854,  locating  in  Chi- 
cago, where  he  remained  for  a  few  months,  and  then 
went  to  Tazewell  County,  where  the  succeeding 
three  years  were  spent.  He  began  life  in  the  new 
world  as  a  day  laborer,  following  any  employment 
by  which  he  might  earn  an  honest  dollar.  In  1857 
he  became  a  resident  of  Wood  ford  County,  where 
he  has  since  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Ten 
years  later,  with  the  earnings  which  he  had  accu- 
mulated, he  purchased  a  farm  on  section  33,  Pales- 
tine Township,  where  he  still  makes  his  home. 

Mr.  Smiser  was  married  in  Peoria,  111.,  the  lady 
of  his  choice  being  Miss  Margaret  Hutch,  a  native 
of  Rhine,  Byron,  Germany,  who  came  to  America 
when  twenty-two  years  of  age.  They  became  the 
parents  of  six  children,  three  sons  and  three 
daughters:  Mary,  Adam,  William.  John,  Eliza  and 
Phosbe,  all  of  whom  are  married,  except  William, 
and  have  left  the  parental  roof.  The  mother  was 
called  to  her  final  rest  on  Nov.  19,  1870,  her  death 


occurring  at  her  home  when  forty-two  years  of  age. 
The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Smiser  was  with  Mrs. 
Udelwine  Ridner  (her  maiden  name  was  Moritz), 
who  was  born  and  reared  in  Germany,  where  shb 
married  her  first  husband.  At  his  death  he  left 
three  children,  as  follows:  Thedonia,  Charles  and 
Tilda.  Mrs.  Smiser  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Smiser  is  a  Democrat. 
He  is  numbered  among  the  early  settlers,  and  is 
one  of  the  self-made  men  of  the  county.  He  not 
only  began  life  in  this  country  with  no  capital,  but 
on  reaching  Chicago  was  $5  in  debt.  He  had  de- 
termined, however,  to  make  for  himself  a  home, 
and  with  characteristic  energy  began  searching  for 
employment.  He  worked  for  some  time  as  a  day 
laborer,  but  from  that  humble  position  has  risen  to 
one  of  affluence.  To  his  own  efforts  may  be  attributed 
his  entire  success.  His  boundless  energy  and  reso- 
lute will  have  overcome  all  disadvantages  and  ad- 
versities, and  he  is  now  one  of  the  well-to-do 
farmers  of  the  community  in  which  he  has  so  long 
made  his  home.  His  J'arm  comprises  160  acres. 
Aside  from  his  business  he  has  found  time  to  aid 
in  the  promotion  of  public  enterprises,  and  has 
given  his  support  to  those  interests  which  he  be- 
lieves to  be  for  the  good  of  the  community.  A 
worthy  and  valued  citizen  and  earl}-  settler,  he  well 
deserves  a  representation  in  the  permanent  history 
of  his  adopted  county. 


eORNELIUS  D.  BANTA  was  one  of  the 
earliest  pioneers  of  Woodford  County,  and 
was  for  many  years  actively  identified  with 
its  extensive  farming  interests,  having  developed 
and  improved  one  of  its  finest  farms,  pleasantly 
located  a  half  mile  northwest  of  Metamora.  He 
came  to  this  county  in  the  very  earliest  days  of  its 
settlement  while  it  was  still  in  a  state  of  nature,  the 
few  pioneers  who  had  preceded  him  having  made 
but  little  impression  on  the  wild  prairies,  forests 
and  timber  openings,  nor  had  they  brought  about 
any  considerable  degree  of  civilization.  It  was  his 
good  fortune,  therefore,  to  witness  the  entire  growth 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


269 


of  the  county  to  its  present  rank  and  importance  as 
one  of  the  leading  counties  in  this  part  of  the  State. 
His  memory  will  be  held  in  reverence  for  his  work 
as  a  pioneer  in  developing  the  rich  agricultural 
resources  of  this  region,  and  thus  contributing  to 
its  mateiial  welfare. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Banta,  widow  of  the  late  Cor- 
nelius D.  Banta,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  seven 
miles  from  the  town  of  Circleville.  She  comes  of 
an  old  Pennsylvania  f  ami  by.  Her  father,  Jacob 
Strawser,  was  born  near  Ilarrisburg,  that  Stale,  and 
his  father,  John  Strawser,  was  also  a  native  of  the 
Keystone  State,  of  which  his  father,  great-grand- 
father of  subject,  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  native. 
Mrs.  Banta's  grandfather  removed  from  his 
Pennsylvania  home  to  Ohio,  and  was  an  earl}' 
settler  of  Pickaway  County.  He  bought  an  ex- 
tensive tract  of  land  near  Delphi,  became'  very 
prosperous,  and  besides  developing  a  large  farm, 
gave  each  of  his  seven  children  160  acres  of 
improved  land.  He  spent  the  remainder  ot'  his 
life  on  his  Ohio  homestead,  where  his  wife  also 
died.  Mrs.  Banta's  father  was  a  small  boy  when 
his  parents  moved  to  Ohio,  and  he  was  there  reared 
and  married.  He  inherited  the  old  homestead,  and 
lived  on  it  till  1849;  then  selling  it,  he  came  to 
Illinois  with  his  family  by  the  way  of  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  rivers.  He  lived  one  year  in  Pike 
County,  and  then  taking  up  his  residence  in  Adams 
County,  sickened  soonafter  his  arrival  and  died.  He 
was  a  man  of  sterling  worth,  of  much  practical  ability, 
and  one  who  was  in  every  w&y  a  desirable  cit- 
izen. The  maiden  name  of  Mrs.  Banta's  mother 
was  Rebecca  De  Haven,  and  she  was  born  in 
Northumberland  County,  Pa.  Her  father,  Peter 
De  Haven,  was  born  in  the  same  State,  and  dur- 
ing some  period  in  h'is  life  he  removed  to  Ohio, 
and  was  an  early  settler  of  Ross  County,  where  he  ! 
spent  his  last  years.  After  her  husband's  death, 
Mrs.  Banta's  mother  bought  a  homestead  of  160 
acres,  in  Adams  County,  and  resided  there  a  few 
years;  then  selling  her  property  there,  she  moved 
to  Kansas, the  removal  being  made  with  teams.  She 
lived  a  few  years  near  Fort  Scott,  and  then  crossed 
the  plains  and  Rocky  Mountains  overland,  and  lo- 
cated about  twenty  miles  from  Portland,  Ore.,  whore 
she  died  May  17.  1873.  There  were  seven  chil- 


dren born  of  her  marriage,  Leanni,  William,  Eliza- 
beth, Peter,  John,  Jacob,  Svlvania  Peter,  Jacob 
and  Sylvania  went  to  Oregon  with  her.  Mrs. 
Banta  lived  with  her  parents  till  her  first  marriage 
in  Ohio,  in  1849,  to  Lewis  T.  Johnson.  He  was  a 
native  of  Vermont,  and  a  son  of  Stephen  N. 
and  Susan  (Blair)  Johnson,  also  natives  of 
the  Green  Mountain  State.  Mr.  Johnson  was 
quite  young  when  his  parents  moved  from  their 
New  England  home  to  Ohio,  where  he  was  reared 
to  man's  estate.  In  September,  1849,  he  came  to 
Illinois  with  his  bride,  and  located  in  Pike  County, 
but  one  year  later  moved  to  Adams  County.  In 
1853,  ambitious  to  try  life  in  the  gold  fields  of  Cal- 
ifornia, he  started  for  that  region  by  the  Panama 
route,  but  the  vessel  on  which  he  sailed  was  blown 
up  and  he  lost  his  life  ere  he  reached  his  destina- 
tion. His  wife  was  thus  left  a  widow  with  two 
small  children  to  care  for,  Lewis  N.  and  William 
M.;tbe  latter  of  whom  died  Oct.  23,  1878.  She 
lived  in  Adams  County  till  1860,  and  in  that  year, 
August  23,  her  marriage  with  Cornelius  Bauta  was 
solemnized. 

Mr.  Banta  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,   born   in 
Mercer  County,  July  3,   1809.     His  father,  Jacob 
Banta,    was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  a?    was    his 
grandfather,  Albert  Banta.     The  family  originated 
in  Holland,  and  came  to  America  in  early  colonial 
times.     The    first  one   to   cross  the  waters  to  this 
country  was  Kpke  Jacob  Banta,  a  farmer  of  Harlin- 
gen,  P^ast  Friesland,  who  embarked  from  Amster- 
dam   on    an    American-bound     vessel,    in    1659, 
accompanied  by  his  wife  and  five  sons.       He  set- 
tled at  Bergen,  now  a  part  of  Jersey,  and  his  des- 
cendants   were    citizens    of  New  Jersey   City,  for 
several  generations.     Albert  Banta,  the  grandfather 
of   Cornelius,  was  one  of  the  fifth  generation,  and 
was  born  in  Hackensack,  N.  J.     He  married   Mag- 
dalena  Van  Voorhes,  a  descendant  of  an  old  Dutch 
family,    and    they    joined    the    Dutch    Reformed 
Church,    in   which  he  served  as  deacon  and  elder. 
In  1784,  he  sold  the  farm  he  had  inherited,  located 
in    Hackensack,   N.    J.,    and   moving    to    Mercer 
County,  Ky.,  became  one  of  its  pioneers,  settling 
a    mile    from   Harrodsburg,    and  there  he  and  his 
wife  died    in  the  fullness   of  time.     Jacob  Banta, 
father    of    Cornelius,    was    born    in    Hackensack, 


270 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


N.  J.,  March  13,  1771,  and  was  fourteen  years  old 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Kentucky.  He 
married  in  that  State  Mary  Banta,  daughter  of 
David  Banta,  and  having  inherited  his  father's 
farm  near  Harrodsburg.  made  his  home  on  it  till 
1832.  Coming  to  Illinois  in  that  year,  he  bought 
a  tract  of  land  near  Washington,  Tazewell  County, 
and  was  a  resident  there  the  ensuing  few  years. 
After  that  he  sold  his  property  and  bought  a  farm 
about  a  mile  northwest  from  town,  which  he  made 
his  dwelling  place  until  his  death. 

His  son,  Cornelius  D.,  was  reared  amid  the  pion- 
eer scenes  of  Kentucky,  and  in  his  youth  learned 
the  trade  of  a  wagon  maker,  which  he  followed  in  his 
native  State  till  1832,  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  the 
removal  thither  being  made  with  teams.  He  settled 
in  that  part  of  Tazewell  County  now  included  in 
Wood  ford  County,  and,  in  1 833,  made  a  claim  to 
land  now  included  in  the  farm  where  his  family- 
resides,  and  when  it  came  into  the  market,  he  went 
to  Springfield  on  horseback  to  enter  it  at  the  land 
office.  Another  man  wanted  the  same  piece  of 
land,  and  Mr.  Banta  hearing  that  he  intended 
to  enter  it,  started  for  Springfield  in  the  evening, 
and  riding  all  night  arrived  there  a  short  time 
before  his  competitor,  and  so  succeeded  in  secur- 
ing a  clear  title  to  his  land.  He  made  it  his  home 
for  nearly  half  a  century,  and  in  that  time  evolved 
a  valuable  farm  from  the  wild  prairies,  placed  its 
243  acres  under  excellent  cultivation,  erected  sub- 
stantial frame  buildings  and  otherwise  greatly  im- 
proved it. 

Mr.  Banta  was  first  united  in  marriage,  in  1839,  i 
with  Miss  Elizabeth  Stine,  their  wedding  being  sol- 
emnized in  Worth  Township,  this  county.  Of  this 
union,  five  children  were  born,  three  of  whom  are 
living,  viz. :  George  W.,  Charles  D.  and  Cornelius  J. 
The  wife  was  a  daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
( De  Haven)  Stine,  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  she 
departed  this  life  in  1859.  Mr.  Banta  was  after- 
ward married,  as  before  stated,  to  Elizabeth  Stravv- 
ser. 

By  the  death  of  Mr.  Banta,  Nov.  28,  1878,  the 
township  and  county  lost  one  of  their  best  citizens, 
a  man  of  unswerving  rectitude  of  character  and 
blameless  life,  who  had  always  interested  himself 
in  the  welfare  of  his  adopted  home,  and  had  done 


all  in  his  power  to  secure  its  highest  interests.  He 
was  hap|>3'  in  his  domestic  life,  and  his  wife  found 
in  him  a  tender  husband,  and  his  four  sons,  A.  Lin- 
coln, John  L.,  Frank  D.,  Archie  D.,  found  in  him  a 
wise,  indulgent  father.  Ella  May,  the  only  and 
idolized  daughter,  was  taken  from  her  earthly 
home  when  four  years  and  five  months  old.  Mr. 
Banta  was  kiml  and  considerate  in  his  dealings  with 
his  neighbors,  and  they  held  him  in  high  regard. 
He  was  deeply  interested  in  political  matters,  and 
in  his  early  years  affiliated  with  the  Democratic 
party;  but  his  sentiments  with  regard  to  the  slavery 
question  not  being  in  harmony  with  those  of  his 
party,  he  joined  the  Republican  ranks,  and  was 
ever  after  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  policy  of  that 
party. 

Mrs.  Banta  was  an  invaluable  aid  to  her  husband 
in  his  work,  and  is  now  passing  her  declining  years 
on  the  old  homestead  with  her  children,  enjoying 
the  competence  that  she  helped  to  procure.  She 
is  a  woman  of  much  native  force  of  character,  kind 
in  heart  and  manner,  cheerfully  giving  assistance 
where  needed,  and  charitably  inclined  toward  all. 

A  portrait  of  Cornelius  D.  Banta  adds  to  the 
value  of  the  ALBUM,  and  will  be  treasured,  not 
only  by  those  nearest  and  dearest  to  him,  but  by 
the  man}'  who  were  his  associates  in  «ocial  and 
business  circles,  and  who  admired  him  for  his  estim- 
able qualities  of  heart  and  mind. 


I,1  ACOB  McCHESNEY.  Among  all  the  for- 
eigners who  have  come  to  America  in 
search  of  a  home,  few  have  adapted  them- 
selves to  their  surroundings  with  greater 
celerity,  or  proven  to  be  better  citizens  than  the 
Scotch.  They  are  notably  thrifty,  persevering,  and 
at  the  same  time  pleasant  additions  to  the  society 
of  a  village  or  city.  The  McChesney  family  are 
of  Scotch  origin,  but  many  years  have  elapsed 
since  the  first  of  that  name  crossed  the  Atlantic  to 
seek  a  home  in  the  United  States.  The  grandfather 
of  our  subject  died  while  yet  in  tiie  prime  of  life. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


271 


his  death  occurring  a  few  months  prior  to  the  birth 
of  his  son,  Lewis  McChesney,  father  of  our  subject. 

Lewis  McChesney,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  place,  Rensselaer 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  was  there  united  in  the  bonds 
of  matrimony  with  Mary  A.  Bulson,  a  native  of 
the  same  county.  There  he  continued  to  reside 
after  his  marriage,  being  occupied  in  farming,  and 
also  for  a  time  in  the  hotel  business.  He  died 
where  all  his  life  had  been  spent,  when  he 
was  only  thirty-eight  years  of  age,  his  death  oc- 
curring in  April,  1851.  His  wife  survives  him 
and  makes  her  home  with  her  son,  Jacob,  in  this 
county.  f 

To  Lewis  and  Mary  McChesney  were  born  five 
children,  four  living,  whose  names  are  here  given: 
Jacob,  the  eldest,  is  the  subject  of  this,  sketch; 
Lewis  H.  is  a  resident  of  Kossuth  County,  Iowa; 
Harmon  now  makes  his  home  in  Rockingham 
County,  Va,;  John,  the  youngest,  is  a  resident  of 
Roanoke,  111. 

Jacob  McChesney  was  born  in  Rensselaer  County, 
N.  Y.,  the  date  of  his  birth  being  March  18,  1835. 
As  above  stated,  he  is  the  son  of  Lewis  and  Mary 
McChesney.  His  early  education  was  such  as  was 
received  by  the  youth  of  that  day,  and  laid  the 
basis  of  his  future  success.  After  leaving  school 
he  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter.  He  had  taken 
a  preparatory  course  of  training  and  study  at  the 
Academy  in  North  Adams.  Mass.,  and  was  antici- 
pating a  course  at  Williams'  College,  but  circum- 
stances prevented  him  from  entering,  and  instead 
of  being  a  pupil,  he  himself  became  a  teacher,  his 
education  having  fitted  him  for  a  successful  teacher 
and  instructor.  He  also  engaged  in  his  trade. 

One  of  the  most  important  events  in  the  life  of 
our  subject  was  his  marriage  which  occurred 
Nov.  9,  1853,  when  he  was  united  with  Elsie  L. 
Davison.  She  was  a  native  of  Grafton,  Rensselaer 
County,  as  was  her  husband,  and  was  the  daughter 
of  J.  M.  Davison,  who  resides  in  Eureka,  111.  He 
came  to  the  West  in  1855  and  settled  in  Clayton 
Township,  where  he  followed  the  occupation  of 
farming,  and  at  present  is  the  owner  of  140  acres 
of  finely  cultivated  land. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McChesney  have  been  blessed  with 
tix  children,  whose  names  are  herewith  recorded: 


Louisa  E..  who  is  the  wife  of  William  S.  Barnett, 
of  Kansas  City,  Mo.;  Cassius  M.,  a  resident  of 
Clayton  Township;  Horace  J.  also  a  resident  of 
Clayton  Township;  Edward  D.,  who  yet  lives  at 
home;  Mary  E.  and  Sarah  L.  who  are  also  under 
the  parental  roof. 

Politically,  Mr.  McChesney  is  a  Democrat,  and 
religiously,  he  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  He  has  officiated  as  Town  Clerk, 
and  is  now  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  is  a  Royal  Arch 
Mason,  and  for  many  years  has  been  Master  of  the 
Robert  Morris  Lodge,  No.  247,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  at 
Minonk,  having  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity  since  the  year  1857. 

During  the  years  spent  in  this  county,  Mr.  Mc- 
Chesney and  his  family  have  endeared  themselves 
to  all  the  people  who  have  met  them,  and  wherever 
their  names  are  mentioned  it  is  always  with  the 
respect  that  is  due  those  who  have  labored  assidu- 
ously and  patiently  to  provide  for  old  age,  and  who 
have  not  neglected  that  which  is  far  more  precious 
than  fortune,  more  to  be  sought  after  than  pearls  or 
royal  diadem — the  imperishable  lustre  of  a  good 
name. 


•^ 


ENRY  EFT  came  to  Illinois  in  1869  a  com 
paratively  poor  man.  He  did  not  at  first 
invest  in  land,  but  for  two  years  engaged 
•§§!  in  farming  as  a  renter,  south  of  El  Paso.  He 
then  came  to  Panola  Township,  and  bought  a  tract 
of  land  on  section  26  that  is  now  included  in  his 
present  farm,  and  since  that  date  he  has  been  num- 
bered among  the  practical,  sagacious  farmers  and 
stock-raisers  of  this  section  of  Woodford  County, 
who  have  contributed  to  its  advancement.  His  land 
when  it  came  into  his  possession  Cthe  second  pur- 
chase of  160  acres),  was  a  barren  tract  of  wet, 
swampy  prairie,  and  seemed  hardly  fit  for  cultiva- 
vation.  But  he  shrewdly  saw  its  possibilities, 
and  by  patient  labor  carefully  drained  it  and 
prepared  it  for  tillage,  and  it  proved  to  be  very 
fertile,  and  to-day  yields  him  bounteous  harvests 
in  return  for  the  care  and  money  he  has  spent  on 
its  improvement.  To  his  original  100  acres  he  has 


272 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


added  more  land,  and  now  has  a  valuable  farm  of 
3  tO  acres  of  finely  cultivated  land,  provided  with 
ample  buildings,  and  all  necessary  improvements. 

Mr.  Eft  comes  of  good  old  New  Jerse}'  stock, 
and  is  himself  a  native  of  that  State,  born  in  Salem 
County,  Nov.  29,  1831,  a  son  of  John  and  Ann 
(Hanthorn)  Eft,  natives  of  New  Jersey,  the  Eft 
family  being  among  the  early  settlers  of  that 
State.  His  father  is  now  living  in  Salem  County, 
and  although  he  has  attained  the  remarkable  age  of 
ninety-four  years,  and  has  been  a  hard  worker  all 
liis  life,  he  is  still  hale  and  hearty.  He  enjoys 
the  respect  and  veneration  of  all  about  him,  as  his 
long  life  has  been  well  spent,  and  he  has  always 
walked  in  the  path  of  honesty  and  uprightness. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  man's  estate  amid  the 
pleasant  scenes  of  his  birthplace.  His  educational 
advantages  were  not  such  as  are  enjoyed  by  the 
youth  of  to-day,  but  he  made  the  best  of  them, 
being  desirous  of  securing  a  good  knowledge  of 
books,  and  in  early  life  he  attended  the  subscrip- 
tion schools,  and  after  the  schools  were  made  pub- 
lic he  was  a  student  in  them  for  awhile,  but  the 
most  of  his  learning  he  has  acquired  without  the 
assistance  of  instructors,  as  he  has  always  been  fond 
of  reading,  and  has  been  a  close  observer  of  men 
and  events.  March  30,  1854,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Haines,  whom  he  had 
chosen  to  walk  by  his  side  to  assist  him  in  his  life- 
work,  and  aid  him  in  building  up  a  home.  She  is 
a  native  of  the  same  county  as  himself,  and  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Harriet  Haines,  also  natives 
of  New  Jersey.  Of  the  nine  children  that  have 
blessed  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife,  six 
are  living.  John.  William,  Ann  (wife  of  William 
Kingdom),  Joseph,  George,  Elizabeth.  Those  de- 
ceased are  Charles,  Frederic,  and  one  that  died  in 
infancy. 

After  his  marringo  Mr.  Eft  farmed  on  i  en  led 
land  in  New  Jersey  a  number  of  years,  and  Ihen 
came,  as  we  have  before  mentioned  to  Illinois  in 
1869.  We  have  seen  that  he  has  been  very  much 
prospered  since  locating  in  Panola,  and  besides  in- 
creasing the  size  of  his  farm,  having  it  well-drained 
and  putting  it  under  admirable  tillage,  he  has 
erected  substantial  buildings  and  a  fine  windmill  of 
the  Eureka  make.  Since  he  settled  here  Panola 


Township  has  greatly  improved.  There  were  prac- 
tically no  roads  here  at  the  time  of  his  arrival,  and 
there  were  many  sloughs  and  rough  places  to  cross, 
and  the  streams  were  some  of  them  unbridged. 
Since  then  great  changes  have  been  wrought,  waste 
pieces  of  prairie  have  been  transformed  into  good 
farms,  other  farms  have  been  improved,  and  in 
many  cases  a  better  class  of  buildings  have  been 
erected,  and  throughout  the  township  a  general  air 
of  neatness,  thrift  and  prosperity  prevails.  Our 
subject  may  be  proud  of  the  fact  that  he  has  had  a 
hand  in  bringing  about  this  state  of  affairs.  He 
and  his  wife  have  shared  together  the  hardships 
necessitated  by  their  pioneer  labors,  and  now, 
while  yet  in  life's  prime,  are  together  enjoying  the 
fruits  of  their  early  toils. 

A  self-made  and  a  self-educated  man,  possessing 
in  a  high  degree  thosa  attributes  that  win  success 
in  any  walk  in  life,  and  noted  for  his  integrity  in 
business,  our  subject  occupies  an  important  place 
in  the  community.  Public  spirited  and  liberal  he 
contributes  to  its  advancement  in  every  direction, 
favoring  all  schemes  for  the  improvement  of  town- 
ship or  county,  and  giving  of  his  means  to  support 
religious  institutions,  although  not  a  church  mem- 
ber. He  has  been  School  Director,  and  has  thus 
furthered  the  cause  of  local  education.  In  politics  he 
belongs  to  the  old  Jacksonian  Democracy. 


fc  ARTIN  HERR  occupies  a  leading  position 
among  the  intelligent  and  enlightened  citi- 
zens of  Panola  Township,  who  are  actively 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising 
within  its  borders,  and  are  fast  extending  its  great 
agricultural  interests.  He  is  a  native  of  the  Ger- 
mnn  province  Alsace,  which,  at  the  time  of  his 
birth,  March  7,  1847,  was  under  Ihe  dominion  of 
France.  He  is  a  son  of  a  former  well-known  and 
honored  resident  of  Wood  ford  County,  the  late 
Michael  Herr  and  his  wife  Christina  Herr,  who 
were  also  natives  of  Alsace.  In  the  spring  of  1854 
they  emigrated  to  the  United  States  with  their  fam- 
ily, taking  passage  in  a  sail  vessel,  and  landing  in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


273 


New  York  on  the  first  day  of  March.  The  family 
proceeded  directly  to  Ohio,  and  for  three  years 
ain.de  their  home  in  Holmes  County,  that  State. 
They  then  came  to  Woodford  County,  and  the 
father  for  a  time  rented  a  farm  in  Greene  Town- 
ship, and  finally  bought  a  place  on  section  18,  Panola 
Township,  on  which  he  settled  in  1864,  and  there 
dwelt  in  peace  and  happiness,  plenty  and  comfort, 
till  the  day  of  his  death  in  the  month  of  February 
in  1878.  The  mother  is  now  a  resident  of  Piper 
City,  where  she  is  held  in  general  respect  by  all 
who  know  her.  for  her  worthy  attributes.  She  hns 
attained  the  venerable  age  of  eighty  years.  Of 
her  pleasant  wedded  life  three  children  were  born: 
Michael,  living  in  Ford  County;  Salome,  the  wife 
of  Philip  Scheer,  of  Clay  County,  Neb.,  and  our 
subject.  The  father  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Panola  Township,  and  while  redeeming  a  farm 
from  the  wild  prairies  he  and  his  wife  had  many 
hardships  to  undergo.  He  began  life  a  poor  man, 
but  left  a  valuable  estate,  having  been  much  pros- 
pered in  his  life-work.  In  his  death  the  count}' 
lost  one  of  her  best  citizens,  and  the  Lutheran 
Church  one  of  its  most  zealous  members,  and  the 
Democratic  party  an  earnest  supporter. 

He  of  whom  this  sketch  is  principally  written,  was 
in  his  eleventh  year  when  his  parents  brought  him 
to  their  pioneer  liome  in  Woodford  County.  He 
received  a  fair  education  In  the  local  schools,  and 
a  careful  training  at  home  that  has  made  him  a  true, 
manly  man  and  a  good  citizen.  From  the  time  he 
was  fifteen  years  old  till  he  attained  his  majority, 
he  had  the  management  of  his  father's  farm,  and 
though  so  young  showed  uncommon  judgment  and 
capability,  and  under  his  care  the  farm  was  kept 
in  a  good  condition,  and  yielded  abundant  harvests 
and  a  good  income.  After  he  gave  up  the  charge 
of  the  homestead  he  continued  to  make  his  home 
there  till  he  established  one  of  his  own.  He  settled 
on  his  present  farm  in  the  spring  of  1878,  and  busy 
years  of  unremitting  labor  have  followed,  in  which 
he  has  wrought  a  great  change.  Many  valuable 
improvements  have  been  made,  and  the  220  acres  of 
choice  land  now  constitutes  one  of  the  best  farms  in 
this  locality,  with  soil  well  tilled  and  capable  of 
producing  enormous  crops,  neat  and  substantial 
buildings  adorning  the  place,  and  everything  that 


could  be  desired  to  make  a  pleasant,  comfortable 
home.  He  also  has  a  farm  of  180  acres  on  section 
27,  also  well  improved. 

Mr.  Herr  gratefully  acknowledges  his  indebted- 
ness to  his  wife,  for  her  share  in  securing  the  hand- 
some competence  that  they  enjoy.  They  were 
united  in  marriage  Feb.  11,  1873,  and  by  their 
union  they  have  eight  children,  namely:  George 
AV.,  Louis  P..  Frederic  F.,  Ellena,  Bertha,  Ella, 
John  M.  and  Albert  H.  Mrs.  Herr's  maiden  name 
was  Lolotoo  C.  Dyke.  She  was  a  native  of  Ohio, 
and  a  daughter  of  John  C.  and  Ellen  Dyke,  natives 
of  England. 

Mr.  Herr  and  his  wife  an;  very  kind,  pleasant, 
hospitable  people,  taking  an  active  interest  in  so- 
ciety and  are  very  much  liked  by  the  entire 
community.  Mr.  Herr,  although  a  good  citizen,  pos- 
sessing public  spirit,  and  desiring  to  aid  in  the  im- 
provement of  his  township  or  county,  has  refused 
all  public  honors,  excepting  that  he  allowed  himself 
to  be  elected  School  Director.  He  takes  an  intel- 
ligent view  of  the  political  questions  of  the  day. 
and  sides  with  the  Democratic  party  generally,  al- 
though in  local  matters  he  votes  for  the  man,  with- 
out regard  to  his  political  antecedents.  He  has  a 
well-informed  mind,  as  he  is  a  constant  reader 
when  not  occupied  in  looking  after  his  affairs. 


•HOMAS  J.  HURD,  coming  to  Panola  Town- 
ship in  1866,  has  since  that  time  been  an 
important  factor  in  developing  its  great  ag- 
ricultural resources,  and  is  to-day  numbered  among 
its  most  deserving  and  prosperous  farmers  and 
stock- raisers.  He  may  well  be  classed  as  a  pioneer 
of  this  region,  for  his  fine  farm  on  section  25  is  the 
result  of  his  pioneer  labors  in  eliminating  it  from 
a  wild,  swampy  tract  of  prairie. 

He  is  a  native  of  Oswego  County,  N.  Y.,  Aug. 
30,  1833,  being  the  date  of  his  birth.  He  is  the 
only  son  of  James  and  Sallie  (Thompson)  Ilurd, 
natives  of  New  York,  and  his  father  being  dead, 
his  mother  is  now  a  welcome  inmate  of  his  house- 
hold, and  is  spending  her  declining  years  sur- 


274 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


rounded  by  every  comfort  that  filial  love  can  devise. 
Our  subject  was  reared  to  man's  estate  in  his  native 
county,  and  he  is  mainly  self-educated,  his  school 
advantages  not  being  such  as  the  youth  of  to-day 
enjoy,  his  attendance  at  school  being  limited  mostly 
to  the  short  winter  term,  in  schools  where  teachers 
were  somewhat  deficient  in  learning  themselves. 
But  our  subject  is  naturally  fond  of  reading,  ant) 
taking  an  intelligent  interest  in  good  literature,  has 
managed  to  keep  himself  well  informed  on  all  topics 
of  general  discussion.  When  about  seventeen 
years  old  he  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  black- 
smith, and  worked  for  $5  a  month  and  board  till 
he  had  acquired  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
trade,  which  he  followed  some  six  years.  Since 
then  he  has  devoted  himself  to  agriculture,  hi 
1866,  accompanied  by  his  family  he  emigrated  to 
to  Illinois,  to  take  advantage  of  the  fine  facilities 
for  farming  offered  by  the  rich  soil  of  Woodford 
County.  Selecting  Panola  Township  as  a  desirable 
place  of  residence,  he  bought  a  quarter  of  section 
25,  on  which  he  is  still  residing.  Not  a  farrow 
had  been  turned,  and  much  of  the  land  was  low 
and  wet.  It  required  an  immense  amount  of  pa- 
tient and  persevering  labor  to  make  it  of  any 
value  as  a  farm,  but  our  subject  was  equal  to  the 
task,  and  went  to  work  with  an  indomitable  will 
and  unflagging  energy,  and  he  may  now  point  with 
pride  to  what  he  has  accomplished.  It  is  to-day  as 
well  improved  and  as  well  cultivated  a  farm  as  is  to 
be  found  in  the  neighborhood.  It  is  supplied  with 
neat  and  substantial  buildings,  is  carefully  drained, 
there  being  from  1,000  to  1,200  rods  of  tile  laid 
within  its  bounds,  and  is  stocked  with  cattle  of 
good  grades.  Mr.  Hurd  is  the  proprietor  of  400 
acres  of  land  in  all,  his  homestead  containing  280 
acres,  and  he  has  120  acres  of  choice  farming  land 
north  of  El  Paso. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Hurd  with  Miss  Julia 
Stephens  was  solemnized  Feb.  12,  1855,  and  of 
their  pleasant  union  four  children  have  been  born, 
two  of  whom  are  living,  Estella  and  Burton;  those 
deceased  are  James  and  Nettie.  Mrs.  Hurd  is  also 
a  native  of  Oswego  County,  N.  Y.,  born  Jan.  9, 
1834,  a  daughter  of  Harlow  and  Betsey  (Mandi- 
val)  Stephens.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  her  mother  of  Rensselaer  County, 


N.  Y.,  both  being  of  English  ancestry.  Mrs.  Hurd 
was  reared  to  womanhood  in  her  native  county, 
and  was  there  married.  She  was  one  of  three  chil- 
dren born  to  her  parents,  of  whom  her  sister  An- 
toinette is  dead,  and  her  brother  Henry  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Oswego  Count)-,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hurd  occupy  a  high  social  position 
in  this  community,  and  enjoy  an  extensive  ac- 
quaintance, among  whom  they  have  many  warm 
friends,  and  their  attractive  home  is  the  center  of 
that  true  hospitality  that  "welcomes  the  coining 
and  speeds  the  parting  guest."  Mr.  Hurd  is  known 
to  be  a  man  of  unswerving  rectitude  of  character, 
and  in  him  are  conspicuous  those  honorable  traits 
that  command  universal  esteem  and  respect.  In 
the  twenty-three  years  that  he  has  been  a  resident 
of  this  locality,  his  public  spirit  has  been  evinced 
on  many  occasions  when  he  has  afforded  material 
support  to  feasible  schemes  for  improving  the  town- 
ship or  county.  He  has  taken  an  active  interest  in 
educational  matters  and  has  served  as  School  Di- 
rector, and  in  that  capacity  did  what  he  could  to 
secure  good  schools  for  the  children  of  this  place. 
In  his  political  views,  he  is  an  intelligent  advocate 
of  the  Democratic  party,  but  in  local  matters,  he 
votes  for  the  m:in  he  considers  best  fitted  for  the 
office,  be  he  Democrat,  Republican,  or  the  repre- 
sentative of  an)r  other  party. 


AMES  RENDER  came  to  Woodford  County 
nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  cast  his 
lot  with  its  sturdj',  enterprising  farmers 
and  for  several  years  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  finally  locating  in  Panola  Township, where 
he  developed  a  good  farm,  and  has  been  so  pros- 
pered in  his  labors  as  to  be  able  to  retire  on  a  com- 
petence, and  spend  his  declining  years  free  from 
the  cares  and  toils  of  his  early  life,  in  the  enjoyment 
of  every  comfort  that  money  can  procure. 

Mr.  Render  is  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England, 
and  was  born  Feb.  14,  1828,  a  son  of  William  and 
Ann  Render,  also  natives  of  England.  He  was  the 
fourth  son  in  the  family,  and  when  he  was  in  his 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


275 


fifth  year  he  had  the  sad  misfortune  to  lose  his 
mother,  and  when  he  was  ten  years  old  his  father 
died;  and  after  that  he  had  to  care  for  himself,  and  [ 
had  a  hard  struggle  to  get  along.  He  thus  early 
became  inured  to  the  hardships  and  trials  of  life, 
and  became  manly  and  self  reliant  far  beyond  his 
years.  His  boyhood  and  the  opening  years  of  his 
manhood  were  passed  in  his  native  land  on  a  farm. 
In  1851  he  resolved  to  emigrate  to  the  United 
States  to  better  his  condition  if  possible,  and  he 
took  passage  on  a  sail  vessel  at  Liverpool,  and 
after  an  ocean  voyage  of  nearly  six  weeks,  landed 
in  New  York  City.  He  made  his  way  to  the  State 
of  New  Jersey,  and  the  ensuing  thirteen  years  he 
fanred  and  worked  by  the  day,  prudently  saving 
up  his  earnings,  and  in  1865  came  to  Illinois  to  in- 
vest his  money  in  the  rich  farming  lands  of  Wood- 
ford  County.  He  bought  land  in  Palestine 
Township,  but  did  not  reside  on  it  very  long,  how- 
ever, before  his  removal  to  Panola  Township, 
where  he  settled  on  section  24.  He  made  his  residence 
there  till  1883,  and  in  that  year  removed  to  that 
part  of  the  same  section  where  his  present  home 
is.  He  owns  a  quarter  of  the  section,  which  has 
been  improved  into  a  good,  exceedingly  produc- 
tive farm,  on  which  are  all  the  necessary  buildings, 
and  it  is  supplied  with  machinery  and  all  the  con- 
veniences for  carrying  on  farming  to  the  best  ad- 
vantage. M'\  Render  has  given  up  the  supervision 
of  his  farm,  and  from  its  rental  derives  a  fine  in- 
come. He  was  $150  in  debt  when  he  came  to 
America,  and  besides  had  a  family  dependent  upon 
him  for  support.  Notwithstanding  these  discour- 
aging circumstances,  he  bravely  faced  the  hard- 
ships before  him,  and  set  to  work  with  a  good 
will  to  mend  his  fortunes.  His  attempts  were 
crowned  with  success  and  aided  by  a  helpful  wife, 
he  has  acquired  a  goodly  amount  of  property  by 
the  quiet  force  of  persistent  labor,  directed  by 
sound  common  sense. 

Mr.  Render  has  twice  entered  the  matrimonial 
state.  He  was  first  wedded  in  England  to  Jane 
Mitchell,  who  bore  him  three  children,  two  of  whom 
arc  living — Ann,  widow  of  Thomas  Hustwaite,  re- 
siding in  New  Jersey,  and  Mary,  wife  of  Benton 
Ord;  they  live  in  Somerset  County,  N.  Y.  Our 
subject  was  married  to  his  present  wife,  formerly 


Ann   Coleman,  Dec.  3,   1853,  and  to  them    have 

come    eight  children,  six    of  whom  are    living 

John  C.,  William  J.,  Michael  H.,  Jane  (wife  of 
Walter  Nethercott),  Edward  G.  and  Thomas  J. 
Mrs.  Render  was  born  in  Ireland  and  reared  in 
Scotland.  She  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in 
1851,  and  made  her  home  in  New  Jersey,  where 
she  met  and  married  our  subject.  She  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Michael  and  Catherine  (McCormick)  Cole- 
man. 

Mr.  Render  has  been  an  interested  spectator  of 
much  of  the  improvement  of  the  county,  and  not 
only  that  but  he  has  contributed  his  quota  to  its 
advancement  as  a  rich  agricultural  centre.  A  self- 
made  man,  he  Iws  been  prospered  in  his  life  career 
and  his  course  has  been  commendable,  marked,  as 
it  has  been,  by  honest  endeavor,  hard  toil,  and  in- 
tegrity of  word  and  act.  He  and  his  wife  and 
children  are  faithful  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  cheerfully  contributing  of  their  means  to 
its  support,  and  their  daily  lives  witness  the  sincer- 
ity of  their  religious  beliefs.  Mr.  Render  is  inde- 
pendent in  his  political  views,  generally  voting  for 
the  man  whom  he  considers  the  best  qualified  for 
office  irrespective  of  party.  He  has  served  Panola 
Township  as  School  Director  several  years,  and  lias 
in  every  way  endeavored  to  promote  its  highest  in- 
terests. 


GRACE  MAJOR,  a   native-born  citizen  of 
i;  Woodford    County,  represents  its  farmino- 


and  stock  growing  interests  in  Panola 
Township,  where,  on  section  16,  he  has  a 
well-stocked  and  well-ordered  farm,  that  is  con- 
sidered one  of  the  best  managed  estates  in  the 
neighborhood.  Our  subject,  was  born  Aug.  1C, 
1848,  and  was  reared  to  manhood  in  Olio  Town- 
ship, of  which  his  father  was  an  early  pioneer.  He 
comes  of  good  stock,  being  of  mingled  French  and 
Irish  blood,  the  paternal  side  of  the  house  originn- 
ting  in  sunny  France,  and  the  maternal  ancestry 
springing  from  the  sod  of  the  Emerald  Isle.  Sopie 
of  his  progenitors  were  pioneers  of  Kentucky,  and 
it  is  thought  that  both  of  his  parents,  William  and 
Elizabeth  (Dickinson)  Major,  were  born  in  that 


276 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


State.  They  came  to  Woodford  County  when 
young  people  and  were  married  here,  and  subse- 
quently became  early  settlers  of  Olio  Township, 
and  Mr.  Major  eliminated  a  farm  from  the  wild 
prairies  and  groves  from  that  place.  To  him  and 
his  wife  were  born  in  their  pioneer  home  seven 
children,  four  of  whom  are  living,  namely:  Hor- 
ace; Allen  A.,  a  resident  of  Livingston  County; 
Charles  E.,  a  resident  of  this  county;  Benjamin,  a 
resident  of  Forest,  Livingston  County. 

Our  subject  received  his  education  in  the  early 
public  schools  of  this  county,  and  being  of  a 
thoughtful  mind,  and  having  a  liking  for  books,  he 
has  acquired  a  good  deal  of  knowledge  since  leaving 
school,  and  can  converse  intelligently  on  all  topics 
of  general  interest.  He  was  the  oldest  of  the  faru- 
il}-,  and  had,  consequently,  to  begin  early  in  life  to 
assist  his  father  in  the  pioneer  task  of  clearing  and 
improving  a  farm,  and  thus  gained  much  valuable 
experience  in  his  younger  years  that  has  been  of 
use  to  him  since  he  began  the  pursuit  of  agricul- 
ture on  his  own  account,  and  has  doubtless  con- 
tributed to  his  success  as  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser. 
The  most  of  his  life  has  been  passed  in  this  county 
of  his  birth,  with  the  exception  of  three  years  spent 
in  Livingston  County  after  his  marriage.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time  be  located  on  his  present 
farm  in  the  spring  of  1874.  It  comprises  160 
acres  of  very  productive  farming  land,  whose 
carefully  tilled  soil  gives  forth  abundant  harvests, 
and  the  excellent  set  of  buildings  and  neat  sur- 
roundings make  it  an  attractive  place.  Our  sub- 
ject is  to  all  intents  and  purposes  a  self-made  man, 
and  in  the  accumulation  of  his  property  and  the 
building  up  of  his  home  he  has  been  materially  as- 
sisted by  his  wife,  who  lias  been  a  true  counselor 
and  helpmate  since  their  marriage  was  consuma- 
ted  Oct.  5,  1869. 

Mrs.  Major's  maiden  name  was  Lucy  A.  Boyd,  and 
she  was  born  in  Christian  County,  Ky.,  June  1  t, 
1849,  to  George  and  Eliza  J.  (Pierce)  Boyd,  like- 
wise natives  of  Kentucky.  Her  paternal  ancestors 
were  mostly  Irish,  while  her  maternal  ancestors 
were  of  English  origin.  Her  maternal  grandfather, 
John  Pierce,  was  a  gallant  soldier  in  the  War  of 
1812.  When  Mrs.  Major  was  about  a  year  old  her 
parents  came  to  Woodford^Cotmty,  and  became  pio- 


neers of  Olio  Township,  her  father,  entering  a  tract 
of  wild  land  from  the  Government  in  that  place. 
His  had  but  little  means,  and  he  and  his  wife  and 
family  had  to  undergo  many  of  the  hardships  and 
privations  incidental  to  pioneer  life  ;it  that  early 
day,  but  by  the  aid  of  his  faithful  wife,  he  conquered 
every  obstacle,  and  now  has  a  good  farm,  and  a 
comfortable  home  wherein  he  and  his  companion 
can  spend  their  declining  years  in  peace.  They  are 
exemplary  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and 
Mr.  Boyd  was  well  acquainted  witli  its  illustrious 
founder,  the  noted  divine,  Alexander  Campbell. 
Six  of  their  nine  children  are  living:  Joshua,  in  Buf- 
falo County,  Neb. ;  John  M.,  in  Panola  Township; 
Sarah  V.,the  wife  of  J.  K.  Hedges  in  Buffalo  County, 
Neb..  Susie,  in  this  county;  Leta  B.,  the  wifeof  C.  S. 
Miller,  in  Panola  Township;  Lucy  A.,  the  wife  of 
our  subject.  The  names  of  those  dead  are  Alice. 
Maria  B.,  and  Peter.  The  parents  now  reside  near 
Eureka,  111.  Mr.  arid  Mrs.  Major  have  two  chil- 
dren, Eva  and  Chasteen. 

Our  subject  is  a  man  of  principle  and  sterling 
habits,  and  his  fellow-citizens  find  in  him  a  good 
neighbor  and  a  stanch  friend,  who  never  hesitates 
to  grant  a  favor  or  to  oblige  another  if  it  is  in  his 
power.  He  and  his  wife  are  agreeable,  social  peo- 
ple, and  their  hospitality  is  too  well  known  to  need 
further  mention.  They  are  active  in  religious 
work,  being  zealous  members  of  the  Christian 
Chureh,  and  in  their  every-day  life  they  carry  out 
its  teachings.  In  politics,  Mr.  Major  is  a  strong 
Republican,  supporting  his  party  by  voice  and 
vote  whenever  occasion  offers. 


f,.l  DAM  STEPHENS,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
ul.     Montgomery  Township,  resides  on  a  good 


farm  of  300  acres  on  section  14.  He  is 
one  of  the  most  estimable  men  of  the 
township,  and  not  only  a  prosperous  fanner  but  a 
popular  man  and  good  neighbor,  who  enjoys  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  the  community,  and  has 
served  his  township  as  Supervisor,  in  which  posi- 
tion he  gave  excellent  satisfaction.  Adarn  Ste- 
phens is  a  native  of  this  township,  having  been 


RESIDENCE'OF  ADAM  STEPHENS,SEC.M.  MONTGOMERY  TOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCE  OF  RICHARD  SPIRES  ,  SEC.  24.  Mi  MONK  TOWNSHIP. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


'279 


born  on  his  father's  farm  on  section  13,  in  the  year 
1839,  on  the  25th  day  of  November.  His  father, 
Lewis  Stephens,  a  native  of  Highland  County,  Ohio, 
was  born  in  1808  on  the  28th  of  October,  being 
the  son  of  a  Virginia  farmer,  who  was  of  German 
ancestry  but  of  Virginia  parentage.  Lewis  was 
reared  and  educated  in  Highland  County,  to  which 
place  his  parents  had  come  a  number  of  years 
before  from  their  native  State  of  Virginia.  The 
parents  purchased  land  on  their  arrival  in  High- 
land Count}-,  cleared  it  of  the  original  forest, 
erected  good  buildings  and  made  a  comfortable 
home  on  which  they  resided  until  death.  The 
neighborhood  in  which  they  located  was  composed 
almost  exclusively  of  Quakers,  who  spoke  nothing 
but  English,  so  that  the  Stephens  were  obliged  to 
learn  to  speak  the  English  language,  and  not  hav- 
ing practice  enough  to  keep  up  their  German, 
almost  forgot  that  tongue,  and  the  children  grew 
up  in  comparative  ignorance  of  it. 

In  1833  Lewis  Stephens  came  to  Illinois  as  a 
young  man,  and  resided  some  eighteen  months  on 
the  Kiekapoo  River,  thence  removed  to  Mont- 
gomery Township,  this  county,  where  he  entered 
forty  acres  of  land  on  section  13.  The  land  cost 
$1.25  per  acre,  and  to  make  payments  he  was 
obliged  to  go  to  Springfield  with  the  money.  He 
improved  this  land,  making  it  his  home,  and  it 
became  the  place  of  his  death.  Before  his  earthly 
career  was  closed,  Aug.  13.  1872,  he  had  accumu- 
lated an  estate  consisting  of  about  400  acres  of 
land,  the  most  of  which  was  well  cultivated  and 
otherwise  improved.  All  of  tin's  land  was  secured 
by  purchase  or  entry  from  the  Government,  and 
about  300  acres  is  yet  remaining  in  the  hands  of 
his  children,  most  of  it,  however,  belonging  to  our 
subject. 

Lewis  Stephens  was  married  to  Miss  Melinda 
Houghman,  a  native  of  Highland  Comity,  Ohio, 
were  she  was  born  April  8,  1808.  Accompanying 
her  husband  she  came  to  this  county,  and  after  a, 
life  of  usefulness  fell  asleep  in  1853  on  the  15th  of 
October.  Mrs.  Stephens  and  her  parents,  in  com- 
pany with  Mr.  Stephens'  parents,  had  emigrated 
from  Highland  County,  Ohio,  in  1833.  Their 
journey  was  accomplished  by  means  of  wagons 
drawn  by  oxen  and  horse  teams;  there  being  no 


taverns,  they  brought  their  cooking  utensils  with 
them  and  camped  at  night  by  the  road  side.  On 
reaching  Illinois  they  settled  on  the  Kiekapoo  River, 
and  the  next  winter  came  to  Montgomery  Town- 
ship. 

After  marriage  Lewis  began  life  for  himself  as  a 
farmer,  in  which  occupation  he  was  very  successful. 
In  politics  he  was  a  sound  Jackson  Democrat  all 
his  life  long.  He  was  the  father  of  eight  children, 
of  whom  five  are  living. 

Our  subject  was  reared  and  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Montgomery  Township.  He  was  dili- 
gent in  his  studies  and  secured  a  fair  education, 
but  also  paid  attention  to  practical  subjects,  and 
by  the  time  he  was  of  legal  age  was  well  fitted  to 
cope  with  the  world,  which  he  proceeded  to  do  at 
once.  Securing  a  farm,  he  began  operating  it  in 
this  township,  and  shortly  -  afterward  married  his 
first  wife.  Miss  Martha  Daniel,  the  ceremony  tak- 
ing place  at  Metarnora,  111.  Mrs.  Stephens  was 
born  in  Funk's  Grove,  McLain  County,  in  1845. 
She  was  a  mere  child  when  her  parents  came  to 
Woodford  County,  and  here  she  grew  to  woman- 
hood, receiving  her  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  township.  She  was  a  dutiful,  affec- 
tionate daughter,  and  made  a  noble  wife  and  mother, 
but  to  her  husband's  grief  she  departed  this  life  at 
her  home  in  this  township  Sept.  11,  1866,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-one  years.  She  was  the  mother  of  one 
child,  Martha  E.,  who  died  when  less  than  one 
year  old.  Mr.  Stepiiens  was  again  married  to  a 
lady  of  this  township,  named  Miss  Helen  Beck,  a 
native  of  Spring  Bay,  this  county,  where  she  was 
born  Feb.  1,  1841,  being  a  daughter  of  Peter  and 
Catherine  (Gingery)  Beck,  who  were  natives  of 
Germany.  They  came  to  the  United  States  in 
their  youth,  locating  in  Pennsylvania,  where  they 
were  married  when  full  grown,  and  a  few  months 
later  removed  to  the  West,  locating  at  first  near 
Spring  Bay,  this  county,  but  afterward  removing 
to  Montgomery  Township,  in  which  place  Mr. 
Beck  died  Sept.  19,  1851,  at  the  age  of  fifty-one 
years.  Mrs.  Beck  is  yet  in  the  land  of  the  living, 
and  makes  her  home  with  her  younger  son,  Chris- 
tian Beck,  in  McLean  County.  She  is  now  eighty 
years  old,  but  although  well  stricken  in  years,  and 
her  head  grown  white  with  the  frosts  of  winter,  she 


280 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


yet  retains  considerable  vigor,  and  has  a  good 
recollection  of  numerous  incidents  occurring  in  her 
early  days.  She  is  an  earnest  and  devoted  member 
of  the  Mennonite  Brotherhood,  in  which  faith  Mr. 
Beck  died. 

Mrs.  Stephens  was  reared  in  her  parents'  home, 
and  received  a  good  common-school  education  and 
an  excellent  domestic  training.  She  is  the  mother 
of  three  children:  William  A.,  born  March  24, 
1872;  Lewis  D.,  Dec.  4,  1873;  and  Charles  A., 
Sept.  4,  1875.  The  children  are  all  bright,  intelli- 
gent, affectionate,  and  industrious,  and  are  yet  at 
home.  Mr.  Stephens  has  been  Supervisor  of  the 
township  for  a  period  covering  about  eleven  years. 
He  has  also  served  in  the  capacity  of  Assessor,  and 
is  a  stancli  Democrat  in  polities,  and  takes  con- 
siderable interest  in  the  management  of  political 
affairs. 

A  lithographic  view  of  Mr.  Stephens'  residence 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


OSEPH  STKIDER.  Though  not  among  the 
earliest  settlers  of  Woodford  County,  this 
"  gentleman  may  be  accounted  one  of  its  pio- 
neers, as  since  his  advent  here  many  years 
ago.  when  a  mere  boy,  he  has  worked  energeticafly 
to  aid  in  the  development  of  the  vast  agricultural 
resources  of  this  rich  farming  region,  and  he  is 
now  classed  among  the  most  practical  of  the  sub- 
stantial farmers  of  Metamora  Township,  where  he 
possesses  as  good  a  farm  as  is  to  lie  found  in  the 
country  round  about. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  France,  born  at 
Dearne,  Capelle  canton,  and  arrondissemcnt  of 
Sorboume.  Department  of  Muerthes,  Sept.  1,  1835. 
Hi*  father  was  a  native  of  the  same  place,  and  was 
there  reared  and  married,  Catharine  Miller  becom- 
ing his  wife.  In  his  youth  he  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship to  learn  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker, 
and  followed  that  calling  in  his  native  France  till 
1848.  In  that  year  he  resolved  to  try  life  in  the 
United  States  of  America,  and  accordingly,  in 
the  month  of  September,  he  set  sail  from  Havre 


with  his  wife  and  four  children,  and  forty- 
eight  days  later  landed  in  New  Orleans.  He  and 
his  family  spent  a  month  there,  and  then  they  pro- 
ceeded up  the  river  to  St.  Louis,  where  the  hus- 
band and  father  was  taken  sick,  and  a  week  later 
he  died,  while  yet  in  life's  prime,  being  only  forty- 
two  years  old.  -  His  unfortunate  wife  and  children 
were  thus  left  without  his  protection,  in  a  strange 
country  and  with  but  limited  means.  They  re- 
mained in  St.  Louis  two  months,  and  then  came  on 
to  Woodfcrd  County,  and  the  mother  rented  a 
house  two  miles  west  of  Metamora,  for  a  home  for 
herself  and  children.  When  her  eldest  daughter 
married  she  went  to  live  with  her,  and  resided  with 
her  children  after  that  till  her  death,  in  1885,  at 
the  venerable  age  of  eighty-two  years.  She  was 
the  mother  of  four  children:  Barbara  married  Jo- 
seph Bachman,  and  lives  in  Metamora  Township; 
John  lives  in  Seward  County,  Neb.;  Peter  lives  in 
Metamora  Township;  Joseph  is  the  subject  "of  this 
biographical  review. 

The  early  years  of  his  life  were  passed  amid  the 
pleasant  scenes  of  his  birthplace  in  sunny  France, 
and  he  was  the  recipient  of  a  very  good  education, 
as  he  attended  school  regularly  till  his  parents  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States.  At  that  time  he  was 
a  bright,  active  lad  of  fourteen  years,  with  eyes 
and  ears  open  to  all  thd  strange  sights  and  sounds 
in  this,  to  him,  strange  country.  He  still  remem- 
bers the  vivid  impression  that  the  wild,  scarcely 
cultivated,  sparsely  inhabited  prairies  made  upon 
him  when  he  first  set  foot  in  Woodford  County, 
where  the  deer  and  other  game  were  then  roaming 
at  will.  He  commenced  life  here  by  working  by  the 
month,  receiving  $8  for  that  length  of  time  as 
compensation  for  his  services.  He  was  prudent 
and  thrifty,  and  with  wise  economy  saved  his  earn- 
ings, so  that  three  years  later  he  was  enabled  to  go 
to  farming  on  his  own  account,  renting  land  for 
that  purpose  the  ensuing  four  years.  In  the  mean- 
time he  and  his  brother  bought  land  in  partnership 
in  their  mother's  name,  and  building  a  frame  house 
to  live  in,  commenced  to  improve  their  realty. 
There  was  then  no  railway  here,  and  Peoria  and 
Spring  Bay  were  the  nearest  inarkets  for  some 
years.  The  brothers  were  cp.iite  prosperous  in  their 
undertakings,  and  made  money,  with  which  they 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


281 


bought  more  land,  the  deeds  being  in  the  mother's 
name  till  her  death.  The  land  was  then  divided, 
and  our  subject  now  owns  the  original  eighty  acres 
that  he  and  his  brothers  purchased,  and  140  acres 
besides.  He  has  his  farm  under  excellent  cultiva- 
tion, has  it  provided  with  suitable  frame  buildings, 
and  everything  about  the  place  is  in  good  order. 

Mr.  Steider  was  married  in  186(5  to  Miss  Ann 
Stauffer,  a  native  of  the  province  of  Alsace,  Ger- 
many. She  was  in  every  sense  a  true  and  devoted 
wife,  making  her  home  comfortable  and  attractive 
to  her  family,  and  her  death,  May  23,  1880.  was  a 
sad  blow  to  her  beloved  ones.  Of  her  happy  wed- 
ded life  three  children  were  born:  Ama,  Louisa 
A.  and  David  W.  Ama  is  the  wife  of  David 
Wagner,  of  Roanoke  Township.  The  other  two  are 
at  home  with  their  father. 

Mr.  Steider  is  a  whole-souled,  warm-hearted  man, 
kind,  genial  and  charitable  in  his  intercourse  with 
others,  and  a  true  friend  to  all  who  need  a  helping 
hand.  He  possesses  a  fair  share  of  energy,  acumen 
and  thrift,  and  a  knack  of  working  to  the  best  ad- 
vantage, and  these  with  other  attributes  have  con- 
tributed to  his  success  in  life,  as  he  is  entirely  a 
self-made  man,  having  had  no  adventitious  aids  of 
birth  or  fortune,  but  what  he  is  and  what  he  has,  he 
owes  to  his  own  exertions.  His  character  is  appre- 
ciated by  his  neighbors,  who  hold  him  in  high 
respect  and  esteem.  He  and  his  family  are  de- 
voted members  of  the  Omish  Church.  Politically 
he  is  a  Republican  as  regards  national  affairs,  but 
in  local  matters  he  votes  for  the  man  and  not  for 
the  party. 


RANK  H.  GOODRICH,  of  the  firm  of  C.  W. 


Goodrich  &  Son,  of  Minonk,  is  prominent  in 
the  public  life  of  this  city,  and  occupies  an 
important  place  in  the  financial  and  social  circles 
of  Wood  ford  County.  He  is  a  native  of  New 
York,  born  in  the  town  of  Westmoreland,  Oneida 
County,  Dec.  30,  1849,  to  Caleb  W.  and  Nancy  E. 
(Pratt)  Goodrich.  A  sketch  of  his  parents  appears 
on  another  page  of  this  volume.  He  accompanied 
them  to  Illinois  in  1855,  when  a  boy  of  five  or  six 


years,  and  Minonk  has  ever  since  been  his  home. 
He  received  a  substantial  education  in  the  city 
schools,  and  early  entered  upon  his  career  as  a 
business  man,  becoming  a  partner  of  Samuel  Wylie 
in  1873.  and  conducting  the  grain  business  with 
him  the  ensuing  three  years.  After  that  he  carried 
on  the  business  alone  one  year,  and  subsequently 
he  went  to  Peoria.  where  he  had  charge  of  the  cir- 
culation of  the  Daily  Journal  for  about  two 
months.  In  1878  he  joined  with  his  father  in  the 
lumber  business,  and  though  his  father  has  recently 
died,  our  subject  still  manages  the  business,  under 
the  firm  name  of  C.  W.  Goodrich  &  Son.  He  has 
proved  himself  an  able  and  trustworthy  financier, 
and  is  conducting  an  extensive  business  with 
marked  success. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  with  Miss  Mary 
Dacey,  daughter  of  John  and  Margaret  (McGowan) 
Dacey,  was  solemnized  Dec.  24, 1878,  and  has  been 
productive  of  much  happiness  to  both.  Mrs. 
Goodrich  was  born  in  An  Sable  Forks,  Essex 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  28,  1854.  She  is  a  lady  of  rare 
culture  and  refinement,  and  received  a  superior 
education  at  the  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Normal  School, 
of  which  she  is  a  graduate.  She  came  to  Illinois 
in  1875,  and  secured  a  position  as  teacher  in  the 
Minonk  city  schools,  with  which  she  is  still  con- 
nected, having  charge  of  the  grammar  department, 
and  under  her  efficient  management  the  standard  of 
education  has  been  raised  in  this  city.  To  her  and 
her  husband  have  been  born  two  children,  Mary 
Louise  and  Raymond  C.  Their  daughter  weighed 
but  one  pound  and  five  ounces  at  birth. 

In  our  subject  Minonk  finds  one  of  its  most  lib- 
eral and  progressive  citizens,  who  identifies  himself 
with  its  highest  interests.  His  financial  talent  and 
executive  ability  are  of  a  high  order,  and  his 
genial  social  qualities  make  him  popular  with  all. 
His  wife  shares  this  regard  with  him,  and  they  are 
prominent  in  the  best  society  of  the  city.  Mr. 
Goodrich  is  connected  with  the  civic  government 
of  Minonk,  as  City  Clerk,  of  which  office  he  has 
been  an  incumbent  for  six  years.  He  is  a  gentle- 
man of  cultured  mind,  and  has  a  natural  taste  for 
music,  which  has  been  cultivated.  lie  is  leader  of 
the  Minonk  Band,  which,  under  his  careful  train- 
ing, has  become  one  of  the  finest  in  this  part  of  the 


262 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


State.  In  politics  he  is  independent,  and  tbe  de- 
mands of  his  public  and  private  business  are  such 
that  he  gives  them,  no  further  attention  than  to 
vote  on  election  days. 


^.ILLIAM  L.  REAL,  is  another  of  the  enter- 
prising and  energetic  farmers  of  Minonk 
Township.  His  farm  is  located  on  sec- 
tion 3,  his  residence  in  this  township  dating  back 
to  1859.  He  is  a  native  of  Richland  County,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  born  May  26,  1837,  to  John  Beal  and 
wife.  The  father  of  our  subject  left  Germany,  his 
native  land,  when  a  child  six  years  old,  coming 
across  the  vast  deep  in  care  of  his  parents  to  the 
United  States.  But  little  is  known  of  his  early 
years,  his  record  having  been  written  on  perishable 
materials,  but  it  is  certain  that  he  was  married  in 
the  State  of  Ohio,  to  a  lady  who  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  issue  of  this  marriage  was  three 
children:  William  L.,  Margaret,  wife  of  Henry 
Baker,  now  residing  in  Powesheik  County,  Iowa. 
The  youngest  child,  Frank  died  in  1887. 

William  L.  Beal  was  a  boy  five  years  of  age 
when  he  lost  his  mother,  whose  untimely  death 
not  only  deprived  him  of  her  loving  care,  but  en- 
tailed upon  him  great  hardships,  for  his  father 
being  unable  to  properly  care  for  him,  he  was 
bound  out  to  a  man  named  Jacob  Spawn.  His  sis- 
ter was  also  sent  to  the  same  family  and  their 
abode  thereafter  was  on  a  farm,  where  they  were 
not  treated  very  kindly  but  were  obliged  to  work 
early  and  late,  in  hot  or  cold,  receiving  only  the 
barest  necessaries  of  life  and  getting  very  little 
chance  to  obtain  an  education,  having  to  be  so 
constantly  employed  in  other  matters.  At  the  age 
of  eighteen,  William  left  his  guardian  and  entered 
the  employ  of  a  farmer  in  Knox  County,  Ohio,  re- 
ceiving $13  per  month,  which  was  then  an  ex- 
ceptionally high  salary.  In  185!)  he  turned  his  face 
westward  locating  in  Dickenson  County,  Kan., 
where  he  purchased  land.  He  remained  there  only 
cue  year,  leaving  in  1860  on  account  of  the  Indians, 


who  were  committing  great  depredations,  and  the 
border  ruffians  who  presecuted  him  so  cruelly  that 
he  was  obliged  to  leave  the  State.  Retracing  his 
steps  eastward  as  far  as  Illinois,  he  settled  in  Mason 
County,  for  a  period,  securing  employment  on  a 
farm. 

In  September.  1861,  Mr.  Beal  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany B,  47th  Illinois  Infantry  and  served  three 
years,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  rank  of  Cor- 
poral. His  promotion  was  entirely  merited  by 
gallant  and  faithful  performance  of  duty  on  the 
field  of  battle.  His  regiment  was  in  active  service 
at  new  Madrid,  Island  No.  10,  Farmington,  Miss., 
Corinth,  May  29,  1862;  luka,  Miss.,  Corinth,  Oct., 
3,  and  4,  1862;  Jackson,  Miss.,  Mechanicsburg, 
assault  on  Vicksburg,  siege  of  Vicks'jurg,  Ft.  De 
Russy,  La..  Henderson  Hill,  Pleasant  Hill,  Center- 
ville,  Morris  Plantation,  Tupelo,  Miss.,  and  Ab- 
bysville.  Although  actively  engaged  in  every 
battle  or  skirmish  in  which  his  company  partici- 
pated, he  was  never  wounded  or  taken  prisoner, 
making  an  unusual  record  in  that  respect,  but  one 
for  which  he  feels  very  thankful. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Beal  came  to  this 
county  and  secured  employment  at  farm  work,  re- 
maining there  three  years.  In  1867  Mr.  Beal  and 
the  lady  of  his  choice,  Miss  Melora  Richards,  were 
united  in  marriage  at  the  bride's  home  in  Wood- 
ford  County.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Thomas 
Richards,  a  prominent  farmer  of  this  county.  The 
young  couple  erected  a  modest  home  on  a  quarter 
section  of  land  belonging  to  Mr.  Richards,  and  Mr. 
Beal  immediately  set  to  work  turning  up  the  sod 
on  his  prairie  home,  sowing  seed  and  gathering  in 
his  crops,  building  fences,  planting  shade  and  fruit 
trees,  erecting  buildings  to  shelter  his  stock,  and 
otherwise  improving  and  cultivating  the  land  until 
at  present  it  yields  him  a  good  income.  As  a  re- 
ward for  the  industry  and  economy  displayed  by 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beal,  Mr.  Richards  gave  a  deed  of  the 
entire  160  acres  to  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Beal. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beal  are  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren, namely:  William,  deceased,  Etta,  Frank  and 
Gertie.  Mr.  Beal  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  adher- 
ing to  the  principles  of  that  party  with  unswerving 
fidelity.  Mrs.  Heal  is  a  devoted  wife  and  mother, 
a  good  friend  to  thos^  in  need  of  her  kind  offices,  a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


283 


considerate  and  obliging  neighbor,  and  with  her 
husband  enjoys  a  large  circle  of  warm  friends  and 
acquaintances.  In  her  church  relations  sho  is 
equally  happy,  being  an  active  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 


JO  MAJOR.  The  Major  homestead  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  best  in  Olio  Township, 
|  and  its  proprietor  is  universally  popular 
1  among  all  classes  of  people.  Genial,  hos- 
pitable, kindhearted  and  enterprising,  he  has  not 
only  accumulated  a  comfortable  property  for  him- 
self, but  has  been  a  useful  man  in  his  commu- 
nity, strengthening  its  best  elements  and  giving 
his  support  to  its  most  worthy  enterprises.  He 
may  be  usually  found  at  his  fine  farm  of  450  acres 
on  section  18,  where  he  has  effected  modern  im- 
provements and  perpetuated  a  homestead  desirable 
in  every  respect. 

Mr.  Major  is  the  offspring  of  an  excellent  old 
Kentucky  family  and  the  son  of  Ben.  and  Lucy 
(Davenport)  Major,  who  were  natives  of  the  Blue 
Grass  State  and  emigrated  to  this  county  as  early 
as  1834,  establishing  themselves  among  the  pio- 
neer settlers  of  Olio  Township,  and  on  the  place 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  their  son,  our  sub- 
ject. Here  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  The  father  was  called  suddenly  away  by 
cholera  on  the  29th  of  May,  1852,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-six  years.  The  mother  survived  her  husband 
for  a  period  of  twenty  years,  her  death  taking 
place  Jan.  16,  1876,  in  the  seventy-third  year  of 
her  age. 

To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there  was  born  a 
family  of  nine  children,  of  whom  he  was  the  sev- 
enth. Ben.  Major  was  a  man  of  much  force  of 
character  and  became  prominent  in  his  community, 
upon  which  he  exercised  an  excellent  moral  influ- 
ence. Especially  was  he  in  favor  of  education,  and 
was  instrumental  in  the  founding  of  Eureka  Col- 
lege and  officiated  as  President  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  for  a  long  period.  He  also  assisted  in  the 
organization  of  the  Christian  Church.  In  Ken- 


tucky he  had  in  early  life  been  a  slave  holder,  but 
as  years  passed  on  and  he  began  to  realize  the 
injustice  of  the  peculiar  institution,  he  liberated  his 
colored  people,  sent  them  to  Liberia  at  his  own 
expense  and  supported  them  for  several  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  this 
county  at  the  homestead  where  he  now  lives,  Nov. 
22,  1834,  and  received  his  early  education  in  the 
district  school.  This  education  was  not  as  thorough 
a-s  ho  would  have  liked,  but  on  account  of  his 
father's  death  he  was  obliged  to  assist  his  mother 
at  the  homestead,  as  he  was  the  only  son  at  home. 
He,  however,  has  improved  his  leisure  time  with 
good  books  and  the  current  periodicals  and  like 
his  honest  father,  has  been  interested  in  the  success 
of  Eureka  College,  in  which  he  also  serves  as  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  His  life  occu- 
pation has  been  that  of  a  farmer  and  his  chief 
thought  the  acquisition  of  a  pleas;mt  and  desirable 
home,  and  a  competence  for  his  declining  years, 
which  ambition  it  would  seem,  he  has  most 
thoroughly  realized. 

Mr.  Major  brought  a  bride  to  the  old  roof  tree 
in  the  spring  of  1861,  having  been  married  Feb.  12 
of  that  year  to  Miss  Mary  S.  Jones.  This  lady  is  a 
native  of  England  and  came  to  America  when  about 
ten  years  old.  She  has  been  the  mother  of  seven  chil- 
dren, the  eldest  of  whom,  a  son,  John,  died  at  the 
age  of  nine  months.  Cora  has  charge  of  the  art 
department  of  Eureka  College;  Lucy  teaches  the 
district  school;  Jo  Jr.,  William,  and  Roy,  are  at  home 
with  their  parents;  Roger,  a  promising  boy,  died 
when  five  years  old.  The  father,  mother  and 
daughters,  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

While  unambitious  of  office,  Mr.  Major  takes  a 
warm  interest  in  political  affairs  and  keeps  himself 
well  posted  upon  the  march  of  events.  He  has  rep- 
resented Olio  Township  several  terms  in  the  County 
Board  of  Supervisors,  but  aside  from  this  has  care- 
fully avoided  the  responsibilities  of  office.  Dur- 
ing the  late  Civil  War,  he  entered  the  ranks  of  the 
Union  army  as  a  member  of  Company  A.,  86th 
Illinois  Infantry,  and  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Perryville,  Nashville,  Stone  River,  Chickamatiga 
and  Lookout  Mountain.  lie  endured  all  the  hard- 
ships and  privations  of  life  in  the  army  and  after 
rendering  a  faithful  service  of  about  three  years, 


284 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


was  mustered  out  at  "Washington  and  received  his 
honorable  discharge  as  captain;  as  soon  as  possible 
thereafter  he  returned  home  and  has  since  given 
his  time  and  attention  to  his  farming  interests.  He 
remembers  many  of  the  incidents  of  pioneer  life  in 
this  county  during  which  time  he  assisted  his  father 
in  the  development  of  the  homestead,  and  since 
reaching  manhood  has  contributed  his  full  quota  to 
the  enterprises  which  have  established  the  reputa- 
tion of  Woodford  County,  as  that  of  one  of  the 
best  sections  of  the  State. 


\\AUL  KOKIILER.  Thirty-seven  years  ago 
a  family  crossed  the  ocean  from  Germany 
to  the  I'nited  States,  where  they  sought  a 
home  and  a  fortune.  Among  them  was  a 
little  boy,  over  whose  head  scarcely  four  summers 
had  passed.  That  boy,  now  a  man  in  the  prime  of 
life,  is  an  honored  resident  of  Woodford  County. 
He  was  born  in  the  Fatherland,  in  the  town  of  Ba- 
varia, on  the  30th  day  of  June,  1848.  He  is  the 
son  of  Peter  and  Clara  Koehler. 

Peter  Koehler  was  a  farmer  in  his  native  land, 
but  in  1852  took  his  wife  and  their  live  children  to 
a  new  home  across  the  seas.  The  first  winter  after 
their  arrival  they  passed  in  Peoria,  then  settled  on 
a  farm  near  Lacon,  renting  the  land  until  1858, 
when  ho  purchased  the  120  acres  of  land  which  is 
now  occupied  by  the  subject  of  this  notice.  In  his 
old  home  he  had  accumulated  but  little  money,  but 
after  coming  to  America  his  constant  and  unremit- 
ting industry  brought  its  own  reward,  and  he 
became  the  owner  of  200  acres  of  land,  all  of 
which  was  improved.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-one  years  in  1872.  Mrs.  Koehler  died  in 
1885  having  reached  her  seventy -third  year. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Koehler  had  a  family  of  six 
children,  five  of  whom  lived  to  maturity,  namely: 
Jacob,  Chria'tian ;  George,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Peter,  Mary  and  Paul.  The  three  first  mentioned, 
met  with  a  sad  <kalli.  When  they  were  accom- 
panying their  parents  to  the  new  home  in  Wood- 
ford  County,  they  were  drowned  while  crossing 


Crow  Creek,  the  waters  of  which  had  risen  until 
the  creek  was  dangerous. 

Our  subject  was  a  small  lad  when  his  parents 
settled  in  Woodford  County,  and  remained  under 
the  parental  roof  until  the  parents  had  both  passed 
from  earth.  His  wife  was  Miss  Barbara  Sheeler, 
a  daughter  of  Peter  Sheeler,  to  whom  he  was  mar- 
ried in  1871.  She  lived  only  a  short  time,  her 
death  occurring  in  1874,  leaving  two  children, 
Peter  and  Jacob. 

Mr.  Koehler  was  again  married  April  22,1875, 
his  wife  being  Miss  Elizabeth  Bolander,  a  lady  of 
German  birth  and  parentage.  She  was  the  only 
one  of  her  family  who  crossed  the  Atlantic  to 
make  her  home  in  the  United  States.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Koehler  are  the  parents  of  three  children, 
Mary  Ann,  Clara  and  Barbara. 

The  political  views  of  Mr.  Koehler  are  coinci- 
dent with  those  of  the  Republican  party,  while 
religiously  he  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  He  has  served  as  Township 
Collector  two  terms,  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of 
the  community. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Koehler  have  a  pleasant  and  happy 
home  with  all  the  comforts  and  many  of  the  lux- 
uries of  this  life.  He  owns  200  acres  of  land,  -veil 
improved  and  in  good  condition.  The  addition  of 
such  a  family  as  this  to  any  town  or  city  is  of  con- 
siderable importance,  as  they  are  law-abiding, 
refined  people,  whose  society  is  a  pleasure  to  all 
who  come  into  contact  with  them. 


LFRED  CROSBY  BELL  comes  of  sterling 
pioneer  stock.  He  is  one  of  the  noble 
veterans  of  the  late  war,  willingly  sacrific- 
ing the  opening  years  of  a  promising,  vig- 
orous manhood,  for  the  good  of  his  country,  laying 
aside  his  personal  aims  and  ambitions  to  aid  in 
fighting  its  battles,  and  to  save  untarnished  the  dear 
old  Stars  and  Stripes.  To  these  citizen-soldiers 
our  country  has  become  still  further  indebted,  for 
when  the  terrible  strife  between  the  North  and 
South  was  at  last  brought  to  a  close,  they  quietly 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


285 


laid  down  their  arras  and  took  up  the  implements 
of  peace,  which  they  have  since  wielded  just  as  ef- 
fectively, and  have  greatly  aided  the  progress  of 
the  country,  and  made  the  United  Slates  the  most 
prosperous,  powerful  and  peaceful  nation  on  the 
face  of  the  earth.  Our  subject  is  intelligently  and 
profitably  carrying  on  farming  in  Linn  Township, 
and  is  the  owner  of  one  of  its  best  managed  and 
most  productive  farms. 

He  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  his  birth  taking  place 
in  Albany,  Aug.  7,  1841.  His  father,  John  E.  Bell, 
was  born  in  Kentucky,  a  son  of  Maj.  Bell,  whose 
parents  were  among  the  early  pioneers  of  that  State. 
The  latter  was  a  farmer,  and  in  turn  became,  like 
his  parents  before  him,  a  pioneer,  removing  to  the 
primeval  forests  of  Indiana,  lie  was  a  citizen  of 
that  State  during  the  Black  Hawk  War,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  State  militia,  and  served  in  the  war 
mentioned  as  major  of  his  regiment.  The  last 
years  of  his  life  were  passed  in  New  Albany. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  young  man  when 
his  parents  removed  to  Indiana,  and  he  established 
himself  in  the  mercantile  business.  In  1846  he  set- 
tled his  affairs  in  Indiana,  gathered  his  means  to- 
gether, and  emigrated  across  the  border  into  Illinois 
with  a  team,  and  coming  northward  located  on 
Crow  Creek,  in  Marshall  County.  He  found  this 
part  of  the  country  very  thinly  inhabited.  At 
Bloomington,  where  he  and  his  family  spent  one 
ni<*ht  there  was  a  small  collection  of  about  half  a 

O 

dozen  dwellings,  and  there  were  but  two  houses  en 
route  to  his  destination  on  Crow  Creek,  a  distance 
of  many  miles.  He  bought  a  tract  of  wild  land, 
part  prairie  and  part  timber,  in  Belle  Plain  Town- 
ship, of  which  he  thus  became  an  early  settler.  We 
may  remark  in  this  connection  that  the  Hon.  Klein- 
ing  Bell,  his  brother,  was  one  of  the  original  settlers 
of  that  township,  and  it  was  named  in  honor  of 
the  Bell  family.  The  father  of  our  subject  built  a 
log  house  in  the  timber  near  the  Sycamore  Ford, 
which  became  the  abode  of  his  family.  At  that 
time  there  were  no  railways  in  Illinois,  and  he  and 
many  of  his  neighbors  drew  wheat  and  grain  to 
Chicago.  lie  improved  a  part  of  the  laud,  built  up 
a  comfortable  home,  and  was  doing  well  financially 
when  death  closed  his  earthly  career  in  1859.  On 
his  mother's  side  our  subject  is  derived  from  line 


New  England  ancestry.  Her  maiden  name  was 
Charlotte  Elizabeth  Crosby,  and  Milford,  N.  H., 
was  her  native  place.  Her  father,  Josiah  Crosby, 
was  born  in  New  England,  and  is  supposed  to  have 
spent  his  entire  life  there.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject was  a  woman  of  superior  mind.  She  was 
reared  and  educated  in  the  town  of  her  nativity, 
and  when  a  young  huly  went  to  Indiana,  and  was 
successfully  engaged  in  teaching  there  till  her  mar- 
ii:ige.  Her  last  years  were  passed  quietly  on  the 
home  farm  in  Marshall  County,  her  death  occurring 
in  1857.  Three  children  were  born  to  her  and  her 
worthy  husband:  John  R.,  who  lives  near  Wichita, 
Kan.;  Elizabeth,  who  married  James  Planger,  now 
deceased. 

Alfred  Bell,  of  this  biography,  was  the  oldest 
son.  He  gleaned  his  education  in  a  primitive, 
pioneer  school- house,  with  slab  benches,  wooden 
pins  serving  as  legs  for  the  seats,  furniture  and 
school-house  being  of  the  rudest  description,  and 
that  one  building  being  the  only  institution  of 
learning  in  the  whole  township.  When  the  family 
moved  to  Belle  Prairie,  and  for  some  years  after, 
deer,  wild  turkeys  and  wolves  were  plenty  and 
would  approach  quite  closely  to  the  lonely  cabin  oc- 
cupied b}-  the  family.  Our  subject  resided  with  his 
parents  till  he  was  sixteen  years  old  and  then  at  the 
time  of  his  mother's  death,  he  left  home  to  work 
on  a  farm  in  the  township.  After  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war,  he  watched  its  course  with  intense 
interest,  and  the  year  he  attained  his  majority,  he 
joined  his  comrades  on  Southern  batttlefields,  en- 
listing in  the  month  of  September  in  Company 
H,  77th  Illinois  Infantry,  and  marching  to  the 
front,  served  faithfully,  efficiently  and  patriot- 
ically till  after  the  close  of  hostilities.  He  was  with 
Gen.  Banks  on  the  Red  River  expedition,  and  took 
part  in  the  important  battles  of  that  campaign,  and 
was  present  at  the  engagements  before  the  Spanish 
Fort,  and  Forts  Blakely  and  Morgan,  and  his  regi- 
ment was  one  of  the  first  to  occupy  the  works 
around  Mobile.  In  July,  1865,  having  won  an 
honorable  military  record,  he  was  discharged  with 
his  regiment  at  Springfield. 

After  his  retirement  from  the  army  our  subject 
visited  his  friends  a  few  weeks,  but  his  active  tem- 
perament could  not  long  brook  idleness,  and  he 


286 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


sought  some  way  of  employing  his  time  profitably. 
He  soon  invested  ifi  a  team  and  a  corn  sheller,  and 
also  purchased  an  interest  in  a  ditching  machine, 
and  was  engaged  in  operating  them  for  a  year. 
After  that  he  rented  a  farm  in  Marshall  County, 
which  he  carried  on  five  years.  During  that  pe- 
riod he  bought  the  land  comprising  his  present 
farm  in  Linn  Township.  There  was  but  a  small 
part  of  it  under  cultivation,  but  he  now  has  the  en- 
tire tract  improved,  and  has  erected  a  neat  set  of 
buildings,  and  has  all  the  appurtenances  of  a  model 
farm. 

Mr.  Bell  and  Miss  Ellen  .1.  McCune  were  united  in 
marriage  in  1867,  and  the  following  children  have 
blessed  their  wedded  life — Emma  J.,Ida  M.,  Cora 
J.,  Charlotte  E.,  William  and  Frank.  John,  a  twin 
brother  of  Charlotte  died  when  he  was  one  year 
old.  Mrs.  Bell  was  born  in  Butler  Count}-,  Ohio, 
a  daughter  of  Hugh  and  Ellen  J.  McCune. 

Linn  Township,  has  no  more  worthy  or  highly 
respected  people  within  her  borders  than  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife,  and  they  occupy  a  warm  place  in 
the  hearts  of  their  neighbors,  to  whom  they  have 
endeared  themselves  by  their  genuine  kindness  and 
helpfulness.  They  belong  to  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  and  in  them  their  pastor  and  fellow- 
members  find  zealous  co-workers  who  desire  the 
highest  good  of  the  community.  Mr.  Bell  is  a  true 
Republican,  and  takes  an  intelligent  interest  in 
politics. 


HRISTIAN  HAASE,  President  of  the  Vil- 
lage Board,  and  the  leading  merchant  of 
Washburn,  is  a  fine  representative  of  the 
energetic  and  wide-awake  business  men  of  this  part 
of  Woodford  County,  who  are  in  every  way  possible 
advancing  its  interests.  He  has  been  identified 
with  the  administration  of  the  public  affairs  of  the 
place  for  a  long  time,  as  its  most  prominent  civic 
official. 

He  is  of  fovi  ign  birth  and  extraction,  born 
across  the  waters  in  the  Rhine  province,  Germany, 
Dec,  8,  1848.  His  father,  C.  Haase,  was  born  and 


reared  in  the  same  province.  In  early  life  he 
learned  the  trade  of  a  stone  mason,  but  after  mar- 
riage he  followed  farming.  He  continued  to  reside 
in  the  Fatherland  till  1867,  when  he  emigrated 
with  his  family  to  America.  He  came  to  Illinois, 
and  locating  in  Washburn,  carried  on  the  trade  of 
a  mason  quite  profitably  several  years,  but  is  now 
living  retired.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was 
Henrietta  Junker,  and  she  is  also  a  native  of  the 
Rhine  province.  She  is  still  living,  and  with  her 
husband  is  spending  her  declining  years  pleasantly 
in  a  home  surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  of  life. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  is  the 
only  child.  He  received  a  liberal  education  in  his 
native  land,  attending  school  till  he  was  sixteen. 
He  came  to  America  with  his  parents  in  1867,  and 
began  life  here  as  clerk  in  the  general  store  of 
Roberts,  Patrick  &  Co.  Washburn  was  but  a 
small  village  at  that  time,  containing  but  a  few 
families,  and  this  was  the  only  store  of  the  kind  in 
the  place.  He  continued  as  clerk  till  1878,  and 
then  purchased  an  interest  in  the  concern  of  Mr. 
Roberts,  and  the  firm  became  Patrick  &. Haase,  and 
was  conducted  under  that  name  till  Mr.  Patrick's 
death,  which  occurred  in  December,  1886,  since 
which  time  he  has  conducted  the  business  alone. 
In  1887  lie  was  burned  out,  and  the  same  year  he 
erected  a  frame  building  on  the  same  spot,  and  in 
1888  he  erected  the  building  in  which  he  is  doing 
business  at  the  present  time.  This  is  a  handsome, 
commodious  brick  structure,  twenty-four  feet  wide, 
eighty-five  feet  deep.  Our  subject  carries  a  full 
and  well-assorted  stock  of  general  merchandise, 
dry-goods,  groceries,  etc.,  and  has  one  of  the  finest 
stores  in  the  county.  The  career  of  our  subject 
furnishes  a  fine  example  of  what  a  self-made  man 
may  accomplish  by  thrift,  industry  and  strict  at- 
tention to  business.  He  has  risen  from  the  humble 
position  of  clerk,  to  be  one  of  the  wealthiest  and 
most  substantial  citizens  of  Washburn. 

Mr.  Haase  was  married  in  1880  to  Miss  Mary 
Junker,  who  was  born  in  Washburn  of  German 
parentage.  They  have  one  child  named  Carl. 

The  citizens  of  Washburn  having  long  since 
recognized  the  fact  that  in  the  young  man  who 
was  so  successfully  carrying  on  a  flourishing  busi- 
ness among  them,  were  embodied  those  traits  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


287 


character  that  mark  an  astute,  far-sighted,  fair- 
minded,  public-Spirited  citi/en,  and  that  the  village 
would  secure  in  him  an  able  civic  otticc'r,  elected 
him  to  a  responsible  place  on  the  local  Board  of 
Government,  and  for  a  long  time  he  was  clerk  of 
the  board  till  his  election  to  the  still  more  respons- 
ible office  of  President  of  the  Board.  In  that  ca- 
pacity he  is  doing  all  that  he  can  to  promote  the 
the  highest  interests  of  the  village,  and  no  feasible 
scheme  is  advanced  for  its  improvement  that  does 
not  meet  with  his  hearty  approval  and  liberal  sup- 
port. He  was  appointed  Postmaster  of  Washburn. 
and  served  with  satisfaction  to  all  concerned  till 
the  change  of  administration.  As  a  politician  he 
affiliates  with  the  Democrats,  and  is  one  of  the 
leading  suppprters  of  the  party  in  this  vicinity. 


the 


ENRY  HALL,  was,  during  the  years  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth,  a  resident  of  England, 
which  was  the  land  of  his  birth.  He  was 
an  employe  in  n  large  woolen  factory,  from 
age  of  ten  years  until  he  had  reached  the 
twenty-sixth  year  of  his  life.  This  period,  which 
most  boys  devote  to  the  pleasures  of  the  ball  ground, 
the  race,  or  the  simple  amusements  of  the  home 
circle,  or  otherwise  are  consuming  the  time  in  study 
and  preparation  for  years  of  future  usefulness,  was 
by  him  all  occupied  in  working  for  the  necessities 
of  life — food,  shelter  and  clothing.  He  was  very 
successful  in  his  labor,  and  had  the  confidence  of 
his  employers,  but  at  the  end  of  the  sixteen  years  he 
had  been  in  their  factory,  he  found  himself  about 
as  poor  as  when  he  entered.  Wishing  to  lay  up  a 
little  for  the  proverbial  ''rainy  day"  and  knowing 
that  it  was  an  impossibility  in  England,  he  at  last 
decided  to  seek  a  home  in  the  United  States. 
Hither  the  eyes  of  an  entire  world  were  then  turned, 
as  opening  a  field  for  the  poor  and  destitute  of  all 
countries. 

In  the  spring  of  1850  Mr.  Hall  took  passage  at 
Liverpool  in  the  vessel  'Great  Western."  and  after  an 
ocean  voyage  of  thirty -two  days,  reached  New  York 
City,  landing  with  hundreds  of  other  emigrants  at 


the  famous  city.  In  that  motley  throng  he  caught 
his  first  glimpses  of  life  in  America.  Soon  how- 
ever, leaving  the  companions  of  his  voyage,  he 
started  directly  to  Illinois,  where  he  located  at 
Peoria.  In  that  young  and  growing  city  Mr.  Hall 
was  for  a  time  engaged  at  various  occupations, 
subsequently  working  as  a  farm  laborer.  He  was 
enabled  by  strict  economy  to  save  enough  to  begin 
as  a  renter  in  Peoria  Count}',  and  later  bought  a 
farm  in  the  same  county.  In  the  spring  of  1 865 
lie  changed  his  residence  from  Peoria  County,  to 
Panola  Township,  Woodford  County,  where  he 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  good  land  on  section  10. 
Of  this  forty  acres  had  never  been  broken,  nor 
even  had  a  furrow  turned  in  it,  while  the  other  half 
was  only  partially  cultivated.  Being  a  man  of  de- 
termination and  will,  Mr.  Hall  went  to  work  immedi- 
ately on  his  new  homestead,  and"Lthe  result  of  his 
industry  is  noticeable  in  the  fact  that  he  is  now  the 
owner  of  200  acres  of  fine  land,  ranking  as  among 
the  best  in  the  township.  He  has  done  a  great  deal 
of  pioneer  labor,  but  has  now  retired  from  active 
work  on  the  farm,  although  he  still  oversees  and 
manages  the  work.  His  present  farm  is  located  on 
section  15,  and  there  he  has  a  comfortable  home, 
where  he  quietly  enjoys  the  fruits  of  years  of  toil. 
He  is  also  a  stock-raiser,  and  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful in  raising  fine  breeds  of  stock  on  his  farm. 

Mr.  Hall  was  married  prior  to  coming  to  America, 
to  Miss  Ann  Hartlej',  daughter  of  Robert  and  Ann 
Hartley,  natives  of  England,  where  they  spent  their 
entire  lives;  they  both  being  deceased.  This  lady 
did  not  accompany  her  husband  to  America,  but 
six  years  later  joined  him  in  New  Y'ork  City,  where 
he  had  gone  to  meet  her  and  the  daughter,  Caro- 
line, and  they  proceeded  at  once  to  the  home  that  the 
husband  had  prepared  for  them  in  Peoria  County, 
111.  The  daughter  died  in  Peoria  County,  in  1858 
and  the  wife  died  in  Woodford  County,  111.,  in 
1868. 

Mr.  Hall  was  married  a  second  time  in  Peoria 
County,  to  Jane  Mealy,  who  afterward  died,  leaving 
no  children.  His  third  marriage  was  with  Maiy 
A.  Chad  wick,  in  1883,  by  whom  he  had  one  child, 
now  deceased.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  where  he  is  highly  respected.  In 
political  affiliations  he  is  a  Republican,  with  Pro- 


'288 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


hibition  principles,  believing  in  moderation  in  all 
things.  Socially,  he  and  his  wife  enjoy  a  large  and 
extended  acquaintance,  and  are  numbered  among 
the  leading  and  influential  residents  of  Panola 
Township. 

Mr.  Hall  is  now  in  the  prime  of  his  useful  life, 
having  been  born  in  1824,  on  the  llth  of  June. 
Lancashire  was  his  native  county,  and  there  he 
lived  during  almost  the  entire  time  of  his  residence 
in  England.  His  parents  were  named  respectively 
Robert  and  Ellen  Hall,  people  of  good  family  and 
honored  wherever  known.  They  spent  their  entire 
lives  in  their  native  land,  and  there  passed  to  their 
last  rest. 

Although  having  no  aspirations  for  public  life 
and  the  cares  and  responsibilities  of  office,  Mr.  Hall 
is  greatly  interested  in  the  cause  of  education  in 
America,  and  displayed  his  solicitude  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  common  schools  by  serving  with 
great  zeal  and  enterprise  on  the  Board  of  School 
Directors.  Having  himself  been  deprived  of  an 
education,  save  what  he  obtained  at  the  night 
schools,  he  feels  particularly  anxious  that  the  chil- 
dren of  this  day  and  age  should  be  fitted  in  every 
possible  way  for  their  future  life. 


B.  MURPHY,  a  retired  farmer  and 
a  prominent  and  influential  citizen  of 
Secor,  was  born  in  Loudoun  County, 
Va..  on  the  4th  day  of  September,  1804, 
and  is  a  son  of  Philip  T.  Murphy.  The  fam- 
ily is  of  Irish  descent,  and  was  founded  in 
America  by  the  grandparents  of  our  subject,  who 
left  the  Emerald  Isle,  and  became  residents  of  Vir- 
ginia, locating  near  Richmond,  where  the  remain- 
der of  their  lives  was  passed. 

Philip  T.  Murphy,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  the  Old  Dominion,  and  in  Loudoun  County 
\v:is  reared  and  married,  the  lady  of  his  choice 
being  Mis-s  Nancy  Richardson,  a  native  of  England, 
who  had  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America  with  her 
parents  in  childhood.  After  marriage  the  young 
couple  began  their  domestic  life  in  Loudoun  County, 


where  the  husband  followed  the  occupation  of 
farming.  His  beloved  wife  was  called  to  her  final 
rest  while  there  residing,  dying  of  palsy  at  the  age 
of  sixty-four  years.  Mr.  Murphy  afterwards  be- 
came a  resident  of  Ohio,  and  died  in  Muskingum 
County,  at  the  home  of  his  son  John  B.,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-eight  years.  He  and  his  wife  were 
rnemuers  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
were  consistent  Christian  people,  who  died  respected 
by  all  who  knew  them. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  a  family  of  five  children, 
two  sons  and  three  daughters,  and  passed  his  early 
life  in  his  native  county.  He  afterwards  became  a 
resident  of  Ohio,  settling  in  Muskingum  County 
with  his  father,  where  he  remained  for  some  years. 
At  length  leaving  the  Buckeye  State,  he  became  a 
resident  of  Illinois,  and  in  Tazewell  County,  in 
1837,  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sidney  A.  Here- 
ford, who  was  born  in  Culpeper  County,  Va., 
Feb.  23,  1821.  Her  parents  were  Ammond  and 
Amelia  N.  (Powell)  Hereford,  both  of  whom  were 
also  natives  of  Virginia,  and  of  English  parent- 
age. By  occupation  Mr.  Hereford  was  a  farmer, 
and  followed  that  business  during  the  greater  part 
of  his  life.  He  died  at  his  home  in  Culpeper 
County,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-four  years,  after 
which  his  wife  came  with  her  family  to  Illinois, 
settling  in  Tazewell  County,  where  she  passed 
away  some  years  later,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five 
years.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  herself  and  husband  were  highly  respected 
people. 

Mrs.  Murphy  was  but  five  years  old  at  the  death 
of  her  father.  In  1836  she  came  with  the  family 
to  Illinois,  remaining  with  her  mother  until  her 
marriage.  The  bridal  tour  of  the  young  couple 
consisted  of  a  trip  to  Muskingum  County,  Ohio, 
where  they  began  their  domestic  life  and  made 
their  home  until  1865,  when  they  again  came  to 
Illinois,  locating  in  Greene  Township,  Woodford 
County.  Purchasing  land,  Mr.  Murphy  at  once 
turned  his  attention  to  the  development  of  a  farm, 
continuing  the  work  of  cultivation  and  improve- 
ment until  his  retirement  from  active  life.  By 
years  of  industry  and  perseverance  he  had  accu- 
mulated a  competency,  which  would  enable  him  to 
pass  his  declining  years  in  rest  from  all  labor,  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


289 


in  1882  he  left  the  farm  which  he  had  so  long 
made  his  home,  and  removed  to  Secor.  However, 
he  still  owns  160  acres  of  valuable  land  in  Greene 
Township. 

Of  the  ten  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mur- 
phy, seven  are  yet  living:  Josiah  A.,  who  married 
Fannie  Revanaugh,  and  is  now  engaged  in  farming 
in  Taylor  County,  Iowa;  Philip  T.,  who  wedded 
Mary  Hereford,  and  resides  on  his  farm  near  Piper 
City,  111.:  William  T.,  who  makes  his  home  in 
Peoria,  III.;  Daniel,  a  leading  merchant  of  Mus- 
kingum  County,  Ohio,  was  joined  in  wedlock  witli 
Sarah  M.  Karnes;  Eliza  .1.  is  the  wife  of  S.  Burk- 
holder,  a  resident  fanner  of  Palestine  Township; 
Eva  is  at  home,  and  Albert  C.,a  grocery  merchant 
of  Lincoln,  Neb.,  married  Ida  Miller.  Sarah,  Mary, 
and  an  infant  daughter  are  deceased. 

For  a  quarter  of  a  century  Mr.  Murphy  has 
made  his  home  in  this  county,  and  has  identified 
himself  with  its  best  interests.  He  has  aided  in  its 
progress  and  development,  its  upbuilding  and  ad- 
vancement, and  well  merits  the  high  regard  in 
which  he  is  held.  In  politics  he  is  a  supporter  of 
the  Democratic  party.  Mr.  and  Mrs._Murpliy  are 
now  in  their  declining  years,  but  their  lives  have 
been  well  spent,  and  they  can  look  back  over  the 
past  with  no  regrets.  Their  course  has  always 
been  such  as  to  win  the  confidence  of  those  with 
whom  they  have  come  in  contact,  and  they  have 
gained  many  warm  friends  throughout  the  county. 


felLLl  AM  L.  p;LLWOOD,  Attorney -at-Law, 
///  Metamora,  has  won  a  reputation  at  the  bar 
as  a  lawyer  of  ability,  whose  personal 
character  is  above  reproach.  His  father,  Isaac  Ell- 
wood,  was  a  native  of  England,  his  parents  also 
being  of  English  birth  and  ancestry,  his  father  be- 
ing William  Ellwood,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Cum- 
berland, and  they  passed  their  entire  lives  in  their 
native  land.  The  father  of  our  subject  having  a 
natural  taste  for  a  military  life,  entered  the  British 
service  when  quite  young,  and  became  a  member  of 
the  CJueen's  Life  Guards,  remaining  in  the  army 


several  years.  He  came  to  America  before  mar- 
riage and  settled  in  the  State  of  New  York,  engaged 
in  farming  at  Skaneateles.  He  subsequently  carne 
from  there  to  Illinois  in  1852.  lie  first  established 
himself  and  family  in  Morgan  County,  but  after 
living  there  two  years  came  to  Woodford  County, 
and  bought  a  farm  in  Metamora  Township,  and  be- 
came actively  identified  with  its  agricultural  in- 
terests. In  1856  he  removed  to  Washington, 
Tazewell  County,  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  a  ho- 
tel. He  managed  it  successfully  a  few  years,  and 
then  going  to  Mackinaw,  resumed  farming.  At 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he  went  to  Springfield 
and  offered  his  services  as  drill  master,  his  exper- 
ience in  the  English  army  amply  qualifying  him 
for  that  duty,  and  they  were  gladly  accepted  by 
the  Illinois  State  Government,  and  he  was  em- 
ployed to  teach  the  raw  recruits  of  the  llth  Illinois 
Cavalry  and  other  regiments,  military  tactics.  He 
went  south  with  the  llth  Illinois  Cavalry  to  which 
he  was  attached,  and  rendered  valuable  service  in 
his  capacity  of  drill-master.  Although  the  duties 
of  his  position  did  not  require  it,  for  the  sake  of 
aiding  the  regiment  he  drilled,  he  exposed  himself 
to  the  fire  of  the  enemy  at  the  battle  of  Pittsburg 
Landing,  and  had  a  horse  killed  under  him.  After 
that  battle  he  enlisted  as  a  soldier  ami  was  elected 
Captain  of  Company  I,  llth  Illinois  Cavalry.  He 
was  detailed  to  do  garrison  duty  at  Corinth,  Miss,, 
and  while  there  was  stricken  with  a  mortal  illness, 
was  granted  a  leave  of  absence,  and  eleven  days 
after  his  return  home  died,  and  was  buried  in  the 
cemetery  at  Mackinaw,  in  Tazewell  County,  III.,  and 
thus  passed  away  from  earth,  as  gallant  a  soldier  as 
ever  yielded  up  his  life  for  the  country  of  his 
adoption.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Ann 
E.  Hugill,  and  she  was  a  daughter  of  Charles  and 
Margaret  (Roberts)  Hugill,  all  natives  of  England. 
She  departed  this  life  in  Metamora,  111.,  Sept.  22, 
1881. 

There  were  three  children  born  of  the  marriage 
of  the  parents  of  our  subject,  of  whom  two  are 
living,  his  sister  Margaret  and  himself,  the  former 
•being  the  wife  of  J.  M.  Fort,  of  Minonk,  of  whom 
see  sketch.  The  maternal  grandparents  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  were  natives  of  England,  and 
they  came  to  America  in  1833,  and  located  in  Can- 


290 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ada  near  Toronto,  where  they  lived  five  years. 
They  then  came  to  the  "  States,"  and  finally,  in 
1858,  settled  and  spent  the  rest  of  their  flays  in 
Metaraora  Township. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  born  near  Skaiieateles, 
N.  Y.,  March  6,  1851,  and  was  but  an  infant  when' 
his  parents  brought  him  to  this  State,  so  that  the 
most  of  his  life  has  been  passed  here.  He  gained 
a  solid  foundation  for  a  sound  education  in  the 
public  schools,  and  was  afterwards  a  student  at  the 
Illinois  Soldiers'  College  at  Fulton.  During  his 
three  years  stay  in  that  excellent  institution  of 
learning,  he  obtained  good  rank  for  scholarship,  and 
was  well  fitted  for  any  profession  that  he  might 
decide  to  adopt.  After  leaving  college  he  taught 
school  in  Cruger  Township,  eight  and  one-half 
months.  In  June,  1870,  he  commenced  the  study 
of  law,  for  which  he  had  a  marked  taste,  under  the 
instruction  of  S.  M.  Garrett  of  Metamora.  then 
Stales  Attorney  for  the  23d  Judicial  District.  He 
read  law  assiduously,  and  applying  for  admission 
to  the  bar,  was  examined  in  open  court  before  the 
full  bench  at  Ottawa,  in  the  September  term,  1872, 
and  was  admitted  after  satisfactorily  passing  a 
rigid  examination.  He  opened  an  office  in  Wat- 
seka,  Iroquois  Co.,  111.,  and  practiced  there  six 
months.  lie  then  came  to  Metainora,  where  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  John  Clark,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Clark  &  Ellwood,  they  continuing  to- 
gether till  April  30,  1877,  when  our  subject  prac- 
ticed alone  for  a  short  time,  and  then  formed  a 
partnership  with  the  well  known  S.  S.  Page,  now 
Judge  Page,  of  Peoria,  continuing  with  him  till 
March,  1882,  or  until  a  short  time  after  the  latter's 
removal  to  Peoria.  Since  that  time  Mr.  Ellwood 
has  been  alone,  and  has  established  a  lucrative 
practice  by  perfectly  legitimate  means. 

Mr.  Ellwood  and  Miss  Mary  E."1  Bullock,  were 
united  in  marriage  Dec.  26,  1875,  and  their  happy 
wedded  life  has  been  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth 
of  two  children,  Edna  M.  and  Beulah.  Mrs.  Ell- 
wood is  a  native  of  New  York  State,  her  father  be- 
ing John  J.  Bullock,  while  the  maiden  name  of  her 
mother  was  Catherine  Jones. 

Mr.  Ell  wood's  career  at  the  bar  has  shown  him  to 
be  possessed  of  a  good  knowledge  of  law,  a  true 
love  for  his  profession,  unflagging  zeal  in  its  pros- 


ecution, and  of  a  high  standard  of  professional 
honor.  He  is  a  Prohibitionist  in  politics,  and  a 
strong  advocate  of  the  temperance  movement  in 
both  word  and  deed. 


AVID  S.  RICHARDS,  Superintendent  of 
jll  the  Chicago  and  Minonk  Coal  and  Coke 
Company,  is  numbered  among  the  most 
prominent,  enterprising  and  capable  busi- 
ness men  of  Wooriford  County,  and  Minonk  has  no 
resident  more  worthy  of  respect  and  esteem  than 
he.  He  is  a  native  of  Wales,  born  Jan.  28,  1852. 
His  parents,  Shern  and  Elizabeth  (Baker)  Richards, 
also  natives  of  Wales,  emigrated  to  Canada  in  1855, 
and,  after  living  there  ten  years  came  to  the  United 
States,  locating  in  Chicago,  where  Mr.  Richards 
worked  at  his  trade  of  carpentering  until  his  death 
which  occurred  in  August  1888,  when  he  was  sixty- 
nine  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Richards  is  yet  living  and 
makes  her  home  in  Chicago.  Of  the  children  born 
to  her  and  her  husband  four  are  living,  namely: 
William  E.,  a  dry-goods  merchant  of  Chicago; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  R.  Blake,  resides  near  San 
Francisco,  Cal.;  C.  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Beggs  of  Chicago. 

The  subject  of  this  brief  personal  narrative  was 
the  fifth  child  born  to  his  parents.  He  received 
the  rudiments  of  his  education  in  Canada,  and  soon 
after  coming  to  Chicago,  secured  work  in  a  printing 
office  and  was  afterward  emploj'ed  for  a  while  in 
an  abstract  office.  Subsequently,  our  subject  en- 
tered the  office  of  Miner  T.  Ames,  as  errand  boy, 
and  so  well  performed  the  menial  duties  given  him 
that  he  was  from  time  to  time  promoted  to  posi- 
tions of  greater  responsibility.  In  every  place  he 
was  put,  Mr.  Richards  proved  faithful  and  trust- 
worthy, and  on  Jan.  5,  1872,  Mr.  Ames  sent  him  to 
the  office  of  the  coal  mines  in  Minonk,  of  which  he 
was  president.  Samuel  Work,  was  at  that  time 
Superintendent  of  the  mines,  and  our  subject  was 
in  the  office  with  him  and  his  successor  a  few  months 
when,  shortly  after  attaining  his  majority,  he  was 
given  full  charge  of  the  mines,  his  employers  fully 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


291 


recognizing  his  keen  business  ability,  shrewd  judg- 
ment, and  excellent  tact.  The  company  employs 
over  200  men  in  the  mines,  which  are  554  feet 
deep,  and  also  several  men  above  ground,  be- 
side those  who  are  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
tile.  Mr.  Richards  also  has  charge  of  the  latter 
business  as  well  as  of  the  store  of  the  company, 
which  is  the  largest  in  Minonk. 

In  1876  Mr.  Richards  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Mary  Ellen  Shepherd.  She  was  born  near 
Lacon,  being  a  daughter  of  John  P.  Shepherd,  a 
farmer  of  Marshall  County.  Their  union  has  been 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  three  children,  Rena  Belle, 
Miner  T.  and  Frances  Gertrude. 

Our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  during  their 
residence  in  Minonk,  have  won  the  regard  and  con- 
fidence of  all  with  whom  they  have  come  in  con- 
tact, and  their  geniality  and  hospitality  render  them 
very  popular  throughout  their  community.  In 
all  social,  moral  and  literary  affairs  they  take 
a  deep  interest,  and  Mr.  Richards  is  serving  as  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education.  In  politics  our 
subject,  though  declining  to  take  an  r.ctive  part, 
supports  the  Democratic  party. 


ON.  JAMES  DWIGI1T  WEBBER,  a  prom- 
l!  inent  citizen  of  Woodford  County,  has 
been  connected  with  the  highest  interests  of 
Minonk,  for  more  than  twenty  years,  was  at 
one  time  one  of  its  leading  merchants,  and  has 
also  paid  some  attention  to  agriculture,  being  the 
proprietor  of  a  fine  farm  in  this  -vicinity.  But  he 
is  now  living  in  retirement  here  in  a  pleasant,  at- 
tractive home.  It  gives  us  pleasure  to  publish  in 
this  work  a  record  of  the  life  of  this  widely  known 
and  honored  gentleman. 

He  is  a  native  of  New  York,and  comes  of  a  sterling 
ancestry.  He  was  born  in  Greene  County,  that  State, 
April  19, 1826,  to  Henry  and  Louisa  (Pitts)  Web- 
ber, also  natives  of  that  county.  His  great-grand- 
father  was  a  native  of  Holland,  who  left  his 
native  land  and  came  to  America,  accompanied 
by  a  brother  some  time  during  the  last  century. 


After  landing  in  this  country  he  and  his  brother 
became  separated,  and  they  never  met  again.  John 
Webber,  grandfather  of  James,  our  subject,  was 
born  in  the  primeval. forests  of  Greene  County,  as 
one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  that  county,  and  car- 
ried on  his  occupation  of  farming  there  many  years. 
He  erected  a  log  cabin,  and  cleared  and  improved 
a  good  farm,  and  there  he  and  his  good  wife  made 
their  home  respected  and  regarded  with  feelings  of 
affection  by  their  fellow-pioneers,  till  death  called 
them  hence,  he  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-four, 
and  she  at  the  age  of  ninety-three.  Her  maiden 
name  was  Mitchell,  and  she  was  a  native  of  Massa- 
chusetts. She  and  her  husband  reared  a  famity  of 
eight  children:  David,  Henry,  John  N.,  Robert, 
William,  Betsy,  Sally  and  Christian.  All  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  except  Robert  who  became 
a  physician. 

Henry,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a  farmer, 
and  in  his  early  life  operated  a  fulling  mill  in  his 
native  count3\  He  did  gallant  service  in  the  War 
of  1812,  and  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  ser- 
geant. He  married  in  Greene  County,  and  there  he 
and  his  wife  spent  their  wedded  life,  lie  dying  at 
the  age  of  sixty-four  years,  killed  by  a  falling 
tree,  and  she  passed  away  at  the  age  of  fifty-six. 
He  was  a  successful  farmer  financially  and  accumu- 
lated much  valuable  property,  and  in  his  deatli  the 
interests  of  his  community  received  a  severe  blow. 
He  was  an  active  and  consistent  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  none  of  his  fel- 
low-members were  before  him  in  his  good  works. 
Of  his  peaceful  and  happy  wedded  life  the  following 
children  were  born,  all  of  whom  attained  their  ma- 
jority, as  follows:  James  D wight;  Levi  P.,  a  farmer 
in  Rutland,  III.;  Ann  C.,  wife  of  R.  L.  Hamilton,  of 
Minonk;  John  II., an  extensive  fanner  nearWenona, 
111.;  Ellen,  wife  of  E.  J.  Nichols,  of  Kingston,  N. 
Y.;  Charles  E.,  living  in  Minonk;  Cynthclla,  who 
was  twice  married,  her  first  husband  being  George 
Hill,  and  her  second  M.  Lament.  She  died  in 
Kingston,  N.  Y.,  hers  being  the  first  death  in  the 
family;  Harriet  E..  the  wife  of  Edward  Andrews, 
of  Kingston,  N.  Y.;  Sarah  C.,  the  wife  of  Charles 
V.  Dubois,  of  Kingston,  N.  Y. 

James  D.  Webber  of  this  biography  was  bred  to 
the  life  of  a  farmer  on  the  old  homestead  where  he 


292 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


was  born.  Being  an  apt  and  eager  scholar,  he 
gleaned  a  very  good  education  in  the  public 
schools,  and  at  one  time  utilized  his  learning  by 
teaching  very  successfully  three  terms.  He  sub- 
sequently learned  the  trade  of  a  wagon  and  carriage 
maker,  which  he  pursued  very  profitably  till  1865. 
He  then  sold  out  his  business  and  disposed  of  his 
property  with  the  view  of  taking  up  his  abode  in 
the  West,  wishing  to  try  life  on  the  broad,  breezy, 
healthful  prairies  of  Illinois,  and  in  1866  he  settled 
in  Minonk,  and  has  since  held  an  important  place 
among  its  prominent  citizens.  At  first  he  en- 
gaged in  the  hotel  business,  being  the  proprietor 
and  manager  of  the  Webber  House,  which  still 
hears  his  name.  In  1870  he  sold  his  hotel  build- 
ing, and  associated  himself  with  E.  Martin  to  en- 
gage in  the  hardware  trade,  under  the  name  of 
Martin  &  Webber.  In  1872  he  sold  his  interest  in 
the  store,  as  he  was  at  that  time  elected  to  the 
State  Legislature.  He  served  with  distinction  in 
that  honorable  body,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Penitentiary  Committee,  and  also  of  that  on  Banks 
and  Banking.  In  1873  he  again  gave  his  attention 
to  the  hardware  business,  entering  into  partnership 
with  C.  E.  Webber  and  S.  A.  Miller,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Webber  Bros.  &  Miller,  continuing 
thus  till  1880,  when  our  subject  retired,  although 
he  subsequently  carried  on  a  furniture  business 
some  eighteen  months.  Besides  other  valuable 
property,  he  owns  160  acres  of  choice  and  well- 
improved  land  in  Minonk  Township. 

To  the  good  wife  who  has  shared  his  fortunes, 
and  to  whom  he  owes  much  of  his  success  in  life, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  in  1856,  in  Greene 
County,  N.  Y.  Mrs.  Webber  is  a  native  of  that 
county.  Her  maiden  name  was  Jemima  Tryon, 
and  she  is  a  daughter  of  Peter  D.  and  Miry 
Tryon,  also  natives  of  Greene  County,  the  Tryons 
having  been  pioneers  of  that  part  of  New  York. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Webber  have  had  but  one  son,  Henry 
T.,  born  in  1857.  lie  received  a  good  practical 
business  education,  and  after  leaving  school  trav- 
eled two  years  for  a  furniture  firm,  and  later  was 
employed  in  the  Chicago  office  of  the  Chicago  & 
Minonk  Coal  and  Coke  Company.  He  was  regarded 
as  a  very  bright  and  promising  young  man,  and 
his  employers  considered  him  one  of  their  best 


clerks  and  most  efficient  salesmen.  But  his  health 
failed,  and  he  was  obliged  to  give  up  business,  and 
he  traveled  awhile  in  California,  in  the  vain  hope 
of  recovery,  but  died  of  consumption  in  the 
month  of  September,  1888.  leaving  a  wife  and  one 
child,  Lottie,  besides  his  parents  and  many  warm 
friends,  to  mourn  his  untimely  death.  Though 
dying  so  young,  he  left  an  honorable  record  of  a 
well-spent  life,  and  we  cannot  believe  that  it  has 
come  to  naught.  It  can  truthfully  be  said  of  him 
in  words  that  were  said  of  another: 

"  His  life  is  bright — bright  without  spot  it  was 
And  cannot  cease  to  be.     No  ominous  hour 
Knocks  at  his  door  with  tidings  of  mishap. 
Far  off  is  he,  above  desire  and  fear. 
No  more  submitted  to  the  chance  and  change 
Of  the  unsteady  planets.     O,  'tis  well 
With    him.     But  who  knows  what  the  coming 

hour, 
Veiled  in  thick  darkness,  brings  for  us?" 

Mr.  AVebber  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  has  held  office  with  distinction, 
yet  he  does  not  care  to  mingle  in  public  life, 
though  his  course  as  a  legislator  showed  him  to  be 
possessed  of  good,  statesman-like  qualities,  and 
was  honorable  to  him  and  useful  to  the  State. 
His  reputation  both  in  public  and  private  life  is 
blameless,  and  his  unswerving  rectitude  of  purpose 
and  act  is  detected  in  his  every  word  and  deed. 
His  amiable  wife  shares  with  him  the  high  respect 
and  consideration  in  which  he  is  held.  He  is  con- 
nected with  the  Masonic  order,  and  is  a  Knight 
Templar. 


OSEPH  HASTINGS  MOORE.  The  record 
of  this  respected  veteran,  who  is  now  ap- 
proaching the  seventy-sixth  year  of  his  age, 
fj  is  one  of  more  than  ordinary  interest,  filled  in 
with  the  events  of  a  long  and  useful  life,  one  which 
it  is  hoped  will  be  prolonged  for  many  years  to 
come.  He  is  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  this 
county,  coming  within  its  limits  when  it  bore  a 
wide  contrast  to  its  present  condition,  and  he  has 
been  a  resident  of  El  Paso  Township,  since  I860. 
The  year  following  he  was  elected  a  Justice  of  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


293 


Peace,  at  the  organization  of  the  township,  and  lias 
since  filled  the  position,  not  continuously  however. 
He  took  up  his  abode  in  the  city  of  El  Paso  in  1 864, 
and  was  its  first  Mayor  under  the  new  organization. 
He  was  the  Postmaster  from  1 868  to  1 880,  a  period 
of  twelve  years,  and  has  been  identified  with  its 
most  important  interests  from  the  beginning. 

The  town  of  Boylston,  Worcester  Co.,  Mass., 
was  the  native  place  of  our  subject  and  the  date  of 
his  birth  Feb.  8,  1814.  His  parents  were  David 
and  Dolly  (Hastings)  Moore.  The  Moore  and 
Hastings  families  are  of  English  descent,  and  David 
Moore,  the  father  of  our  subject,  removed  with  his 
family  to  Athens  County,  Ohio,  in  the  year  of 
1817.  There  they  reared  their  six  sons  and  three 
daughters  to  maturity,  but  only  three  boys  of  the 
family  are  now  living — the  Hon.  E.  H.  Moore  of 
Athens,  Ohio,  older  than  our  subject;  Henry  D.,  a 
resident  of  Peru,  Miami  Co.,  Ind.,  and  our  sub- 
ject. Mr.  Moore  had  only  the  advantages  of  a  com- 
mon-school education,  mostly  carried  on  in  a  log 
school  house,  and  at  an  early  age  he  was  required 
to  make  himself  useful  on  the  new  farm,  clearing 
the  land  and  cultivating  the  soil.  The  father  being 
a  carpenter  and  millwright  was  away  from  home 
the  most  of  his  time, working  at  his  trade,  and  con- 
sequently the  care  of  the  farm  and  the  raising  of 
the  children  devolved  mostly  upon  the  mother. 
While  in  Massachusetts  the  parents  were  connected 
with  the  Congregational  Church,  but  there  being 
no  society  of  this  kind  near  their  home  after  re- 
moving to  Ohio,  they  united  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church  with  which  they  were  subsequently  identi- 
fied the  remainder  of  their  lives.  David  Moore 
departed  this  life  in  May,  1836  while  in  his  prime. 
The  mother  survived  her  husband  many  years  and 
until  1874,  in  which  year  her  decease  took  place  at 
the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-four  years. 

In  Muskingum  County,  Ohio,  Aug.  7,  1834,  our 
subject  was  married  to  Miss  Juliet  Helm.  In  the 
following  fall  the  young  people  removed  with  the 
wife's  parents  to  Jefferson  County,  Ky.,  and  during 
that  winter  they  united  with  the  Christian  Church 
at  Flat  Rock.  After  coming  to  Illinois,  they,  in 
1864,  were  instrumental  in  organizing  the  Chris- 
tian Church  at  El  Paso,  and  ever  afterward  took  a 
lively  interest  in  its  prosperity.  In  connection 


with  this  Mr.  Moore  has  held  many  offices  of  trust 
and  responsibility  and  is  now  an  Elder. 

Mr.  Moore  and  his  family  in  1836  removed 
from  Kentucky,  to  Athens,  Ohio,  where  Mr.  Moore 
becamo  prominent  in  local  affairs  and  was  elected 
to  the  office  of  Constable,  and  Township  Treasurer, 
and  in  1839  to  the  office  of  Sheriff  of  Athens 
County.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  election  of 
Gen.  William  H.  Harrison  in  1840,  and  although 
not  possessing  oratorical  powers,  did  fully  as  effici- 
ent service  at  the  public  assemblies  by  looking 
after  the  band  wagons  and  log  cabins  necessary  to 
create  enthusiasm  over  the  candidate,  assisted  in 
raising  liberty  poles,  and  was  efficient  at  the  grand 
rallies  generally.  He  served  his  first  term  of  office 
as  Sheriff  acceptably  and  was  re-elected  in  1841. 

In  1844  Mr.  Moore  decided  upon  a  removal  far- 
ther Westward  and  came  to  McLean  County,  this 
State.  lie  settled  on  its  western  line  where  he  pur- 
chased the  last  remnant  of  land  from  Mr.  Redding, 
of  the  notorious  Redding  gang  of  Mosquito  Grove, 
known  then,  us  Rogues  Harbor.  The  Redding 
had  left  and  joined  the  Mormons  at  Nauvoo,  ex- 
cepting the  uncle  in  whose  name  the  title  to  the 
land  was,  and  the  following  year  1845  took  part  in 
the  noted  Davenport  murder.  In  1846  Mr  Moore 
removed  to  what  was  then  Concord,  but  is  now 
Danvers,  in  McLean  County,  and  the  following 
year  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace.  In  1849 
occurred  the  re-organization  of  the  old  county  com- 
missioners court,  and  the  forming  of  a  new  court 
consisting  of  one  Judge  and  two  Associate  County 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  at  which  time,  November, 
1849,  Hon.  John  E.  McClun  was  elected  Judge  and 
Silas  Waters,  Esq.,  of  Leroy,  and  "Jay"  H.  Moore 
were  elected  Associates  and  held  their  offices  four 
years;  Mr.  Moore,  in  1856  was  elected  Sheriff  of 
McLean  County,  which  office  he  held  two  years. 

Mr.  Moore  in  1857  took  an  active  part  in  secur- 
ing the  location  of  the  Normal  University  at  Bloom- 
;  ington,  which  was  only  accomplished  by  securing 
an  appropriation  of  $60,000  from  the  County 
Court,  then  consisting  of  A.  J.  Merriman,  Judge, 
and  Hiram  Buck  and  Milton  Smith,  Associates, 
(both  the  latter  now  deceased,)  out  of  the  Swamp 
Land  fund.  In  1860  Mr.  Moore  moved  on  to  a 
farm  of  240  acres,  two  miles  south  of  El  Paso.  In 


294 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1861,  when  the  township  of  El  Paso  was  organized 
he  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  which  office  he 
held  until  1869.  Then,  having  been  appointed 
Postmaster  at  El  Paso,  he  declined  a  re-election  and 
held  the  latter  office  until  1880. 

In  1881  Mr.  Moore  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace  which  office  he  filled  until  1889.  lie  was 
then  elected  Police  Justice  (or  the  city  of  El  Paso, 
which  office  he  now  holds.  While  farming  he  met 
with  several  disasters,  On  the  13th  of  May,  1858, 
a  hurricane  struck  his  house  and  scattered  it  to  the 
four  winds,  killing  one  man  and  crippling  eight  or 
nine  other  persons — men,  women  and  children.  He 
soon  re-built  and  raised  fifteen-cent  corn  and  $2,50 
pork  until  1862.  That  year  he  was  stricken 
down  with  rheumatism  and  was  obliged  to  aban- 
don active  labor.  He  sold  his  farm  in  1863  and 
removed  to  El  Paso  in  the  Spring  of  1864.  Aside 
from  being  troubled  occasionally  with  rheumatism, 
he  is  quite  hale  and  hearty  not  withstanding  his 
age. 

Mrs.  Juliet  (Helm)  Moore,  died  at  the  family  res- 
idence in  El  Paso,  May  20,  1868  leaving  a  family 
of  five  children.  Their  eldest  daughter,  Elizabeth 
C.,  is  the  wife  of  Harry  .Sanders  of  Newark,  Ohio. 
Josephine  B.,  is  the  widow  of  Thomas  D.  Helm,  of 
El  Paso;  Mary  L.,  is  the  wife  of  J.  Newton  Henry 
of  Clinton,  III. ;  Henrietta  M.,  Mrs.  P.  A.  Simmons, 
lives  at  Medicine  Lodge,  Kan. ;  Charles  Hastings, 
the  only  son,  is  a  resident  of  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

In  December,  1869  Mr.  Moore  was  married  a  sec- 
ond time  to  Mrs.  Nancy  (Baldridge)  McClamroch, 
of  Indianopolis,  Ind.  This  lady  was  the  widow  of 
Thomas  McClamroch,  who  died  at  Indianopolis,  in 
the  fall  of  1859,  leaving  one  son,  Robert,  who  is 
now  a  capitalist  and  banker  of  Frankfort,  Ind.  The 
present  wife  of  our  subject  has  been  a  zealous 
member  of  the  Christian  Church  since  a  young 
girl  of  fifteen  years.  In  1882  in  company  with  his 
son,  Charles,  Mr.  Moore  went  into  the  Indian  Ter- 
ritory, where  they  engaged  in  the  live  stock  busi- 
ness and  spent  the  summer  on  a  ranche  in  the 
Cherokee  Strip,  being  a  member  of  the  Cherokee 
Strip  Live  Stock  Association, which  leased  the  Strip 
of  the  Cherokees  for  five  years  in  consideration  of 
*100,000  per  annum,  payable  semi-annually.  The 
ranche  comprised  a  body  of  land  seven  miles 


square,  and  of  his  part  Mr  Moore  retained  possess- 
ion until  1886.  He  then  sold  out  and  abandoned 
the  live-stock  business  and  in  fact  retired  from  ac- 
tive life,  with  the  exception  of  officiating  as  Justice 
of  the  Peace. 

Mrs.  Nanc}r  Moore  was  born  and  reared  in  Ohio, 
where  she  was  first  married  and  later  removed 
with  her  husband  to  Indianopolis,  Ind.,  where  Mr. 
McClamroch  died  in  the  prime  of  life.  Mr.  Moore, 
politically,  was  in  early 'life  a  member  of  the  old 
Whig  part}' but  upon  its  abandonment,  in  1856, 
identified  himself  with  the  newly-formed  Republi- 
can party  of  whose  principles  he  has  been  a  hearty 
supporter.  He  has  been  the  witness  of  changes  and 
events,  which  could  they  presented  in  book  form 
would  make  a  most  readable  volume:  In  the  de- 
velopment and  growth  of  Wood  ford  County,  he 
has  taken  an  active  part  and  his  name  will  be  held 
in  remembrance  long  after  he  has  been  gathered  to 
his  fathers. 


ICHAEL  C.  WAGNER,  the  popular  repre- 
sentative of  Worth  Township,  on  the 
County  Board  of  Supervisors,  is  quite  an 
extensive  farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  this, 
his  native  county.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  360 
acres  of  land,  250  or  more  of  which  is  tillage  and 
pasture  land,  the  remainder  being  in  timber.  He 
was  born  in  Partridge  Township,  Dec.  20,  1849, 
the  youngest  son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  S.  (Stouder) 
Wagner.  See  sketch  of  Jacob  Wagner  for  paren- 
tal history. 

Our  subject  was  reared  in  his  native  township. 
He  attended  school  but  little  in  his  youthful  days, 
for  his  father  being  in  limited  circumstances, 
needed  his  assistance  on  the  farm.  He  aided  his 
father  in  clearing  land  and  in  tilling  the  soil  until 
his  marriage.  He  then  rented  the  homestead  two 
years,  and  after  that  rented  other  farms  in  the  same 
township  the  ensuing  seven  years,  and  at  the  ex- 
piration of  that  time  rented  the  farm  that  he  now 
occupies.  He  was  a  great  worker,  and  was  very 
prosperous  as  a  renter,  and  at  the  end  of  three 


RESIDENCE  OF  SIMON  SWAN  ,  SEC. 5.  CLAYTON  TOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCE  OF  JACOB  BARiNGER,5EC.36.   ROANOAKE  TOWNSHIP. 


FARM  PROPERTY  OF  MRS. N.J.STUMBAUCH, SEC. 2. MONTGOMERY  TP. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


297 


years  he  purchased  the  farm,  and  lias  resided  on  it 
ever  since,  actively  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  stock-raising. 

Mr.  Wagner  was  joined  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Margaret  Sharp,  and  she  made  him  an  excellent 
wife,  being  of  material  assistance  in  bringing  about 
his  present  prosperous  circumstances.  Her  father,  j 
George  Sharp,  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of 
Tazewell  County,  and  is  still  living  on  the  land 
which  he  bought  from  the  Government,  and  has 
reclaimed  from  the  wilderness.  Our  subject  and  his 
wife  are  the  parents  of  nine  children,  namely: 
Christian,  Ella,  Edward,  Annie,  Carrie,  Charles,  Ar- 
thur, Ida  and  Harrison,  the  latter  named  in  honor 
of  President  Harrison.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wagner  are 
active  Christian  people,  and  members  respectively 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  and  Lutheran  churches. 
Politically,  our  subject  affiliates  with  the  Repub- 
lican party ,  and  the  high  estimation  in  which  he 
is  held  by  his  fellow-citizens  is  attested  by  the  fact 
that  he,  has  been  twice  re-elected  to  the  important 
office  of  Supervisor,  in  which  position  he  is  now 
serving  his  third  term,  in  a  township  whose  voters 
are,  to  a  great  extent,  his  political  opponents. 


K  ANIEL  C.  WAGNER  is  extensively  and 
prosperously  engaged  as  a  farmer  and 
stock-raiser  on  the  old  Sharp  homestead  in 
Worth  Township,  where  his  wife  was  born 
and  bred.  He  is  a  native  of  Germany,  born  Nov. 
12,  1841,  to  Jacob  and  Margaretta  Wagner,  pio- 
neers of  Woodford  County,  for  whose  personal 
history  see  sketch  of  Jacob  Wagner. 

Our  subject  was  the  seventh  child  born  to  his 
parents,  and  being  a  lad  of  six  years  when  he 
crossed  the  ocean  from  his  native  land  to  this 
country,  he  has  quite  a  distinct  recollection  of  the 
voyage,  and  of  the  appearance  of  the  country  in 
his  early  years  here,  and  of  the  pioneer  life  of  the 
inhabitants.  There  being  no  railways  here,  the 
river  towns  were  the  markets.  At  the  time  of  his 
marriage  Mr.  Wagner  left  the  home  of  his  parents 


and  rented  land,  and  busily  engaged  in  farming  it 
the  following  two  years.  At  the  expiration  of 
that  time  he  located  on  the  farm  where  he  now 
lives,  which  was  the  birthplace  of  his  wife,  and  the 
homestead  that  her  father  had  eliminated  from  the 
wild  prairies  and  timber  lands  of  Woodford 
County,  in  the  very  early  years  of  its  settlement. 
Our  subject  has  managed  it  in  the  very  best  possi- 
ble manner,  so  as  to  add  to  its  value  rather  than  to 
decrease  it.  Its  broad  fields  yield  him  generous 
harvests  in  return  for  the  careful  cultivation  that 
he  gives  to  the  soil.  Its  buildings  are  of  a  sub- 
stantial order,  and  arc  well  kept,  and  Mr.  Wagner 
has  the  farm  stocked  with  choice  cattle  of  excel- 
lent grades,  besides  having  fine  horses  and  swine  of 
good  breeds. 

Mr.  Wagner  was  married,  Jan.  5,  1866,  to  Miss 
Mar}'  Sharp,  and  to  them  have  come  nine  children, 
as  follows:  Mary,  Alexander,  Maggie,  Sadie,  Frank, 
Amanda,  Albert,  Lawrence  and  LeRoy.  Aleck,  the 
oldest  son  living,  a  bright  and  promising  young 
man,  has  been  blind  since  he  was  two  years  old. 
He  has  been  a  student  at  the  Institution  for  the 
Blind  at  Jacksonville,  in  this  State,  and  was  grad- 
uated therefrom  with  honor  in  June,  1889. 

Mrs.  Wagner's  father,  John  Sharp,  was  born  in 
Maryland,  Aug.  9,  1800.  He  went  from  there  to 
Ohio,  and  thence  to  Illinois,  in  1827,  and  became  an 
early  settler  of  this  State.  He  was  a  miller  by  trade, 
and  he  and  his  brother  built  the  first  mill  erected 
in  that  region.  About  1833  he  sold  his  interest 
in  it,  and  came  to  Woodford  County,  as  one  of  its 
early  pioneers.  He  located  in  what  is  now  Worth 
Township,  and  bought  a  tract  of  land  bordering 
on  Partridge  Creek,  now  included  in  the  home- 
stead occupied  by  our  subject.  He  improved  it 
into  one  of  the  best  farms  in  this  locality,  and  made 
it  his  home  till  his  death,  May  11,  1875.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Phebe  Ayers,  and  she 
en  me  to  this  State  with  her  father,  Francis  Ayers, 
who  was  one  of  the  very  first  settlers  of  Woodford 
County.  She  is  still  living  on  the  old  home- 
stead, having  attained  the  venerable  age  of  eighty- 
four  years.  Under  her  eyes  has  passed  the  entire 
growth  of  the  count}',  and  it  has  been  her  pleasure  to 
witness  the  construction  of  many  fine  farms  from 
the  wild  prairies,  and  the  springing  tip  of  flourish- 


298 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ing  towns  where  wolves,  panthers,  deer,  and  other 
wild  animals  used  to  roam  at  will.  Mrs.  Wagner 
has  spent  her  entire  life  on  the  old  homestead,  and 
in  the  home  of  her  parents  received  the  careful 
instruction  that  has  made  her  a  good  housewife, 
and  eminently  capable  of  presiding  over  a  home 
of  her  own. 

Mr.  Wagner  is  well  worthy  of  the  success  that 
has  come  to  him  as  a  first-class  agriculturist,  as  lie 
thoroughly  understands  his  work,  and  supervises 
its  every  detail  himself,  and  employs  none  but  the 
best  methods  and  the  most  approved  machinery. 


HRISTIAN  SCHERTZ  is  well -dowered  with 
firmness,  independence,  activity  and  enter- 
prise,  which  characteristics  render  him  an 
important  member  of  the  farming  community  of 
Woodford,  his  native  county.  He  is  the  proprie- 
tor of  one  of  the  most  desirable  farms  in  Roanoke 
Township,  and  he  is  conducting  his  agricultural 
interests  after  the  most  approved  methods  so  as  to 
obtain  the  best  results. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Worth  Township.  Jan. 
29,  1842.  His  father,  David  Schertz,  was  born  in 
Alsace,  France,  (ceded  to  Prussia)  and  grew  to 
man's  estate  in  the  country  of  his  birth.  He  came 
to  America,  when  a  young  man,  in  1837,  and  com- 
ing to  AVoodford  County,  became  an  early  settler 
of  Worth  Township.  He  was  a  single  man  at  the 
time,  but  subsequently  married,  and  on  the  tract  of 
wooded  land  that  he  purchased  he  built  a  log  house, 
and  there  he  and  his  bride  commenced  life  together, 
and  in  that  humble  abode  their  children  were  born. 
They  probably  had  no  stove  and  the  good  wife 
used  to  cook  their  savory  meals  before  the  fire  in 
the  open  fire  place.  In  the  month  of  January,  1851, 
the  husband  and  father  was  stricken  by  death.  He 
left  his  family  in  limited  circumstances,  but  the 
mother  bravely  kept  her  children  together,  work- 
ing and  toiling  to  support  and  rear  them  in  the 
proper  manner,  till  ea«.;h  became  independent  and 
married,  and  had  homes  of  their  own.  and  then  she 
went  to  live  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  John  Smith. 


in  Metamora  Township,  and  her  life  was  brought 
to  a  close  in  January,  1885.  Her  maiden  name 
was  Catherine  Bachmann,  and  she  was  a  native  of 
Alsace.  Her  father,  Henry  Bachmann,  was  a  na- 
tive of  the  same  country,  and  there  spent  his  entire 
life.  The  mother  of  our  subject  came  to  America 
with  a  sister  and  brother.  There  were  six  children 
born  of  her  marriage,  of  whom  five  are  living. 

The  subject,  of  this  sketch  was  nine  years  old 
when  his  father  died,  and  the  next  two  years  he 
lived  with  a  neighbor,  and  then  returned  to  the  old 
homestead,  and  being  a  manly,  self-reliant  little 
lad,  was  of  great  assistance  to  his  mother  in  the 
management  of  the  farm,  and  thus  gained  a 
thorough,  practical  knowledge  of  farming.  He 
continued  to  live  with  his  mother  and  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family  till  1866,  when  he  married 
and  established  a  home  of  his  own.  At  first  he 
rented  a  farm  on  section  18,  Roanoke  Township, 
but  two  years  later  he  bought  and  located  on  his 
present  farm.  A  small  shanty  was  the  only  dwell- 
ing or  house  on  the  place,  and  100  acres  of  the 
land  broken,  constituted  the  only  improvements. 
Mr.  Schertz  has  wrought  a  great  change  by  persis- 
tent and  downright  hard  labor,  and  now  has  the 
entire  tract  of  200  acres  under  admirable  cultiva- 
tion, and  he  has  erected  substantial  frame  build- 
ings, and  everything  about  the  farm  is  in  good 
order  and  shows  the  presence  of  a  master's  hand. 

Mr.  Schertz  and  Miss  Magdalena  Schertz  were 
united  in  marriage  March  11,  1866,  and  they  have 
one  child— David,  who  was  born  Dec.  25,  1867. 
Mrs.  Schertz's  father,  Christian  Schertz,  was  born 
in  the  Province  of  Lorraine,  when  it  was  a  part  of 
France,  his  birthplace  being  thirty  miles  from  Metz. 
His  father,  Christian  Schertz  was  a  native  of  that 
country,  and  spent  his  entire  life  there.  Mrs. 
Schertz's  father  came  to  America  in  1837,  in  early 
manhood  ;  a  brother,  who  had  come  here  previously 
sending  him  the  money  to  pay  his  passage.  He 
landed  at  New  Orleans,  and  came  thenne  to  Peoria, 
and  there  procured  employment  by  the  day  or 
month,  and  finally  invested  his  savings  in  a  horse 
and  wagon  and  commenced  teaming.  There  was 
but  little  money  in  circulation  in  this  State  then, 
and  he  used  to  take  his  pay  in  goods  and  black- 
smith work.  lie  would  occasionally  get  a  few  dol- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


299 


lars  in  cash  when  settlers  came  along  and  employed 
him  to  take  them  to  this  county.  One  year  he 
only  obtained  $10  in  cash  for  his  year's  work,  tak- 
ing the  rest  of  his  pay  in  trade.  lie  continued  to 
live  in  Peoria  till  1851,  and  then  bought  land  three 
miles  north-cast  of  Washington,  in  Tazewell 
County.  A  part  of  the  land  was  broken  and  a 
small  house  stood  on  the  place;  when  lie  moved  on 
to  it,  he  engaged  in  further  improvement.  lie 
carried  on  farming  there  until  his- death,  Oct.  26, 
1878.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Cather- 
ine Engcl,  and  she  was  born  thirty  miles  from 
Strasburg  in  the  German  province  of  Alsace,  while 
it  was  under  the  dominion  of  France,  March  1, 
1819,  being  the  date  of  her  birth.  Her  father, 
John  Engel,  was  born  in  the  same  place,  and'  was 
reared  and  married  and  lived  there  until  1837. 
In  that  year  he  came  to  America  with  his  wife  and 
three  children,  setting  sail  from  Havre,  and  land- 
ing in  New  York  after  a  voyage  of  six  weeks. 
He  came  directly  to  Illinois  by  the  way  of  the 
Hudson  River,  Albany  and  Erie  Canal  to  Buffalo, 
thence  by  Lake  Erie  to  Cleveland,  and  from  there 
on  the  canal  to  Cincinnati,  and  from  there  to  his 
destination  by  the  way  of  the  Ohio,  Mississippi  and 
Illinois  rivers.  After  his  arrival  at  Peoria,  he  set 
out  for  this  county  and  bought  a  tract  of  Govern- 
ment land  in  Worth  Township,  and  built  a  log 
house  with  home-made  furniture.  He  made  a  bed- 
stead by  inserting  poles  into  holes  that  he  had 
bored  in  the  logs  that  formed  the  walls  of  the 
house,  the  other  end  of  the  poles  being  supported 
by  posts.  He  had  no  horses  and  did  all  his  farm 
work  and  marketing  with  oxen.  He  died  May 
12,  1871.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Mag- 
dalena  Fry,  and  she  was  born  in  Freiburg,  France, 
now  in  Prussia  and  died  on  the  home  farm  in  1864. 
The  mother  of  Mrs.  Schertz  was  eighteen  years  old 
when  she  came  to  America  with  her  parents,  and 
now  resides  with  her  children,  of  whom  she  has 
eight — John,  Magdalena,  Joseph,  Kate,  Christian, 
Andrew,  Peter  and  Annie. 

The  clear  well-balanced  mind  of  our  subject,  and 
his  good  business  qualifications,  combined  with  tact 
and  energy,  have  been  important  factors  in  bring- 
ing about  his  success  in  life,  and  making  him  a 
worthy  representative  of  the  native-born  element 


of  Wood  ford  County,  that  is  so  prominent  in  sus- 
taining and  extending  its  material  prosperity.  The 
members  of  his  family  are  consistent  and  valued 
members  of  the  Omish  Mennonite  Church. 


D 


EV.  GEORGE  M.  FREESE,  whose  home  is 
located  on  section  35,  Cruger  Township,  is 
a  son  of  Jacob  and  Polly  (Young)  Freese. 
~  Jacob  Freese  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  was  born  in  1799.  His  wife  was  a  Vir- 
ginian, having  been  born  in  that  State,  about  the 
year  1802.  Their  home  was  in  Pickaway  County, 
Ohio,  where  they  continued  to  reside,  never  chang- 
ing their  abode  till  death  took  them  to  their  home 
above. 

Our  subject  was  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  three 
children.  He  was  born  in  Pickaway  County,  Ohio, 
March  6,  1825.  He  was  employed  until  manhood, 
in  the  usual  occupations  of  young  people  on  a  farm, 
going  to  school  part  of  the  year,  and  the  other  part 
straying  in  the  woods  and  by  the  streams,  when  not 
engaged  in  assisting  his  parents  in  their  work.  In 
1858  he  came  to  Woodford  County,  111.,  and  set- 
tled in  what  is  now  Montgomery  Township,  three 
years;  later  he  removed  to  Cruger  Township,  where 
he  located,  and  has  since  been  one  of  its  most  val- 
uable residents.  He  began  preaching  the  Gospel, 
at  intervals  in  Illinois.  In  September,  1865,  he 
was  ordained  to  the  regular  ministry.  His  work 
extended  into  McLean,  Logan,  Marshall  and  Wood- 
ford  counties.  He  owns  162  acres  in  this  county,  on 
which  he  has  erected  a  dwelling  and  other  good 
buildings,  having  also  fences,  orchards  and  shrub- 
bery. In  addition  Mr.  Freese  owns  three  eighties 
(210  acres),  in  Livingston  County. 

Jan.  6,  1848,  witnessed  the  marriage  of  our  sub- 
ject and  Miss  Lavinia  Long,  who  assumed  the 
duties  and  responsibilities  of  matrimony,  in  Fair- 
field  County,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Freese  is  a  daughter  of 
Abraham  and  Eleanor  Long,  of  Ohio.  She  was 
born  in  1823,  growing  up  into  a  gracious  and  lovely 
womanhood.  The  family  of  our  subject  consisted 
of  nine  children,  named  respectively:  Lewis  A., 


300 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


who,  to  his  parents'  great  grief,  departed  this  life 
when  a  young  man  of  twenty -three  years;  Zethan 
E.,  whose  death,  when  twenty-eight  years  old,  was 
another  affliction  his  parents  were  called  upon  to 
pass  through;  Elmina  C.;  George  W.,  Levi  J.,  La- 
vinia  V.,  Eleanor  E.,  Huldah  L.,  and  Jennie  M.  E. 
Politically,  our  subject  is  a  warm  supporter  of 
the  third  party,  throwing  all  the  weight  of  his  in- 
fluence and  the  means  at  his  disposal  into  the  great 
conflict  of  the  home  against  the  saloon,  heartily  de- 
siring to  see  the  prohibition  of  the  liquor  traffic  be- 
come the  law  of  the  land. 


EVI  STl'MBAUGH  occupies  an  honorable 
position  among  the  intelligent,  wide-awake 
farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  Illinois,  who 
were  born,  reared  and  educated  within  her  borders, 
and  Wood  ford  County,  has  no  more  useful  or  estim- 
able citizen.  His  farm  on  section  33,  Panola  Town- 
ship, with  its  handsome  residence,  ample  and  con- 
venient outbuildings,  well  tilled  fields,  and  other 
desirable  improvements,  is  comparable  with  the 
best  in  the  locality.  Mr.  Stumbaugh  is  a  represen- 
tative of  a  well  known  pioneer  family  of  Tazewell 
County,  and  he  was  born  there  June  20,  1841,  in 
the  early  years  of  its  settlement,  in  the  comfortable 
pioneer  home  of  his  parents,  Samuel  and  Mary  A. 
(Barcus)  Stumbaugh,  natives  respectively  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  Columbus,  Ohio.  His  father  was  of 
German  descent.  He  was  reared  in  Ohio,  and  in 
1835  came,  in  the  opening  years  of  a  stalwart  man- 
hood, to  Illinois,  and  for  some  time  thereafter 
made  his  home  in  Peoria,  which  was  nothing  but  a 
frontier  fort  at  that  time,  built  to  protect  the  set- 
tlers around  it  from  marauding  Indians,  this  State 
ln'ing  then  in  a  very  wild  condition,  with  settle- 
ments few  and  scattered,  giving  but  little  sign  of 
ils  present  greatness  as  one  of  the  wealthiest  and 
most  prosperous  common  wealths  in  the  I'nion. 
Mr.  Stumbaugh  engaged  in  operating  a  saw  mill 
till  his  return  to  Ohio,  for  his  promised  bride,  to 
whom  he  was  joined  in  matrimony  Aug.  20.  1810. 
He  immediately  came  back  with  her  to  this  State, 


and  settled  on  a  farm  on  section  25,  Morton  Town- 
ship, Tazewell  County,  he  having  purchased  its 
160  acres  of  land  from  the  Government  at  $1.25 
an  acre.  It  was  timbered,  and  his  first  work  was 
to  build  a  log  cabin  fora  dwelling,  before  he  entered 
upon  the  hard  task  of  clearing  the  land  and  prepar- 
ing it  for  cultivation.  During  his  residence  on  it 
he  built  a  better  and  more  commodious  house,  in 
which  he  lived  till  1857,  when  he  removed  to 
Montgomery  Township,  this  county,  where  his 
death  occurred  in  1880,  he  thus  rounding  out  an 
honorable  life,  of  sixty -seven  years,  nine  months  and 
twenty-five  days,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Franklin  County,  Pa.,  March  25,  1812.  As  an 
early  pioneer  of  this  part  of  Illinois,  he  performed 
his  share  in  reclaiming  it  from  the  wilderness,  and 
his  name  and  memory  will  ever  be  held  in  rever- 
ence by  all  who  have  an  interest  in  the  early  history 
of  Illinois,  and  in  its  rise  and  progress.  We  take 
the  following  from  a  contemporary  newspaper,  an 
account  of  his  death,  and  concerning  his  domestic 
relations:  "On  the  5th  day  of  September,  1851, 
Mary  Ann,  his  first  wife  (mother  of  our  subject) 
departed  this  life.  On  the  12th  of  Feb.,  1854,  he 
was  married  to  Mrs.  Mary  Jane  Merritt,  daughter 
of  Mr.  Joseph  Boucher,  of  this  county.  She  lived 
only  till  the  24th  of  November,  of  the  same  year. 
He  was  again  married  the  7th  of  July,  1857,  to 
Nancy  Jane  McPeak,  who  still  survives  him."  He 
was  the  father  of  eight  children,  of  whom  the  fol- 
lowing are  still  living:  Elizabeth,  wife  of  W.  A. 
Moore,  of  Tazewell  County;  Levi ;  Ellen,  wife  of 
W.  M.  Phillips,  of  Nebraska;  Isabel,  wife  of  S.  W. 
Myers,  of  Eureka,  111.  We  quote  further  from  the 
same  article  just  referred  to:  '•  Mr.  Stumbaugh  was 
a  man  of  considerable  property,  and  was  much 
esteemed  by  his  friends  and  neighbors.  His  re- 
mains were  buried  from  the  Buctoye  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  Tuesday  morning,  the  Rev. 
J.  A.  Souders,  of  Deer  Creek,  officiating." 

Levi  Stumbaugh,  of  whom  we  write,  was  reared 
to  his  majority  amid  the  pioneer  scenes  of  his 
native  county,  and  has  himself  done  much  pioneer 
labor  since  starting  out  into.the  world  to  make  his 
own  living.  He  was  but  eight  years  old  when  he 
lost  the  tender  care  of  his  beloved  mother,  and  nt 
sixteen  years  of  age  he  began  life  for  himself,  being 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


a  manly,  stalwart  lad.  self-reliant,  and  self-lielpfiil. 
At  that  age  he  began  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade, 
and  worked  at  that  some  five  years.  Oct.  30,  1863, 
was  the  date  of  a  pleasant  event  in  his  life,  as  at 
that  time  he  was  united  in  wedlock  to  Miss  Hannah 
Ramsey,  who  has  since  been  to  him  all  that  a  faith- 
ful, capable  woman  can  be  to  the  man  witli  whom 
she  unites  her  life.  Four  of  their  five  children 
are  living:  Charles,  married  Sarah  James  of  Dele- 
van,  111.;  he  also  resides  at  that  place.  They  have 
one  son,  George  James  Stumbaugh;  Mollie,  became 
the  wife  of  August  Kridner;  they  are  also  residents 
of  Panola  Township,  and  have  two  sons,  Levi 
and  Frank.  Levi  and  May;  and  one  died  in 
infancy.  Mrs.  Stumbaugh  is  a  native  of  this 
county,  born  Feb.  14,  1842,  to  James  and  Susan 
(Brown)  Ramsey,  pioneers  of  Woodford  County. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  was  of  mingled 
Scotch  and  Irish  ancestry,  while  her  mother's  an- 
cestors were  probably  Germans.  Her  great-uncle, 
Joseph  Davis,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812. 
Her  mother  was  a  native  of  Maryland.  To  her  par- 
ents were  born  ten  children,  seven  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing: Lydia,  the  widow  of  George  McCloud,  of  Olio 
Township;  Mrs.  Stumbaugh;  Mary,  wife  of  William 
Oberlander,  of  Panola;  Washington,  a  resident  of 
Missouri;  William  lives  in  Missouri;  Samuel,  a  resi- 
dent of  California;  Joseph,  of  Strawn,  111.;  Nancy, 
the  oldest  child,  married  John  Small,  and  died  in 
March,  1889.  Mrs.  Stumbaugh's  parents  came  from 
Ohio  to  Tazewell  Count3T  in  1839,  and  after  living 
there  a  short  time,they  located  inMontgomery  Town 
ship,  this  county ,and  were  among  its  earliest  settlers, 
and  died  there  a  number  of  years  ago,  having  done 
their  share  in  advancing  the  growth  of  this  part  of 
Illinois. 

Our  subject  came  from  his  old  home  in  Tazewell 
County,  to  this  county  in  1871.  and  located  on  sec- 
tion 11,  Panola  Township.  Me  made  his  home 
there  several  years  till  his  removal  to  his  present 
farm,  which  comprises  345  acres  of  excellent  land, 
highly  improved,  and  provided  with  substantial 
buildings,  including  a  fine  residence,  conveniently 
arranged  barn,  and  other  necessary  outhouses  to 
correspond,  and  it  is  rightly  classed  among  the  best 
farms  in  the  township.  Mr.  Stumbaugh  makes  a 
speciality  of  raising  superior  stock,  his  cattle  and 


horses  being  of  high  grade,  and  some  of  the  latter 
being  blooded  animals  might  be  registered. 

Mr.  Slumbaugh  is  a  prudent,  conservative,  bus- 
iness man.  managing  his  affairs  with  discretion,  and 
is  considered  one  of  our  most  useful  citizens.  He 
1ms  accumulated  the  most  of  his  property  himself, 
though  he  inherited  a  share  of  his  father's  estate. 
In  him  the  Democratic  party  finds  a  faithful  sup- 
porter. He  favors  all  practical  schemes  that  will 
in  any  way  benefit  the  township,  and  while  serving 
as  School  Director  and  two  terms  as  School  Trustee, 
has  endeavored  to  advance  the  cause  of  local  edu- 
cation. 

We  invite  the  attention  of  our  numerous  readers 
to  a  fine  view  of  the  handsome  residence  and  farm 
of  our  subject  on  another  page  of  this  volume. 


HIOMAS  ALFRED  McCORD  is  the  oldest 
resident  in  point  of  settlement  now  living 
in  Woodford  County.  He  has  witnessed  its 
entire  development  from  the  wilderness,  and  has 
seen  busy  towns  spring  up,  and  fruitful  farms 
evolved,  where  once  in  the  vigor  of  early  manhood 
he  used  to  delight  in  hunting  deer  and  other  wild 
animals  that  then  roamed  the  prairie,  or  haunted 
the  groves  and  forests.  Our  subject  is  the  son  of 
one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  the  county,  and  has 
himself  done  much  pioneer  work,  actively  assisting 
in  the  development  of  the  marvelous  resources  of 
this  region,  and  thus  helping  to  make  it  a  great 
agricultural  center.  He  has  a  plensant  home  in 
Roanoke  Township,  in  which  he  is  quietly  passing 
the  declining  years  of  a  useful  life  in  well-earned 
ease  and  comfort,  he  r.ud  his  worthy  wife  meriting 
the  esteem  and  respect  in  which  they  are  held  by 
the  entire  community. 

Mr.  McCord  was  born  in  Overton  County,  Tenn., 
May,  30,  1809,  while  his  father,  William  McCord, 
was  born  in  North  Carolina,  March  27,  1788.  The 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  James  McCord,  was  a 
native  of  Ireland,  born  July  27,  1741,  and  became 
to  America  in  Colonial  times  with  his  parents  when 
four  years  of  age.  From  the  best  information  at 


302 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


hand,  it  is  gathered  that  the  great-grandparents  of 
our  subject  located  in  North  Carolina,  and  there 
his  grandfather  was  reared  to  ma-.i's  estate.  He 
learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  and  carried  it  on 
in  North  Carolina,  until  his  removal  to  Overton 
County,  Tenn.,  of  which  he  was  a  pioneer.  The 
removal  wns  made  with  teams  across  the  mountains, 
and  after  his  arrival  he  bought,  a  tract  of  land  in 
the  primeval  forests,  and  settling  in  the  wilderness 
whither  a  few  people  had  preceded  him,  he  worked 
at  his  trade,  cleared  his  land,  and  continued  a  resi- 
dent of  the  county  until  his  demise  Nov.  4,  1824. 
The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Jane  Scroggs. 
She  was  born  April  18,  1750,  and  died  in  North 
Carolina,  Nov.  12,  1789.  Seven  of  their  children 
were  reared  to  maturity,  among  whom  were  three 
sons — John,  James  and  William. 

William,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  eighteen 
years  old  when  the  family  moved  to  Tennessee. 
He  had  learned  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith  of  his 
father,  and  followed  that  trade  in  Overton  County, 
Tenn.,  until  1827,  when  he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  ac- 
companied by  his  wife  and  eight  children.  The  re- 
moval was  made  with  teams,  starting  the  7th  of 
June,  and  arriving  at  Twin  Grove,  McLean  County, 
several  weeks  later.  Four  other  families  accom- 
panied them,  and  they  camped  out  on  the  way 
when  night  overtook  them.  The  father  bought  a 
squatter's  claim  to  a  tract  of  land  in  Twin  Grove, 
and  there  being  no  buildings  on  it,  he  at  once 
erected  a  log  cabin,  splitting  puncheon  for  the  floor 
and  making  clapboards  for  the  roof  and  door. 
There  were  no  settlements  in  McLean  County  then, 
except  in  the  groves,  and  the  land  was  nearly  all 
owned  by  the  Government.  On  the  present  site  of 
lUoomington,  was  one  log  cabin,  the  only  habita- 
tion far  and  near.  There  were  no  flouring  mills  in 
that  section  of  the  country  at  that  time,  the  only 
mill  of  any  description  being  a  corn-cracker  at 
Twin  Grove,  operated  by  horse-power.  The  prin- 
cipal diet  of  the  pioneers  was  corn  meal  and  wild 
game.  Mr.  McCord  commenced  at  once  to  clear  a 
part  of  the  grove,  and  the  following  3'ear  raised  a 
crop  of  corn,  planting  it  the  1st  of  June,  and  it 
ripened  and  made  a  go  >:1  crop.  He  was  unable  to 
enter  the  land,  and  whe.i  it  came  into  the  market 
it  was  entered  by  other  parties,  and  for  that  reason 


in  1831,  he  vacated  the  place,  and  came  to  what  is 
now  Woodford  County,  and  made  a  claim  before 
the  land  was  surveyed  in  what  is  now  called  Greene 
Township.  He  built  a  log  house  on  the  place, 
which  is  still  standing,  and  is  probably  the  oldest 
building  now  in  the  county.  When  the  land  came 
into  the  market  he  entered  it  at  the  land  office  at 
Danville.  He  built  a  shop  on  the  place,  and 
worked  at  his  trade  a  part  of  the  time,  and  devoted 
the  remainder  to  the  task  of  improving  a  farm  un- 
til bis  death,  June  13,  1852.  He  was  a  man  of 
sterling  principles,  and  possessed  excellent  quali- 
ties of  head  and  heart,  and  by  his  death  an  upright 
citizen  and  a  kind  neighbor,  was  lost  to  his  com- 
munity, and  his  family  were  deprived  of  a  good 
husband  and  father.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife 
was  Jane  McMurtry,  and  she  was  born  in  South 
Carolina,  July  G,  1789.  Her  father,  William  Mc- 
Murtry, was,  it  is  thought,  born  in  England.  Af- 
ter coining  to  this,  country,  he  located  first  in  South 
Carolina,  and  later  in  Overton  County,  Tenn..  of 
which  he  was  a  pioneer.  He  removed  from  there 
about  1813,  to  Missouri,  and  became  one  of  the 
first  settlers  west  of  the  Mississippi  River.  He  was 
a  millwright  by  trade,  and  built  a  gristmill  in  that 
part  of  the  country,  which  he  operated,  and  he 
there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  was  a 
man  of  deeply  religious  nature,  and  was  a  preacher 
for  many  years.  The  mother  of  our  subject  died 
at  his  home  in  Greene  Township,  Aug.  6,  1870,  at 
an  advanced  age.  Twelve  children  were  born  of 
her  marriage,  of  whom  the  following  eleven  grew 
to  maturity:  James  S.,  Thomas  A.,  Nancy  E.,  Me- 
linda,  William  M.,  Cyrus,  Elizabeth,  John  O.,  Mel- 
mon,  Allen  A.,  and  Francis. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  eighteen  years  old 
when  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents,  so  that 
he  has  a  distinct  recollection  of  the  pioneer  life 
here  in  the  early  days  of  settlement.  The  Kicka- 
poo  and  Delaware  Indians  were  then  living  at  the 
head  of  the  Mackinaw  River,  and  deer,  wolves,  and 
other  kinds  of  wild  animals  were  plenty  for  some 
years.  When  the  family  settled  at  Twin  Grove, 
Peorin,  was  known  as  Ft.  Clark,  and  at  Pekin,  there 
were  but  few  log  houses.  In  1832  our  subject  vol- 
unteered for  service  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and 
after  a  campaign  of  thirty  days,  returned  home. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


303 


He  resided  with  his  parents  until  the  month  of  De- 
cember, 1 840,  and  then  he  married  and  located  on 
a  tract  of  Government  land  joining  his  father's 
farm  in  Greene  Township,  entering  the  land  at  the 
land  office  as  soon  as  it  came  into  the  market.  His 
first  work  was  to  build  a  log  house,  in  which  he 
and  his  bride  commenced  their  married  life.  He 
afterward  replaced  that  humble  dwelling  by  a  more 
rommodious  frame  house,  and  completed  the  pio- 
neer task  of  developing  a  farm  from  the  wild  un- 
cultivated prairies.  He  placed  his  land  under  fine 
tillage,  so  that  it  yields  abundant  harvests,  and 
made  many  substantial  improvements,  thus  greatly 
increasing  its  original  value,  and  making  it  one  of 
Ihe  best  farms  in  the  neighborhood.  From  its 
cultivation  he  made  n'oney  and  accumulated  a  com- 
fortable competence,  and  in  1877  rented  it,  and 
retired  to  private  life.  He  came  to  Roanoke  and 
purchased  his  present  neat,  pleasant  home,  and  has  ! 
ever  since  been  an  honored  resident  of  this  village. 

On  Dec.  2,  1840,  Mr.  McCord  and  Miss  Sarah  A. 
Arnold  were  united  in  marriage,  and  for  nearly 
fifty  years  they  have  walked  the  path  of  life  to- 
gether hand  in  hand,  sharing  its  joys,  and  dividing 
its  sorrows.  They  have  two  children  living:  Will- 
iam M.,  who  married  Mary  C.  Uay,  and  has  three 
children — Nettie,  Willie,  and  Alma;  Samira.  who 
married  Stephen  E.  Gibson,  of  Greene  Township, 
and  has  six  children — Ida  J.,  Eva  May,  Clarence  L., 
Thomas  A.,  Zela,  and  Ralph.  Our  subject  and  his 
wife  have  been  bereft  of  two  of  their  children — 
James  Alfred,  and  Nancy  J. 

Mrs.  McCord  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Ky., 
June  13,  1818.  Her  father,  James  Arnold,  was 
born  in  the  same  county,  and  was  a  son  of  John 
Arnold,  who  was  a  native  of  either  Virginia  or 
Kentucky.  His  father,  James  Arnold,  Mrs.  Mc- 
Cord's  great-grandfather,  is  supposed  to  have  been 
a  native  of  Virginia,  who  became  one  of  the  earl- 
iest settlers  of  Kentucky,  lie  purchased  a  tract  of 
timber  land  four  miles  from  Frankfort,  on  the 
Kentucky  River,  and  established  a  ferry  across 
that  stream,  which  he  managed  many  years,  resid- 
ing there  until  his  death.  Mrs.  McCord's  grand- 
father was  reared  and  married  in  Kentucky,  and 
remained  a  resident  of  that  State  until  1823.  In 
that  year  he  removed  to  Putnam  County,  Ind..  and 


was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  that  section  of  the 
country.  He  improved  a  farm  there,  on  which  he 
resided  until  his  death  about  1837.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  wife  was  Elizabeth  Nowell.  She  was 
a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  spent  her  last  years  in 
Putnam  County,  Ind.  The  father  of  Mrs.  McCord 
was  a  good  mechanic,  and  worked  a  part  of  the 
time  at  the  stone-mason's  trade,  and  also  at 
the  shoemakers  trade.  In  the  year  1820  he  removed 
t-i  Warren  County,  Tenn.,  with  his  family,  and 
lived  there  the  ensuing  five  years,  when  he  pulled 
up  his  stakes  and  set  out  for  Putnam  County, 
Ind.,  the  removal  in  both  cases  being  made  with 
team.  He  bought  a  tract  of  forest-covered  land, 
on  which  he  built  a  log  cabin  for  a  home  for  his 
family.  They  had  no  stove,  and  Mrs.  McCord's 
mother  did  all  her  cooking  by  the  fireplace,  and 
she  also  spun  and  wove  all  the  cloth  used  in  the 
family.  Mr.  Arnold  remained  a  resident  of  In- 
diana, until  1830,  when  he  once  again  became  a 
pioneer  of  a  new  State,  selling  his  property  there, 
and  removing  with  a  team  to  Illinois,  and  loca- 
ting in  what  is  now  Greene  Township,  Wood  ford 
County.  The  land  was  not  in  the  market  at  the 
time,  but  he  bought  a  claim  on  which  he  lived 
for  awhile,  and  then  removed  to  Lacon,  Marshall 
County,  and  engaged  in  farming  there  a  few  years. 
After  that  he  once  more  wended  his  way  Westward, 
this  time  to  Iowa,  and  settling  in  Clark  County  as 
a  pioneer,  took  up  a  tract  of  Government  land, 
which  he  improved  and  occupied  a  few  years.  He 
then  sold,  and  returning  to  this  county,  resided  in 
Secor,  a  few  years.  He  then  spent  his  last  years 
with  Mrs.  McCord,  dying  in  Roanoke.  The  maiden 
name  of  Mrs.  McCord's  mother  was  Jane  Good- 
man, and  she  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  d.ied  in  the 
home  of  our  subject,  in  Greene  Township.  Mrs. 
McCord's  maternal  grandfather  was  James  Good- 
|  man,  and  he  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  a  pio- 
neer of  Kentucky,  and  finall}-  died  in  Tennessee. 

Mr.  McCord's  life  has  been  one  of  industrious 
toil,  which  has  been  well  repaid,  as  his  work  has 
been  guided  by  discretion,  shrewdness,  and  excel- 
lent judgment.  He  has  alwaj-s  displayed  the  quali- 
ties which  mark  a  good  citizen,  and  has  ever  given 
his  allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party.  During 
his  many  years  residence  in  Greene  Township,  he 


304 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


took  a  conspicuous  part  in  its  government,  and 
filled  various  offices  of  trust,  with  ability.  Mrs. 
McCord  is  a  worthy  member  of  the  Christian 
Church,  and  her  life  is  guided  by  principles  of 
piety  and  goodness. 


ENRY  LESCH  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Lesch,  Fitschen  <fc  Co.,  contractors  and 
builders,  residing  in  Washburn.  Our  sub- 
ject established  himself  in  this  business  in 
1878,  and  being  a  skilled  mechanic,  having  a  thor- 
ough knowledge  of  his  calling  in  all  its  details,  has 
won  the  confidence  of  the  people,  and  has  gained 
an  enviable  reputation  as  one  of  the  leading  con- 
tractors of  this  part  of  the  county.  He  was  born 
in  Hessen,  Germany.  Feb.  21,  1851.  His  father, 
Wiegent  Lesch,  was  born  in  the  same  place  in  1815. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  a  tailor,  which  he  followed 
many  years,  spending  his  entire  life  in  his  native 
country.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife,  the  mother 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  Mary  Wink.  She 
was  born  in  the  same  village  as  her  husband  and 
spent  her  whole  life  within  its  precincts. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  and  his  sister  Mary 
and  sister  Elizabeth,  were  the  only  children  living. 
Elizabeth  married  William  Kiel,  and  lives  in  Lacon. 
Mary  is  married  and  lives  in  the  old  country.  He 
of  whom  we  write  attended  school  the  most  of  the 
time  from  the  age  of  five  to  fourteen,  and  gained  a 
substantial  education  in  the  excellent  schools  of  his 
native  village.  He  continued  to  live  with  his 
parents  till  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  and  then  re- 
solved to  come  to  America,  to  see  what  life  held  for 
him  in  this  great  country,  the  Mecca  of  so  many  of 
his  countrymen.  Being  without  means  he  was 
obliged  to  borrow  money  with  which  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  his  passage,  so  that  when  he  arrived  in 
Illinois,  he  was  not  only  without  funds,  but  was 
¥100  in  debt.  He  at  once  found  employment  on 
n  farm,  and  worked  out  by  the  month  in  Putnam 
and  Marshall  counties,  (ill  1872.  He  then  went 
to  McLean  County,  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade. 


and  after  working  there  for  a  time  he  went  to 
Marshall  County,  and  was  employed  as  a  jour- 
neyman till  1878.  In  that  year  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  Anton  Ehringer,  in  Washburn,  to  carry 
on  the  business  of  contractor  and  builder.  In 
January,  1889,  Mr.  Ehringer  retired  from  the  firm, 
and  the  Fitschen  Bros.,  purchased  an  interest  in  the 
business,  and  have  continued  with  our  subject  ever 
since.  They  employ  a  number  of  men  in  their 
building  operations,  and  aside  from  their  business 
as  contractors  have  a  profitable  trade  in  lumber, 
paints,  oils,  and,  in  fact,  all  kinds  of  builders'  sup- 
plies. 

Mr.  Lesch  was  married  March  12,  1878,  to  Miss 
Mary  Moschel,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Mary  (Sandmeyer)  Moschel.  (For 
parental  history  see  sketch  of  George  Moschel.) 
Five  children  have  blessed  the  marriage  of  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife,  namely :  John  H.,  W.  George, 
Dora  E.,  Emma  M.,  Walter  W. 

Mr.  Lesch  is  a  representative  self-made  man,  and 
while  busily  engaged  in  building  up  his  own  for- 
tunes, has  in  no  small  degree  contributed  to  the  fi- 
nancial prosperity  of  his  place  of  residence.  His 
push,  energy  and  correct  judgment  have  been  im- 
portant factors  in  his  success  in  life,  lie  was  reared 
in  the  faith  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  his  wife 
in  that  of  the  Reformed  Church.  He  was  for  many 
years  a  Republican,  but  of  late  has  affiliated  with 
the  Democratic  party. 


pRCHIE  McSPARRAN,  one  of  the  self- 
made  men  of  this  county,  resides  on  sec- 
tion 4,  Minonk  Township.  Coming  here 
in  1857,  he  bought  160  acres  from  the  Illi- 
nois Central  Railroad,  paying  $17  per  acre.  At 
that  time  the  land  was  raw  prairie,  but  falling  to 
work  with  a  good  will,  he  has  succeeded  in  paying 
for  his  land,  which  was  bought  on  the  credit  sys- 
tem, and  has  made  all  the  improvements  necessary 
to  bring  up  his  farm  to  a  fine  and  prosperous  con- 
dition. He  hni<  erected  the  usual  buildings  re- 
quired on  a  farm,  putting  them  up  substantially 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


305 


and  tastefully.  His  family  residence  is  a  dwelling 
planned  for  convenience  and  comfort,  and  is  the 
home  of  as  contented  and  cheerful  a  family  as  can 
be  found  in  the  township. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  County  Derry,  Ireland, 
in  1813.  being  the  son  of  Archie  and  Margaret 
(Scott)  McSparran.  He  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm,  enjoying  but  limited  advantages  in  the  way 
of  an  education,  but  employing  his  time  usefully 
at  whatever  he  could  find  to  do,  either  in  the  way 
of  work  or  study.  Like  many  of  his  countrymen, 
he  grew  tired  waiting  for  better  times  to  come  to 
his  native  place,  so  in  1839  he  gathered  up  his  be- 
longings, and  came  to  America.  On  his  arrival  he 
secured  work  on  Long  Island.  Then,  thinking  to 
better  his  condition,  he  went  to  .Pennsylvania, 
working  in  the  different  blast  furnaces  connected 
with  the  iron  industry  in  various  parts  of  the 
State.  He  was  pleased  with  the  country,  and  in- 
duced his  parents  and  the  remainder  of  the  family 
to  come  to  the  United  States.  His  parents  estab- 
lished themselves  in  Blair  County,  Pa.,  on  a  farm, 
where  the  father  died.  His  mother  then  came  to 
Illinois,  dying  in  her  eighty-eighth  year  at  her  son's 
home  in  Minonk. 

The  parental  family  consisted  of  seven  children, 
four  of  whom  were  bo3'S:  Archie;  William,  who 
died  leaving  a  family  in  Iowa;  Priscilla  now  re- 
sides with  our  subject;  John  died  at  Lacon,  111.; 
Mary  .1.  resides  in  Minonk;  'Joseph  died  in  Minonk; 
and  Esther,  who  resides  in  Kansas.  Our  subject 
worked  diligently  in  Pennsylvania  for  many  years, 
until  hearing  of  cheaper  lands  in  the  West,  he 
concluded  to  remove  where  he  could  pursue  the 
occupation  of  his  youth,  rightly  judging  that  agri- 
culture offered  a  better  opportunity  for  a  poor  man 
to  rise,  than  anything  else  in  which  he  could  en- 
gage. 

Politically,  Mr.  McSparran  is  a  stalwart  Repub- 
lican, and  takes  a  deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
his  adopted  country.  In  religion  he  agrees  fully 
with  his  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  being  an  intelligent, 
earnest  and  devoted  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  which  communion  his  family  also  find 
their  religious  home.  In  addition  to  general  farm- 
ing, Mr.  McSparran  pays  considerable  attention  to 
stock-raising,  using  his  shrewd  good  sense  to  sup- 


ply what  the  market  demands.  Our  subject  is  an 
honor  to  his  adopted  country,  and  a  living  evidence 
of  what  thrift  combined  with  temperance  can  ac- 
complish, in  building  up  a  comfortable  fortune  in  a 
country  where  the  Government  does  not  crush  out 
all  the  energies  of  the  people  by  excessive  tyranny. 


HOMAS  JOHN,  a  worthy  and  highly  re- 
spected citizen  of  Metamora  Township,  was 
formerly  actively  connected  with  its  farm- 
ing interests,  but  having  acquired  a  competence 
through  the  successful  management  of  his  farm,  a 
fine  and  highly  productive  tract  of  land  in  this 
township,  he  retired  to  his  present  neatly-arranged, 
cozy  home,  located  on  section  21,  where  he  and 
his  sister  Caroline  are  passing  life  pleasantly,  sur- 
rounded by  all  the  comforts  and  luxuries  that  they 
require,  and  free  from  the  cares  and  burdens  in- 
cident to  tilling  the  soil. 

Mr.  John  is  descended  from  respectable  Welsh 
stock,  his  grandfather,  William  John,  having  emi- 
grated from  Wales  to  this  country,  and  become  a 
pioneer  of  West  Virginia,  buying  a  tract  of  tim- 
ber land  in  the  wilds,  and  making  his  home  there 
till  he  was  summoned  thence  by  death.  His  son 
Lewis,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  and  reared 
in  that  county  to  a  stalwart  manhood,  and  when  he 
came  to  settle  in  life  he  located  on  a  tract  of  heav- 
ily wooded  land  that  he  had  inherited  from  his 
father,  and  in  the  log  house  that  he  and  his  bride 
commenced  their  wedded  life,  all  their  children 
were  born.  They  having  no  cook-stove,  an  almost 
unheard  of  luxury  in  those  days  in  that  part  of 
the  country,  the  mother  cooked  the  meals  by  the 
fire  in  the  open  fireplace,  and  it  was  her  bus}'  hand 
that  spun  and  wove  the  wool,  flax  and  tow  into 
cloth,  with  which  she  fashioned  all  the  garments 
worn  by  her  family.  The  father  was  always  em- 
ployed in  cultivating  his  land,  and  he  hewed  out  a 
substantial  farm  from  the  primeval  forests  of  that 
region.  His  useful  life  was  brought  to  a  close  by 
his  death,  Sept.  22,  1839,  when  he  left  his  dear 
ones  to  mourn  the  loss  of  a  tender  husband  and  a 


306 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


kind  father,  and  his  neighbors  deplored  the  loss  of 
good  friend.  His  wife  survived  him  twenty  years, 
passing  away  at  the  home,  at  Metamora,  111.,  in 
1859.  Her  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Thomas, 
and  she  was  a  native  of  Culpeper  County,  Va. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Wales,  but  spent  his 
last  years  in  Virginia,  There  were  five  children 
bom  to  the  parents  of  our  subject,  of  whom  the 
following  four  grew  to  maturity:  Eliza  A.,  who 
died  July  16,  1884;  Thomas,  of  whom  we  write; 
James,  a  physician,  aow  deceased;  Caroline,  the 
youngest  member  of  the  family,  who  makes  her 
home  with  her  brother.  James  came  to  Illinois, 
and  locating  in  Metamora,  practiced  his  profession 
here,  and  then  went  to  Roanoke,  and  opened  an 
office  there.  He  was  finally  obliged  to  give  up  his 
practice  on  account  of  ill-health,  and  spent  the  last 
three  or  four  years  of  his  life  with  his  brother 
Thomas  and  sister  Caroline,  dying  May '26,  1881. 
Thomas  John,  the  subject  of  this  brief  bio- 
graphical review,  was  born  March  2,  1820,  amid 
the  beautiful  scenes  in  Monongahela  County, 
W.  Va..  on  the  old  homestead  that  belonged  to  his 
father,  and  he  was  there  reared  to  man's  estate, 
gleaning  an  education  in  the  old  log  schoolhouse, 
where  the  school  was  conducted  on  the  subscrip- 
tion plan.  After  his  father's  death  the  manage- 
ment of  the  home  farm  fell  to.  him,  and  he  was 
successfully  engaged  in  carrying  it  on  until  1858, 
when  he  sold  out  there,  having  resolved  to  try 
farming  on  the  rich,  alluvial  prairies  of  Illinois. 
The  mother  and  sisters  came  by  the  way  of  the 
Ohio,  Mississippi  and  Illinois  rivers  to  Peoria.  and 
thence  by  stage  to  Metamora,  while  he  came  over- 
land, the  journey  consuming  twenty-four  days. 
The  family  located  on  a  tract  of  raw  prairie  land 
on  section  27,  Metamora  Township,  this  county, 
which  the  brother  of  our  subject,  who  had  been 
here  previously,  had  purchased  prior  to  the  ar- 
rival of  the  other  members  of  the  family.  Our 
subject,  with  the  help  of  others,  at  once  commenced 
the  pioneer  task  of  building  a  house  and  preparing 
the  land  for  cultivation.  He  improved  the  entire 
tract  of  land,  developing  a  fine,  well-appointed 
farm,  that  yielded  abundant  harvests  in  repayment 
for  the  hard  labor  he  bestowed  on  its  tillage.  Mr. 
John  and  his  sister  continue:!  to  reside  on  it  till 


1881,  when  he  decided  to  retire  from  farming,  and 
he  then  bought  his  present  place  of  residence. 
There  is  a  comfortable  set  of  frame  buildings  here 
and  ten  acres  of  land,  pleasantly  located  one  mile 
east  of  town. 

Mr.  John  inherited  from  a  sterling  Welsh  ances- 
try, industrious  and  sober  habits,  and  those  good 
traits  of  character  that  make  him  a  desirable  citi- 
zen, a  good  neighbor  and  a  kindly,  honest  man, 
whom  his  fellow-men  can  but  trust  and  respect. 


ETER  ROTH.  America  has  become  the 
home  of  very  many  foreigners,  and  among 
them  all,  none  have  more  heartily  made 
themselves  a  part  of  the  nation,  and 
more  firmly  identified  themselves  with  the  country 
of  which  they  are  residents,  than  those  men  and 
women  who  have  come  from  the  little  province  of 
Alsace.  They  are  usually  industrious,  intelligent 
and  devoted  to  the  interests  of  their  adopted  home. 
To  this  class  the  subject  of  our  sketch  belongs. 
Alsace  was  his  birthplace,  and  the  date  of  his  birth 
was  Feb.  12,  1829.  His  parents  were  Nicholas  and 
Anne  Roth.  lie  can  scarcely  recollect  his  father, 
as  death  removed  him  from  the  family  group 
when  our  subject  was  only  four  years  of  age. 
Three  years  after  his  mother  had  been  left  a  widow, 
she  took  her  family  of  small  children,  of  whom  Mr. 
Rotli  is  the  third  in  order  of  birth,  and  sought  a 
home  across  the  ocean.  They  took  passage  in  a 
sail-vessel  at  the  port  of  Havre,  and  for  the  suc- 
ceeding forty-two  days  were  braving  the  storms  of 
the  Atlantic,  finally  reaching  land  and  anchoring 
at  New  York  City.  The  mother  with  her  children 
came  West  to  iJutler  County,  Ohio,  and  there  located 
for  a  time.  Our  subject  was  early  compelled  to 
earn  his  own  living,  as  they  had  little  of  this 
world's  goods,  but  being  strong  and  healthy,  he 
was  successful  in  supporting  himself  and  adding  to 
the  comforts  of  his  mother's  house.  When  a  boy 
lie  received  limited  educational  advantages,  as 
through  a  mistaken  idea  of  economy  the  teachers 
of  that  day  were  scarcely  less  ignorant  than  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


307 


pupils.  Besides  that,  our  subject  was  compelled  to 
work  most  of  the  year,  and  so  the  education  which 
he  has  received  has  been  obtained  since  he  has 
reached  manhood.  He  is  well-  read  on  all  the  princi- 
pal topics  of  interest  of  this  day,  and  besides  is  well- 
informed  concerning  the  past  history  of  his  own 
country,  and  also  that  of  his  adopted  homo.  He 
has  been  a  farmer  ever  since  he  was  tall  enough 
to  grasp  the  handle  of  the  plow,  and  in  the  depart- 
ment of  agriculture  is  especially  well-read.  Al- 
though having  no  political  aspirations,  Mr.  Roth 
has  been  prevailed  upon  to  hold  several  local  of- 
fices, including  those  of  Road  Commissioner  and 
School  Director.  He  supports  the  Democratic 
ticket,  and  is  in  full  sympathy  with  their  views. 
Religiously  he  and  his  family  are  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  Evangelical  Church,  of  which  they  are 
regular  attendants.  Socially  they  are  welcomed 
into  the  most  select  circles  of  society,  and  entertain 
the  best  people  of  the  county,  in  their  pleasant  and 
hospitable  manner. 

Mr.  Peter  Roth  passed  the  first  seven  years  of 
his  life  in  his  native  land,  and  then  accompanied 
his  mother  to  America,  where  he  grew  to  manhood 
in  Butler  County,  Ohio.  When  sixteen  years  of 
age  he  commenced  to  "  paddle  his  own  canoe,"  and 
has  handled  the  oars  to  the  greatest  advantage 
ever  since.  At  first  he  was  a  farm  laborer,  receiv- 
ing his  wages  by  the  month  and  year,  and  con- 
tinued in  this  way  for  twelve  years  or  more.  In 
1856  he  came  West  to  Tazowell  County,  111.,  and 
was  a  resident  there  for  many  years.  Soon  after 
arriving  in  that  county  he  established  a  home  of 
his  own,  being  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Bena, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Barbara  Naffziger.  This 
lady  was  born  Jan.  8,  1837,  in  Butler  County, 
Ohio,  although  her  parents  were  natives  of  Ger- 
many. When  she  was  one  year  of  age  her  parents 
removed  to  Woodford  County,  111.,  and  made  their 
home  in  Worth  Township,  being  early  settlers  in 
that  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Naffziger  did  not  re- 
main in  Worth  Township,  but  afterward  settled  in 
Panola  Township,  where  the  remainder  of  their 
lives  was  passed,  and  where  they  died,  the  father  on 
March  5,  1888,  and  the  mother  a  number  of  years 
ago..  They  were  for  a  long  time  prior  to  their  de- 
cease, members  of  the  Evangelical  Church.  Mr. 


and  Mrs.  Roth  were  married  Feb.  8,  1857,  and  are 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  namely:  Lydia,  who 
became  the  wife  of  John  Krug,  a  resident  of  Panola 
Township;  Daniel,  also  a  resident  of  Panola  Town- 
ship; John,  Jacob,  Peter  (deceased),  Emma,  Amelia 
and  Ella,  all  at  home. 

Accompanied  by  his  family,  in  1873  Mr.  Roth 
changed  his  abode  from  Tazewell  County,  to 
Woodford  County,  where  he  has  since  been  an 
honored  and  prosperous  citizen.  When  he  settled 
on  his  present  farm  on  section  16,  in  Panola  Town- 
ship, it  was  in  appearance  very  different  from  what 
may  be  seen  to-day.  Then  it  was  little  changed 
from  the  primitive  condition  of  nature,  scarcely 
cultivated  and  little  improved,  but  now  he  owns 
320  acres  of  fine  land,  covered  with  grain  in  the 
summer,  and  dotted  here  and  there  with  substantial 
farm  buildings.  Upon  it  he  has  erected  a  comfort- 
able home,  filled  with  all  the  necessities  and  many 
of  the  luxuries  of  life.  Mr.  Koth  is  among  the 
leading  representative  Alsatian-American  citizens, 
and  is  in  full  sympathy  with  our  Republican  form 
of  government. 


STEPHENS,  a  resident  of  Linn, 
''^presents  the  industrial  interests  of  Wood- 
ford  County,  as  a  shrewd,  capable  farmer, 
and  as  a  successful  manufacturer  of  tile.  He  has 
been  variously  identified  with  the  agriculture,  com- 
merce and  manufactures  of  this  part  of  Illinois 
since  the  days  of  1854,  and,  though  not  an  early 
settler,  may  be  classed  among  the  enterprising, 
energetic  pioneers  who  have  done  so  much  toward 
placing  this  county  in  the  front  ranks  of  the  coun- 
ties of  this  State,  as  regards  development  and  a 
flourishing  and  prosperous  condition. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  the  town  of  Coeymans, 
Albany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  11,  1829.  His  father, 
Archibaldus  Stephens,  was  a  native  of  the  same 
town,  while  his  father,  bearing  the  same  name,  was 
born  in  Rensselaer  County,  and  was  there  reared  in 
pioneer  days.  It  is  said  that  his  father  gave  him 
a  tract  of  land  among  the  primeval  wilds  of  Scho- 


308 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


harie  County,  and  that  he  went  to  occupy  it,  but 
in  that  sparsely  settled  region  he  found  the  wolves 
so  plentiful  and  troublesome,  pursuing  him  at 
every  opportunity,  and  making  life  a  burden  to 
him,  that  he  wisely  concluded  to  return  to  more 
civilized  parts.  lie  then  took  up  his  abode  in  Al- 
bany County,  where  he  purchased  the  half  of  a 
township,  and  being  a  man  of  uncommon  energy, 
perseverance  and  enterprise,  possessing  great  powers 
of  endurance,  and  a  fine  physique,  he  became  very 
prosperous,  and  was  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
the  place,  and  held  many  prominent  offices  of 
trust.  He  erected  a  saw  and  gristmill,  and  en- 
gaged extensively  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber, 
etc.,  while  superintending  the  improvement  of  a 
large  farm.  He  was  a  man  of  great  influence  und 
secured  the  appointment  of  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject as  cadet  to  the  military  academy  at  West 
Point  from  his  district,  and  he  was  graduated  from 
that  institution  in  due  time,  and  was  appointed 
captain  of  the  State  militia.  He  subsequently 
turned  his  attention  to  farming  on  his  retirement 
from  the  army,  and  spent  his  last  years  on  his 
farm,  dying  in  1869.  He  was  too  old  and  feeble 
at  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  Civil  War  to  take 
any  part  in  it.  Doubtless,  if  the  war  had  occurred 
in  his  younger  days,  he  would  have  been  an  in- 
valuable officer,  as  his  knowledge  of  military  tac- 
tics was  accurate,  and  he  was  a  man  of  spirit  and 
patriotism.  The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of 
our  subject  was  Harriet  Haines,  and  she  was  a 
native  of  the  same  township  as  her  husband,  a 
daughter  of  Stephen  Haines.  a  prominent  pioneer 
of  Albany  County.  He  bought  a  large  tract  of 
land  there  amid  the  primeval  forests,  and  resided 
in  that  locality  many  years.  He  spent  his  last 
days  in  Long  Island.  The  mother  of  our  subject 
is  still  living  in  her  old  home  in  Albany  County, 
and  is  now  aged  and  venerable.  Eight  of  the  chil- 
dren born  of  her  pleasant  wedded  life  were  reared 
to  maturity. 

Edward,  of  whom  we  write,  grew  to  man's  estate 
in  the  town  of  his  nativity,  and  received  an  excel- 
lent education  in  the  local  schools.  At  the  age 
of  twenty-one  he  entered  into  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  that  place,  and  was  thus  profitably  engaged 
till  1854.  In  that  year  the  ambitious  young  man, 


desiring  a  broader  field  for  the  exercise  of  his  tal- 
ents, resolved  to  try  life  in  the  great  West,  and 
decided  to  cast  his  lot  with  the  pioneers  of  Illinois, 
for  this  State  had  not  even  then  wholly  emerged 
from  its  original  wildness,  although  it  had  been 
in  the  hands  of  the  white  man  for  many  years. 
After  his  arrival  here,  he  turned  his  attention  to 
farming,  buying  land  in  Marshall  County,  and  was 
thus  engaged  till  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  and 
then  he  resumed  mercantile  pursuits  once  more, 
managing  stores  at  Lacon  and  Sparland  for  Messrs. 
Fisher  &  Chapman  for  a  time.  His  next  venture 
was  as  a  grain  merchant,  he  being  employed  in 
buying  grain  for  the  army.  After  the  war  he 
went  to  Roanoke  and  bought  property,  and  carried 
on  a  mercantile  business  besides  superintending 
other  interests,  he  being  one  of  the  first  two  mer- 
chants to  locate  there.  Before  the  war  he  had 
bought  land  in  Lynn  Township,  now  included  in 
his  present  farm,  and  in  1862  he  established  his 
j  home  on  it.  At  the  time  of  his  purchase  it  was  in 
a  wild  condition,  fresh  from  the  hands  of  nature. 
In  the  years  that  followed  he  spared  neither  time 
nor  expense  in  its  improvement,  erected  an  excel- 
lent set  of  buildings,  placed  the  land  under  fine 
tillage,  and  to-day  it  is  one  of  the  best  farms  in 
that  locality.  His  property  in  Roanoke  is  still  in 
his  possesssion,  and  he  owns  other  valuable  prop- 
erty in  Washburn.  In  the  year  1  883  he  commenced 
the  manufacture  of  tile  in  Linn,  and  has  conducted 
this  business  successfully  ever  since.  He  has  suit- 
able buildings,  with  good  machinery,  and  every 
convenience  for  the  manufacture  of  a  superior 
kind  of  tile,  that  meets  with  a  ready  sale,  and  for 
which  there  is  a  large  and  growing  demand  among 
the  farmers  throughout  this  part  of  Illinois. 

Mr.  Stephens  was  married,  Feb.  6,  1850,  to  Miss 
Susan  R.  KnitHn,  and  they  have  four  children. 
Their  son  William  married  Ann  C'orbin,  and  they 
have  five  children.  Melvin  married  Ollie  Smiley, 
and  the}'  have  four  children;  Josephine  married 
Leverett  Wallace,  and  they  have  four  children. 
Mrs.  Stephens  has  made  our  subject  an  admirable 
wife,  has  taken  an  intelligent  interest  in  his  affairs, 
and  has  made  his  home  a  pleasant  retreat  after  the 
cares  and  labors  of  a  busy  day.  She  is,  like  him- 
self, a  native  of  New  York, born  in  Saratoga  County, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


309 


Dec.  2,  1832.  Her  parents  were  Gilbert  and  Su-  j 
sannah  (Wicks)  Kniflin,  both,  so  far  as  known, 
natives  of  New  York.  The}'  resided  in  .Saratoga 
County  for  some  years,  and  then  removed  to  Al- 
bany County,  where  they  spent  their  last  days. 
Mrs.  Stephens'  maternal  grandfather,  Solomon 
Wicks,  was  a  farmer  and  mechanic,  and  died  in 
Greene  County. 

It  will  be  seen  in  the  perusal  of  this  sketch  that 
our  subject  is  a  man  of  versatile  talents,  ready 
adaptability  and  wide  experience,  who  possesses 
keen  foresight  and  a  well-trained  capacity  for  busi- 
ness, and  that  these  much-to-be  desired  traits  have 
not  only  contributed  to  his  own  personal  good  for- 
tune, but  have  been  of  inestimable  value. in  fur- 
thering the  various  interests  of  the  county.  As  a 
good  citizen,  he  takes  a  genuine  interest  in  politi- 
cal matters,  and  in  early  life  was  a  believer  in  the 
doctrines  of  the  Whig  party,  and  naturally  on  the 
formation  of  the  Republican  party  he  fell  into  its 
ranks,  and  has  ever  since  been  one  of  its  stalwart 
supporters. 


N-  CONVERSE<  a  sturdy  repre- 
sentative  of  the  sons  of  New  England,  who 
have  aided  so  largely  in  the  building  up  of 
the  Great  West,  is  classed  among  the  intelligent, 
skilful  farmers  of  Roanoke.  who  are  most  impor- 
tant factors  in  promoting  its  material  prosperity. 
He  owns  and  successfully  manages  a  good,  highly 
productive  farm  on  section  5,  and  here  he  and  his 
pleasant  family  are  enjoying  the  comforts  of  a 
coxy  home. 

The  birthplace  of  our  subject  was  far  away  amid 
the  beautiful  hills  of  Vermont,  in  Graf  ton,  Wind- 
ham  County,  and  the  date  of  his  birth  was  Sept. 
13,  1843.  His  father,  Newton  R.  Converse,  was 
born  on  the  same  farm  as  himself,  while  his  grand- 
father, Robert  Converse,  was  born  and  reared  in 
Marlboro,  N.  II.  He  crossed  over  into  the  Green 
Mountain  State  when  a  young  man,  and  buying  a 
tract  of  timbered  land  in  Graf  ton,  settled  down  to 
the  hard  life  of  a  pioneer.  A  small  piece  of  the 


land  was  cleared,  but  there  were  no  buildings  on  it. 
He  first  constructed  a  rude  log  house  and  then 
went  back  to  New  Hampshire  for  his  promised 
bride,  Miss  Edna  Hale,  a  native  of  that  State,  then 
but  nineteen  years  old,  two  years  his  junior.  They 
commenced  housekeeping  in  the  aforementioned 
primitive  abode,  and  he  cleared  a  good  farm,  on 
which  thej"  made  their  home  till  deatli  called  them 
to  a  better.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared 
in  the  home  of  his  birth,  and  in  due  course  of  time 
the  old  homestead  come  into  his  possession,  and  in 
turn  he  brought  his  bride  there,  his  parents  living 
with  them  till  their  demise.  After  a  peaceful  wed- 
ded life  of  many  years,  the  good  wife  died  at  the 
old  home  in  1884.  Her  maiden  name  was  Mary 
Stuart,  and  she  was  a  native  of  Londonderry,  Vt., 
a  daughter  of  Joseph  Stuart,  a  miller,  and  later  a 
farmer,  who  spent  his  last  years  in  Andover,  Vt. 
In  1887  the  father  of  our  subject  sold  the  place  of  his 
birth,  where  his  entire  life  up  to  that  time  had  been 
passed,  and  then  visited  his  children  in  Vermont. 
Massachusetts,  Michigan  and  Illinois,  and  finally 
died  at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Wright,  in 
Groton,  Mass.,  in  August.  1888.  He  and  his  wife 
were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  of  whom  five  grew 
to  maturity  and  are  now  living,  as  follows:  Mary 
E.,  wife  of  the  Rev.  E.  W.  White,  a  Baptist  minis- 
ister  in  Jackson,  Mich.;  Martha,  wife  of  Henry 
Wright,  of  Groton,  Mass.;  Sarah  and  Clara,  both 
of  whom  are  teachers. 

Nelson  Converse,  of  this  sketch,  was  the  first 
born  and  is  now  the  only  son  living.  He  was 
reared  and  educated  in  his  native  county,  having 
good  school  advantages,  and  in  the  winter  of  I860 
and  18C7  he  utilized  his  knowledge  by  teaching. 
He  first  visited  Illinois  in  1866,  and  in  1868  came 
here  to  settle  permanently,  having  been  much  im- 
pressed with  the  many  advantages  of  soil,  climate, 
etc.  In  1869  he  invested  some  of  his  money  in  the 
farm  that  he  still  owns  and  occupies  on  section  5, 
Roanoke  Township.  It  comprises  120  acres  of 
choice  land,  under  admirable  tillage,  so  that  it  yields 
abundant  harvests,  and  is  amply  supplied  with 
buildings  and  all  needed  improvements. 

Mr.  Converse  was  married  to  Miss  Alcesta  T. 
Hall,  a  native  of  New  York,  and  a  daughter  of 
Erastus  and  Mary  Hall.  Their  pleasant  wedded 


310 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


life  has  been  blessed  to  them  by  the  l>irth  of  five 
children,  namely:  Charles  W.,  Edith  E.,  Ethel  C., 
Newton  E.  and  Elmer  R. 

Mr.  Converse  possesses  thrift,  energy,  a  capacity 
for  well-directed  labor,  and  other  traits  character- 
istic of  his  New  England  origin,  and  he  is  classed 
among  the  most  deserving  and  useful  members  of 
this  community,  both  as  a  man  and  as  a  citizen. 
His  wife  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  Mr.  Converse  is  never  backward  in 
helping  others  less  fortunate  than  himself.  Politi- 
cally, he  is  a  stanch  upholder  of  the  Republican 
party. 


THOMAS  CRIBBEN.  The  results  of  a  long 
and  well-spent  life  are  admirably  illustrated 
in  the  subject  of  this  biography,  who,  in 
1863  took  up  his  residence  in  Palestine  Township, 
in  company  with  his  mother  and  step-father,  and 
thereafter  labored  assiduously  and  they  succeeded 
in  the  accumulation  of  a  fine  property. 

Thomas  Cribben  was  a  native  of  the  village  of 
Ballybane,  parish  of  Annagh,  of  County  Mayo, 
Ireland.  lie  was  born  Jan  7,  1847,  and  is  the  son 
of  James  Cribben,  who  was  of  pure  Irish  ancestry, 
and  a  native  of  the  parish  of  Baken,  County  Mayo, 
and  was  reared  to  farming  pursuits  in  his  native 
county.  He  there  married  Miss  Bridget  Tarpy, 
who  was  born  and  reared  not  far  from  the  home 
of  her  husband  in  the  same  place  as  her  son,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  William  and  Hanora  (Raftery) 
Tarpy,  who  were  closely  allied  to  some  of  the  first 
families  of  counties  Mayo  and  Galwa}',  where  they 
spent  their  entire  lives.  The  mother  was  a  native 
of  the  city  of  Galway.  The  paternal  grandfather 
of  the  mother  of  our  subject,  was  Thomas  Tarpy, 
who  came  of  some  of  the  best  Irish  blood,  which 
has  been  transferred  to  a  number  of  American 
families  of  the  same  name,  and  who  figured  promi- 
nently botli  in  church  and  State. 

Thomas  Tarpy  married  Miss  Margaret  Murphy, 
who  was  also  a  daughter  of  a  family  prominent  in 
County  Mayo  for  more  than  200  years,  and,  who 
were  closely  allied  to  the  O'Connor  stock  of  Roscom- 


mon  County,  of  which  the  last  monarch  of  Ireland 
was  a  kinsman,and  the  celebrated  Charles  O'Connor, 
of  New  York  City,  who  died  a  few  years  ago,  was 
of  the  same  family.  The  maternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject  died  when  his  daughter  was  a  child  of 
eight  years,  leaving  eight  children  to  the  care  of 
the  widowed  mother,  who  reared  them  carefully 
and  conscientiously  to  honest  and  worthy  lives. 

After  their  marriage  in  March,  1845,  James  Crib- 
ben and  his  wife  began  house-keeping  on  the  farm 
in  County  Mayo,  where  their  only  child,  Thomas, 
our  subject,  was  born.  In  1849  they  set  sail  for 
America,  embarking  at  Liverpool,  and  after  a  voy- 
age of  six  weeks,  and  before  the}'  had  reached  their 
destination,  the  husband  and  father  died,  after  ten 
days  illness,  and  his  remains  were  consigned  to  an 
ocean  burial.  The  mother  and  son  pursued  their 
melancholy  journey,  finally  reaching  New  York 
City,  and  thence  proceeded  to  Savannah,  Ga.,  where 
some  of  the  father's  relatives  had  settled.  Mrs. 
Cribben,  however,  suffering  under  a  sense  of  loss 
and  bereavement,  returned  not  long  afterward  to 
her  native  land,  where  she  remained  two  years, 
then  leaving  her  son  with  his  grandmother,  she 
once  more  crossed  the  Atlantic,  settling  this  time 
in  Philadelphia,Pa.  Five  years  later  she  was  married 
to  John  Connell,  a  native  of  Black  Rock,  County 
Cork,  and  who  had  emigrated  to  America  when  a 
young  man.  Soon  after  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Connell  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Wood- 
ford  County.  They  came  to  the  present  farm  in 
1863,  after  having  lived  in  LaSalle  County  fora 
time.  Their  efforts  in  building  up  a  home  were 
crowned  with  success,  and  they  became  well-to-do. 
Mr.  Connell  died  at  his  homestead  April  17,  1879, 
at  the  age  of  about  sixty-five  years.  He  was  an 
honest,  hard  working,  temperate  man,  respected  by 
his  neighbors.  He  voted  the  Democratic  ticket  and 
in  religion,  was  a  Catholic.  Mrs.  Bridget  Connell, 
is  a  well  preserved  and  an  intelligent  old  lad}',  and 
an  active  worker  in  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  in 
which  she  has  been  reared  from  childhood. 

Thomas  Cribben  was  given  a  good  education 
while  living  with  his  grandmother  in  Ireland,  under 
the  instruction  of  a  gentleman,  who  had  been  his 
mother's  teacher  in  her  girlhood,  and  who  lived  to 
be  over  one  hundred  years  old.  He  came  when  a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


311 


boy  to  America,  in  1859,  proceeding  directly  to 
Rutland,  La  Salle  Co.  III.,  to  his  mother  and  step- 
father. He  has  devoted  his  life  in  a  great  measure 
to  the  care  and  comfort  of  his  mother,  to  whom 
he  is  more  attached  than  to  any  woman  living. 
In  consequence  he  remains  unmarried.  He  is  a 
faithful  adherent  of  the  doctrines  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church  in  which  he  was  reared,  and  in 
politics  is  an  uncompromising  Democrat.  He  has 
held  all  the  local  offices  and  represented  Palestine 
Township  in  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors,  and 
is  now  a  member  of  the  Board,  having  represented 
the  township  for  five  years. 


|OHN  DETWKILER,  general  farmer  and 
I  stock-  raiser,  resides  on  a  good  farm  of  120 
acres,  which  is  well  improved  and  located 
on  section  21,  Montgomery  Township,  to 
which  he  came  in  18G7  from  section  10,  same  town- 
ship, and  has  continued  to  live  in  this  place  until 
the  present.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1850  and  after 
living  some  months  in  this  county,  removed  to 
McLean  County,  and  two  years  later  returned  to 
this  county,  where  he  has  remained  ever  since,  lie 
was  born  in  the  province  of  Lorraine  in  1  838  on  the 
13th  of  August.  He  is  therefore  a  Frenchman,  al- 
though this  province  is  now  a  part  of  the  German 
Empire.  The  father  of  our  subject,  John  Det- 
weiler,  was  born  in  Bavaria,  and  was  a  miller  by 
trade.  When  sixteen  years  old  he  went  to  Lorraine 
and  was  apprenticed  to  a  miller  to  learn  the  trade, 
and  while  a  resident  of  that  province,  married  Miss 
Catherine  A.  Moser,  who  was  born  and  reared  in 
Lorraine  but  came  of  German  and  Swiss  ancestry. 
After  marriage  this  couple  lived  in  Lorraine, 
throughout  their  comparatively  uneventful  life, 
the  mother  leaving  the  scene  of  her  earthly  pil- 
grimage, when  her  son,  our  subject,  was  thirteen 
months  old.  The  father  survived  his  faithful  wife 
some  twenty  years,  when  he  too  fell  asleep  and  was 
gathered  to  his  fathers.  Following  the  death  of  his 
mother  our  subject  was  taken  to  the  home  of  his  un- 
cle, Jacob  Miller,  and  accompanied  him  to  America 
in  1850.  They  having  no  children  of  their  own 


adopted  him,  and  to  them  he  has  always  given  a  son's 
love  and  devotion.  On  arriving  in  America,  they 
set  out  for  the  West  and  located  in  Montgomery 
Township,  this  county,  and  while  here  Mrs. 
Miller  died  July  18,  1889,  being  in  her  eighty. fifth 
year.  Mr.  Miller  still  survives  and  makes  his 
home  with  his  adopted  son,  Mr.  John  Detweiler. 
Although  seventy-eight  years  old  he  is  yet  active 
and  healthy  and  his  cheerful  hearty  disposition 
makes  him  a  welcome  and  agreeable  member  of 
the  family  of  his  son. 

Our  subject  received  the  elements  of  a  good  edu- 
cation in  France,  becoming  a  fluent  conversation- 
alist in  German  and  French,  and  later  became  quite 
proficient  in  the  use  of  English  and  can  still  speak 
all  three  languages.  He  was  first  married  in  this 
county  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Gerber,  a  native  of 
Lorraine,  and  who  came  to  America  in  1846  while  a 
mere  child,  making  the  journey  in  the  care  of  her 
parents,  who  made  only  a  short  stop  in  New  York, 
coming  at  once  to  this  county,  where  they  built  up 
a  comfortable  home. 

Mrs.  Detweiler  departed  this  life  in  1883  being 
then  thirty-eight  years  old.  leaving  besides  her  hus- 
band three  children  to  mourn  her  loss — Joseph, 
John  and  Elizabeth,  who  are  all  at  home.  Mrs. 
Detweiler  was  the  daughter  of  John  and  Barbara 
(Gerber)  Gerber.  The  father  died  in  this  town- 
ship several  years  ago.  The  mother  is  yet  living 
on  a  farm  with  her  son. 

Our  subject  was  married  a  second  time  near  Dry 
Grove,  McLean  County,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Miller, 
a  native  of  Bavaria,  Germany,  where  she  was  born 
Aug.  18,  1852,  being  a  daughter  of  Peter  and  Eli- 
zabeth ( Woelber)  Miller,  who  were  also  natives  of 
Germany,  the  father  being  a  farmer  in  that  country 
and  coming  to  the  United  States  with  his  family  in 
1868.  Immediately  on  their  arrival  in  New  York, 
they  started  Westward,  locating  in  this  county  and 
later  removed  to  Dry  Grove  Township,  McLean 
County,  where  they  yet  reside. 

Mr.  Miller  is  seventy-two  years  of  age  and  his  wife 
is  sixty-eight,  but  although  so  old,  they  are  yet  vig- 
orous and  active  and  enjoy  a  fair  share  of  health 
and  good  spirits.  They  are  devoted  members  of 
the  old  school  Mennonite  Church,  and  reflect  great 
credit  upon  their  religious  principles. 


312 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Mrs.  Elizabeth  Detweiler,  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Germany,  where  she  received  a  good  train- 
ing in  school  and  at  home  and  came  to  this  country 
with  her  parents.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Detweiler  are  the 
parents  of  one  child — Ida  Amelia.  They  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Mennonite  Church  and  good,  consistent 
Christians.  Mr.  Detweiler  takes  very  little  active 
part  in  political  affairs,  but  has  been  prevailed  upon 
to  accept  some  minor  offices,  which  he  fills  with 
credit,  casting  his  ballot  with  the  Republican  party. 


OHN  J.  SNYDER.  Since  the  early  days  of 
the  settlement  of  Woodford  County,  the 
Sn3'ders,  from  father  to  son  unto  the  third 
generation,  have  borne  a  prominent  part  in 
bringing  about  its  development  and  in  advancing 
its  sturdy  growth  from  the  wilderness  to  its  pres- 
ent flourishing  condition.  The  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  Nicholas  Snyder,  a  native  of  Germany,  was 
one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  this  county,  coming 
here  with  his  wife  and  children  before  its  organi- 
zation as  a  county.  (For  further  facts  concerning 
his  life  see  sketch  of  John  Snyder).  His  son  Isaac, 
father  of  our  subject,  was  but  a  boy  of  "leven  or 
twelve  years  when  they  came  from  his  birthplace 
in  the  German  Fatherland  to  this  country,  but 
in  a  few  years,  under  the  influence  of  the  pioneer 
life  that  obtained  here  at  that  early  da}',  he  grew 
to  a  maul}',  vigorous  manhood,  and  took  his  place 
among  the  pioneers  who  were  building  up  the 
county,  and  is  to  this  day  prominently  connected 
with  its  leading  interests.  We  will  now  refer  to  the 
position  the  subject  of  this  sketch  holds  in  regard 
to  this,  his  native  county.  He  is  identified  with  its 
agriculture  as  a  well-trained,  intelligent  farmer  and 
stock-raiser,  who  is  conducting  these  interests  very 
prosperously  on  a  part  of  the  old  homestead  in 
Partridge  Township,  where  his  birth  occurred  July 
11,  1851. 

Isaac  Snyder,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  but 
ten  or  twelve  years  of  age  when  his  parents  brought 
him  from  his  birthplace  in  the  German  Fatherland 
to  this  countiy.  There  were  but  few  settlements  in 
this  county,  which  then  formed  a  part  of  Tazewell 


County,  and  these  were  confined  to  the  timber. 
He  grew  to  a  vigorous,  stirring  manhood  amid  the 
wild  scenes  where  his  parents  had  established  their 
home,  remaining  with  them  until  he  had  attained 
man's  estate,  and  then  finding  employment  at  vari- 
ous kinds  of  work  elsewhere.  Sometimes  he  was 
engaged  in  chopping  wood  at  twenty-five  cents  a 
cord,  at  another  in  splitting  rails  for  twenty-five 
cents  a  hundred,  and  again  plowing  corn  at  twenty- 
five  cents  a  day.  When  he  was  twenty-one  Horace 
Crocker  hired  him  to  work  for  him,  agreeing  to  give 
him  his  board  and  $150  a  year.  He  was  employed  b}' 
him  for  six  months  in  building  dams  across  the  Black 
Partridge  Creek,  and  several  times  when  the  dam 
would  be  nearly  completed,  it  would  be  washed  out 
by  the  water  and  all  the  work  would  have  to  be 
done  over  again.  Mr.  Crockrr  became  discour- 
aged and  offered  to  sell  his  interest  in  the  mill  and 
in  120  acres  of  land  for  $1,000,  and  Mr.  Snyder 
and  his  brother  closed  with  his  offer  and  paid  $100 
down  and  the  balance  in  cash  in  nine  years'  time. 
They  succeeded  in  building  a  dam  that  withstood 
the  water  and  floods,  and  successful  \y  operated  the 
mill  together  two  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that 
time  Mr.  Snyder  traded  his  interest  in  it  for  land, 
and  turned  his  attention  to  farming.  A  few  years 
later  he  erected  another  saw  and  gristmill  on  the 
Black  Partridge  and  managed  it  with  good  finan- 
cial results,  on  the  same  spot  several,  years.  At 
length  he  removed  the  machinery  of  the  mill  to 
Roanoke,  and  introducing  steam  power,  has  oper- 
ated a  mill  there  ever  since.  In  connection  with 
milling  he  lias  been  interested  in  farming  very  ex- 
tensively, and  owns  large  tracts  of  land  in  this 
county.  He  is  greatly  interested  in  the  Roanoke 
Coal  Company,  being  one  of  its  largest  stock-hold- 
ers. He  is  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  enterprise, 
possessing  a  clear,  cool  head,  and  is  accounted  one 
of  the  most  successful  men  in  the  county,  and  he  is 
numbered  among  its  wealthy,  substantial  citizens. 
The  maiden  name  of  our  subject's  mother  was  Han- 
nah Leighton,  and  she  is  a  native  of  Ohio.  Of  the 
children  born  of  her  pleasant  wedded  life  four  are 
living,  as  follows:  John  J.  our  subject;  Margaret, 
wife  of  Samuel  Ramsey;  Kate,  wife  of  Benjamin 
Ellis;  Isabelle,  wife  of  Lewis  J.  Johnson. 

As   soon   as    large   enough,  the  subject  of  this 


M 


/    y   7- 

CM^^Uz4^       <=/ <z^tst&'?£? 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


317 


sketch  commenced  to  assist  his  father  in  the  mill 
and  on  the  fnrm  when  not  attending  the  public 
schools,  where  lie  gleaned  a  good  education.  He 
remained  an  inmate  of  the  parental  household  until 
his  marriage.  This  important  event  in  his  life  took 
place  Sept.  19,  1876,  on  which  date  he  was  united 
in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  to  Miss  Catherine 
B.  Kisewether.  She  is  a  native  of  German}'  and  a 
daughter  of  Michael  and  Mary  Kisewether.  Four 
children  complete  the  happy  household  circle  of 
our  subject  and  his  wife — Rosa  May,  Josephus  F., 
John  Franklin  and  Essie  Ellen. 

Since  taking  charge  of  the  homestead  Mr.  Snyder 
has  made  many  valuable  improvements,  among 
which  may  be  mentioned  the  sinking  of  two  flow- 
ing wells,  one  near  the  house  and  the  other  in  the 
pasture,  from  each  of  which  a  constant  stream  of 
clear,  cool  water  is  sent  forth  the  year  round. 

Mr.  Snyder's  career  as  an  agriculturist,  and  as  a 
man  and  a  citizen  reflects  credit  on  his  native 
township.  As  a  man  of  genuine  public  spirit  he 
interests  himself  in  everything  that  will  in  any  way 
promote  its  welfare,  and  contributes  liberally  to- 
ward all  plans  for  its  improvement.  As  School 
Director,  educational  matters  in  the  township  have 
received  careful  attention  from  him.  He  has  done 
good  service  as  Road  Commissioner,  and  the  excel- 
lent highways  in  this  locality  are  partly  due  to  his 
energetic  labors  while  in  that  office.  In  politics  he 
stands  among  the  Democrats,  intelligently  voting 
the  ticket  of  his  party,  and  by  voice  advocating 
its  principles. 


OHN  TANTON.  The  career  of  the  subject 
of  this  notice  has  been  one  of  phenomenal 
prosperity.  Gifted  by  nature  with  more 
than  ordinary  business  capacities,  he  has 
arisen  from  a  modest  position  in  life  to  one  of 
wealth  and  prominence,  and  is  among  the  largest 
property  holders  in  Woodford  County.  He  is  now 
retired  from  active  labor  and  occupies  a  comforta- 
ble home  in  El  Paso,  of  'which  he  has  been  a  resi- 
dent the  past  eight  years.  He  is  the  owner  of 


more  than  2,000  acres  of  valuable  land  in  this  and 
Livingston  County,  and  has  a  large  amount  of 
property  in  the  vicinity  of.  El  Paso,  and  Gridley, 
McLean  County.  All  of  his  property  is  well  im- 
proved and  well  tiled,  thus  adding  to  its  financial 
value,  as  well  as  to  its  appearance. 

Mr.  Tanton  came  to  Illinois,  as  early  as  1837  and 
was  one  of  the  pioneers  first  venturing  into  this 
county,  and  settling  upon  land  which  he  purchased 
of  a  pioneer,  the  original  purchase  being  eighty 
acres,  which  has  been  added  to  up  to  the  present 
time.  Becoming  identified  with  the  interests  of 
the  great  and  growing  West,  Mr.  Tanton  at  once 
proceeded  to  the  task  before  him  of  cultivating 
the  soil,  then  in  a  primitive  condition,  and  other- 
wise effecting  improvements,  after  which  he  de- 
voted his  attention  largely  to  stock-raising.  Every- 
thing under  his  hands  seemed  to  grow  and  prosper, 
and  it  is  probable  that  his  worldly  possessions  all 
told  would  aggregate  at  least  $100,000.  A  stud}'  of 
his  life  and  the  elements  of  character  which  enabled 
him  to  overcome  obstacles  before  him,  with  the 
ease  of  a  wave  carrying  pebbles  out  into  the  bound- 
less depths  of  ocean,  would  be  beneficial  to  every 
young  man  starting  out  in  life,  with  high  ambi- 
tions and  unlimited  hopes.  Youth  is  addicted  to 
building  "  castles  in  the  air,"  and  certainly  if  Mr. 
Tanton  ever  indulged  leisure  moments  in  this 
happy  way,  he  has  lived  to  see  them  not  crumble 
away  as  happens  too  often  in  this  busy  work-a-day 
world,  but  come  to  a  glorious  realization  beyond 
even  the  dreams  of  boyhood. 

A  native  of  England,  our  subject  was  born  in 
Devonshire,  August  15,  1803,  and  comes  from 
pure  English  stock.  His  father,  William  Tanton, 
was  a  well-to-do  farmer  who  spent  his  entire  life 
in  his  native  Devonshire,  and  died  at  the  advanced 
:ige  of  eighty-nine  years.  He  was  a  hard  working 
man  and  he  accumulated  a  comfortable  property. 
He  married  a  lady  of  his  own  shire,  Miss  Elizabeth 
Pudicomb,  who  passed  away  when  about  fifty 
years  of  age  and  many  years  prior  to  the  decease 
of  her  husband.  She  was  a  lady  possessing  esti- 
mable qualities,  and  a  devoted  member  of  the 
Church  of  England.  She  carried  her  religion 
through  the  daily  walks  of  life,  and  in  a  quiet  way 
was  benevolent,  giving  freely  and  without  stint 


318 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


wherever  she  had  an  opportunity  to  benefit  some 
needy  one. 

To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there  were  born 
seven  children,  of  whom  John  w.is  the  eldest  son 
and  second  child.  There  were  four  sons  and  three 
daughters,  and  he  is  the  only  survivor.  He  was 
carefully  reared  under  the  home  roof,  and  his  par- 
ents endeavored  to  instill  into  his  mind  during  his 
early  years,  those  principles  which  carry  a  man 
safely  through  the  storms  of  an  adverse  world  and 
anchor  him  at  last  on  the  shores  of  eternity.  His 
education  was  obtained  in  the  home  schools,  which 
he  usually  attended  a  few  months  out  of  the  year. 
But  like  other  bovs  of  that  time,  he  was  unable  to 
give  the  attention  to  the  development  of  the  mind 
which  he  so  earnestly  desired,  for  manual  labor  was 
required  of  him  as  soon  ns  lie  was  old  enough  to  | 
be  of  any  service.  He  lived  in  England,  until  a 
man  of  thirty-three  years  and  then  still  unmarried, 
set  out,  in  1836,  for  America.  His  destination  was  ! 
Illinois,  and  soon  after  landing  we  find  him  estab- 
lished in  Woodford  County,  of  which  he  is  still  a 
resident.  Here  he  found  a  wife  and  helpmate, 
being  married  March  31,  1842  to  Miss  Hannah 
Grove.  This  lady  is  ncted  for  the  purity  of  her 
character  and  the  exactness  of  her  Christian  life,  for 
taking  the  Bible  as  her  guide,  she  has  aimed  "to 
bjnefit  every  one  about  her  and  has  secured  the 
love  of  all  who  have  met  her.  She  has  been  a  most 
excellent  and  cherished  companion  to  her  husband, 
whose  pathway  she  has  lightened  by  her  presence 
and  whose  aid  she  has  been  for  many  years.  She 
is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  her  in- 
fluence has  led  many  souls  out  of  darkness  into 
light,  and  the  precious  jewels  in  her  crown  of  hap- 
piness will  be  the  souls  she  has  saved. 

Mrs.  Tanton  is  of  excellent  old  Pennsylvania 
stock  and  was  born  June  13,  1818  in  Harrison 
County.  Ind.  Thus  from  her  youth  she  was  famil- 
iar with  the  scenes  of  pioneer  life,  and  learned  nil 
those  duties  which  devolved  upon  women  of  the 
West.  When  she  was  3~et  quite  young  her  parents 
removed  to  Woodford  County,  III.,  where  she  was 
reared  to  womanhood.  They  settled  near  Met:i- 
morn,  where  they  continued  to  reside  until  passing 
away  at  a  ripe  old  age.  The  household  circle  con- 
sisted pf  eleven  children,  ten  of  whom  are  living. 


One  son  fell  while  fighting  for  his  country  during 
the  late  rebellion.  The  survivors  are  honest  and 
worthy  people,  well-to-do  and  universally  respected. 

To  our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  there  were 
born  three  children,  one  of  whom,  a  son,  John, 
died  at  the  age  of  five  years,  seven  months,  and 
ten  days.  Thomas  O.  has  been  twice  married  and 
lives  on  a  farm  in  Cazenovia  Township;  Mary  E. 
is  the  wife  of  Jacob  Keller  and  they  live  on  a  farm 
owned  by  our  subject.  Mr.  Tanton  has  meddled 
very  little  with  political  affairs,  but  keeps  himself 
well  posted  upon  current  events,  and  votes  the 
straight  Democratic  ticket. 

]t  is  eminently  fitting  that  people  of  age  and 
worth,  pioneers  of  Woodford  County,  honored 
citizens  and  friends,  should  be  represented  by  por- 
traits in  an  ALBUM  of  the  county  for  which  the\- 
have  done  so  much;  thus  we  are  pleased  to  present 
the  portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tanton  on  another 
page,  as  representatives  of  that  strength  of  mind, 
depth  of  character,  and  generosity  of  heart,  which 
has  raised  Woodford  County,  to  its  enviable 
position  in  the  ranks  of  the  foremost  counties  of 
Illinois. 


IIARLES  GRIESER,  who  resides  on  sec- 
tion 7,  Palestine  Township,  is  a  leading 
farmer  and  representative  citizen  of  this 
county.  He  was  born  in  Metamora  Township, 
April  5,  1852,  and  his  father,  Joseph  Grieser,  was 
a  native  of  Wurtemburg,  Germaivy.  As  far  back 
as  the  ancestry  of  the  family  can  be  traced,  they 
were  natives  of  the  same  country.  Joseph  Grieser 
was  reared  to  manhood  under  the  parental  roof, 
but  after  attaining  his  majority  bade  good-bye  to 
home  and  friends  and  sailed  for  America.  On  land- 
ing in  this  country,  he  came  directly  to  Woodford 
County,  locating  two  miles  from  Metamora,  where 
he  developed  a  farm  in  the  midst  of  the  timbered 
regions.  Later,  he  sold  that  land  and  purchased  a 
farm  in  Palestine  Township.  He  at  first  bought 
seventy  acres,  but,  as  his  financial  resources  in- 
creased, he  added  to  that  amount  until  he  owned 
220  acres,  which  he  placed  under  a  high  state  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


319 


cultivation.  Wishing  to  retire  from  active  life,  he 
then  sold  his  farm  to  his  two  sons,  Charles  and 
John,  and  removed  to  Secor,  where  he  is  now  liv- 
ing in  ease  and  quiet.  Mr.  Grieser  has  been  twice 
married,  his  first  union  being  with  Christina  Hilla- 
brand,  who  was  born  in  Germany,  but  at  an  early 
age  became  a  resident  of  America.  While  the 
family  were  living  in  Springdale,  111.,  she  was 
called  to  her  final  home,  dying  on  the  25th  day  of 
October,  1857,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  3'ears. 
She  left  three  children,  who  are  still  living:  Charles, 
of  this  sketch,  Anna  and  Joseph,  all  of  whom  are 
living  upon  farms  in  this  county.  After  the  death 
of  his  first  wife,  Mr.  Grieser  wedded  Mrs.  Minnie 
Buyer,  the  marriage  being  celebrated  in  Peoria. 
The  lady  was  also  a  native  of  German}-,  and  in 
early  womanhood  became  the  wife  of  John  Buyer, 
a  cooper  of  Peoria,  who  died  in  that  city.  They 
were  the  parents  of  one  child,  John,  who  is  now 
engaged  in  farming  in  Palestine  Township.  The 
union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grieser  has  been  blessed 
with  one  child,  Lizzie,  who  still  makes  her  home 
with  her  parents  in  Secor. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  to  man- 
hood in  Palestine  Township,  and  received  such 
educational  advantages  as  the  district  schools  at 
that  time  afforded.  His  boyhood  days  were  spent 
in  much  the  same  manner  as  other  farmer  lads, 
and  he  remained  at  home  until  attaining  his  ma- 
jority, when  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself.  lie 
has  made  farming  his  principal  occupation,  and 
since  1868  has  resided  upon  the  farm  where  he  still 
lives.  In  1882.  when  his  father  resolved  to  retire 
from  active  life,  in  connection  with  his  brother  lie 
purchased  the  land,  which  he  has  since  operated. 
His  portion  comprises  140  acres,  which  is  in  a 
highly  cultivated  condition,  indicating  the  thrift 
and  industry  of  the  owner.  The  stock  which  In- 
raises  is  of  the  best  grades,  all  the  necessary  im- 
provements have  been  made,  and  his  home  is  one 
the  most  pleasant  in  the  community.  His  life  IIMS 
been  an  industrious  one,  for  since  the  time  when 
he  was  old  enough  to  handle  a  plow  he  has  engaged 
in  farm  work,  and  the  success  which  has  crowned 
his  efforts  is  well  merited. 

In  Metamora.  Mr.  Grieser  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Josephine  Strausmyer,  a  native  of  Penn- 


sylvania, born  in  Montgomery  County,  July  25, 
1855.  Her  parents  were  Andrew  and  Victoria 
(Hagely)  Strausmyer,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Germany,  but  in  early  life  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica, locating  in  Pennsylvania,  where  their  marriage 
was  celebrated.  They  afterward  became  residents 
of  Missouri,  where  the  mother  died  Dec.  29,  1882. 
Her  husband  still  survives  her,  and  now  finds  a 
pleasant  home  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Grieser. 

An  interesting  family  of  three  children  have 
been  born  to  our  subject  and  his  worthy  wife — 
Dena  L.,  Andrew  and  Mary.  The  parents  are 
members  of  the  Catholic  Church  of  Metamora,  and 
rank  among  the  best  citizens  of  the  community  in 
Which  they  make -their  home.  In  politics  Mr. 
Grieser  is  a  Democrat,  and  is  a  prominent  citizen 
of  Palestine  Township. 


OHN  HEFLER.  It  is  with  pleasure  that  we 
trace  the  history  of  this  prominent  resi- 
dent of  Woodford  County  through  the 
principal  years  of  his  past  life.  We  cannot 
follow  it  through  every  changeful  year,  every  devi- 
ous path,  but  only  as  a  passing  wanderer  follows  the 
course  of  a  river  through  a  valley, — sometimes  ap- 
proaching the  bank,  then  far  from  the  shore,  but  in 
the  end  arriving  at  the  same  point  where  the  river 
rushes  into  the  sea.  In  like  manner  we  follow  the 
principal  events  in  the  history  of  Mr.  Hefler. 

At  present  a  resident  of  Panola  Township,  farm- 
ing on  section  11,  our  subject  is  prosperous  and  en- 
joying the  comforts  which  money  can  obtain,  and 
good  health  can  allow.  He  is  a  native  of  Germany, 
where  his  birth  occurred  June  9,  1833.  His  father 
ajid  mother  were  named  respect! vely  Adam  and 
Catherine  Hefler,  also  born  in  the  Fatherland. 
These  people  were  of  good  family,  and  comforta- 
bly situated,  but  hoping  to  increase  their  personal 
property  they  sought  America,  taking  with  them 
their  son,  our  subject,  who  had  then  arrived  at  the 
fourteenth  year  of  his  life.  He  had  previous  to  his 
departure  received  a  good  common  school  educa- 
tion in  his  owi>  tongue,  but  after  coming  to  the 


320 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


United  States,  he  had  no  further  opportunity 
to  attend  school  and  therefore  has  gained  his 
English  education  by  mingling  with  the  F.ng- 
lisli  pc-ople  nnd  studying  their  ways  and  habits. 
It  w:is  in  the  spring  of  1848  that  he  emi- 
grated here,  taking  passage  at  the  port  of  Bremen 
in  a  sail  vessel,  ami  after  an  ocean  voyage  of  forty 
days,  during  which  time  the  weather  was  fair  and 
the  wateis  tranquil,  the  ship  landed  at  Baltimore. 
Thence  our  subject  moved  westward  to  Butler 
County,  Pa.,  nnd  there  worked  as  a  farm  laborer. 
When  he  was  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  he  com- 
menced to  earn  a  living  by  his  trade  of  a  black- 
smith, which  he  has  followed  more  or  less  ever 
since.  As  a  renter  in  Butler  County,  he  remained 
several  years  gradually  working  his  way  to  indepen- 
dence. In  1859  he  removed  to  West  Virginia, 
which  was  not  then  a  separate  State,  but  a  part  of 
the  Old  Dominion.  He  located  near  the  city  of 
Parkersburg,  which  was  his  home  for  a  period  of 
live  years.  He  has  the  reputation  of  having  fired 
the  first  Union  gun  in  West  Virginia,  the  gun 
being  loaded  with  heavy  shot.  This  occurred  in 
.June  of  the  year  1861,  and  the  shot  was  aimed  at  a 
Rebel  horse-thief,  who  had  been  invading  the  vi- 
cinity and  stealing  horses  from  Northern  resi- 
dents. Mr.  Hefler  was  bo  far  successful  that  the 
bullet  lodged  in  the  shoulder  of  the  thief,  who.  it 
may  be  presumed,  occasioned  no  further  trouble. 
For  three  years  thereafter  Mr.  Hefler  was  identified 
with  the  West  Virginia  Home  Guards,  and  did  a  j 
great  deal  of  good  for  the  Union  cause  in  his  own 
immediate  locality. 

The  faithful  companion  of  Mr.  Hefler.  and  his 
valued  co-laborer  is  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Elizabeth  Ilenning.  To  her  he  was  married  in 
Pennsylvania  in  February,  1855.  They  have  be- 
come the  parents  of  twelve  children  of  whom  nine 
have  lived  to  maturity,  namely:  John,  who  lives  in 
McLean  County,  111.;  Adam,  a  resident  of  Panola 
Township,  located  on  section  14;  George,  also  liv- 
ing in  Panola  Township,  and  farming  on  section 
13;  William;  Charles;  Lucy ;  Anna;  Ida  and  Mary,  t 
Three  have  been  taken  from  the  home  circle  by  i 
death:  Eliza,  Catherine,  and  one  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

In  the  winter  of  1865.  our  subject,  with  his  wife   j 


and  family  came  to  live  in  Wood  ford  County,  set- 
tling on  their  present  farm.  He  first  purchased 
eighty  acres,  which  was  in  a  condition  similar  to 
all  other  farms  in  that  then  uncultivated  county, 
being  unimproved,  raw  prairie,  but  having  fertile 
soil,  and  only  needing  the  magic  wand  which  hard 
work  wields  over  even  the  soil  of  the  earth,  to  make 
it  bloom  as  a  garden.  Mr.  Hefler  has  been  an 
honored  resident  of  this  county  for  the  past  twen- 
ty-four years,  and  has  become  the  owner  of  260 
acres  of  fine  land,  through  his  exertions  and  the 
assistance  of  his  wife,  who  has  willingly  done  her 
share  of  the  labor,  which  as  every  pioneer  woman 
knows  is  anything  but  light. 

Mr.  Hefler  has  not  had  the  time  to  devote  to  po- 
litical affairs  which  others  have  had,  but  has  al- 
ways been  a  devoted  subject  of  the  American 
Government.  He  votes  for  the  Republican  ticket 
usually,  and  was  for  many  years  School  Director  in 
his  district,  and  aided  in  securing  good  teachers  for 
the  community,  and  elevating  the  cause  of  educa- 
tion general.  He  and  his  wife  belong  to  the 
Lutheran  Church,  and  are  everywhere  welcomed 
as  representing  the  worth  and  intelligence  of  the 
community.  They  have  avoided  the  foolish  van- 
ities and  the  frivolous  trifles  of  life,  which  con- 
sume body  and  soul  as  the  locust  consumed  Egj'pt, 
and  have  aimed  only  at  its  sublimest  ends,  its 
worthiest  ambitions,  and  thus  are  eminently  worthy 
of  the  success  which  they  enjoy. 


OLOMON  L.  ZINSER,  A.  B.,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  the  drug  business  at  Minonk.  111., 
was  born  in  Pickaway  Count}-,  Ohio,  on 
the  24th  day  of  September,  1830.  His 
early  boyhood  days  were  there  passed,  and  in  its 
schools  he  began  his  education.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen  years,  in  1848,  lie  left  the  parental  roof 
and  started  out  to  make  his  own  wa}r  in  the  world. 
He  bade  good-bye  to  his  home  and  came  direct  to 
Illinois,  locating  at  Marshall,  where  he  served  a 
three  years'  apprenticeship  at  the  trade  of  a  wagon- 
niiiker,  but  never  followed  that  occupation  for  a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


321 


livelihood.  Soon  after  his  term  of  service  had  ex- 
pired he  returned  to  his  native  State,  and  in  1856, 
entered  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University,  which  he 
attended  for  four  years.  He  then  followed  the 
profession  of  school  teaching  until  1862,  when  he 
could  no  longer  withstand  his  country's  call  for  aid, 
and  offered  his  services  to  the  Government.  lie 
was  assigned  to  Company  G,  of  the  86th  Illinois 
Infantry,  as  First  Lieutenant,  and  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Perry ville,  Chickaniauga,  Mission 
Ridge,  Kenesaw  Mountain.  The  army  (hen  went 
into  winter  quarters  at  Chattanooga,  and  the  follow- 
ing year  with  his  regiment  he  was  in  the  Atlanta 
campaign,  and  various  other  engagements,  and  was 
with  Sherman  during  the  celebrated  march  to  the 
sea.  At  the  battle  of  Beutonville,  N.  C.,  he  was 
wounded  and  sent  home,  but  rejoined  his  regiment 
at  Washington,  I).  C.,and  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  He  was  mustered  out  with  the  rank  of 
Captain.  At  various  intervals  of  his  service  in  the 
army  as  Lieutenant  he  served  his  regiment  as  Adj- 
utant. 

On  the  close  of  hostilities,  Mr.  Zinser  was  honor- 
ably discharged  and  at  once  returned  to  his  home  in 
Washington,  111.  The  following  year,  in  18G6,he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  J.  Grady,  who 
was  born  in  this  county,  and  is  a  daughter  of  R.  R. 
Grady,  an  early  settler  of  Eureka.  Five  children 
grace  their  union — Percy  M.,  Eloise,  Homer,  Clar- 
ence and  Raymond,  all  of  whom  are  yet  living. 

On  his  return  from  the  South  at  the  close  of  the 
war,  Mr.  Zinser  formed  a  partnership  with  George 
C.  Yale,  in  the  drug  business,  which  connection 
continued  until  1870,  when  in  consequence  of  ill 
health,  he  was  forced  to  retire  and  engage  in  some 
other  pursuit.  He  then  obtained  a  position  in  the 
United  States  mail  service  as  route  agent,  in  which 
capacity  he  served  six  years,  when  he  opened  a 
drug  store  in  the  village  of  Benson.  At  the  end  of 
eight  months,  however,  he  removed  to  Minonk. 
where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  business,  and 
has  built  up  a  large  and  flourishing  trade.  lie 
ranks  among  the  best  citizens  in  this  community, 
is  enterprising  and  progressive,  and  manifests  a 
deep  interest  in  public  affairs.  In  politics,  he  is  an 
ardent  advocate  of  Republican  principles,  and  luis 
been  honored  with  several  local  offices.  He  served 


as  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Washington,  and  since 
coming  to  Minonk  lie  has  held  the  offices  of  Collec- 
tor and  President  of  the  Board  of  Education. 
Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  post,  and 
of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  Religiously,  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  is  well 
known  throughout  the  count}',  and  ha  and  his 
family  hold  a  high  position  in  the  social  world. 


ENNETT  SHAFER  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Washbiirn,  where  he  is  now  liv- 
II  ing  retired  on  his  farm  adjoining  the  village. 
As  a  pioneer  of  the  place  he  has  been  in- 
strumental in  its  upbuilding,  and  he  has  witnessed 
with  pride  its  growth  and  development  from  a 
tract  of  wild  prairie  to  a  pleasant  and  flourishing 
town.  He  was. born  in  Westphalia,  Germany,  Dec. 
22,  1817.  His  father,  John  Shafer,  was  born  in 
Germany,  and  spent  his  entire  life  there. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  and  his  brother,  An- 
ton, were  the  only  members  of  the  family  who 
ever  came  to  America.  The  latter  is  now  residing 
in  Linn  Township.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  at- 
tended the  excellent  schools  of  his  native  land  from 
the  age  of  six  till  he  was  fourteen  years  old,  and  was 
then  employed  on  a  farm  till  1844,  when  he  be- 
came coachman  in  a  gentleman's  family,  occupying 
that  position  till  1846,  when  he  emigrated  to  the 
United  States.  He  set  sail  from  Bremen,  March  6, 
and  landed  at  New  York  after  a  voyage  of  forty- 
seven  days.  He  first  found  employment  after 
his  arrival  in  that  cit}',  in  a  store  on  Hanover 
street,  where  he  remained  two  years.  He  then 
went  to  Boston,  where  he  secured  a  position 
as  foreman  in  a  sugar  refinery.  In  1856  he  threw 
up  that  position,  and  came  West  to  build  up  a  home 
for  himself.  He  purchased  100  acres  of  land  in 
Caxenovia  Towns!)  ip,  near  the  present  site  of  Wash- 
burn.  At  that  time  there  was  but  one  building 
where  Washburn  now  stands,  a  solitary  log  house, 
which  was  burne  1  soon  after.  He  has  witnessed 
the  entire  growth  knd  development  of  the  vil- 
lage. There  was  a  small  frame  house  on  the  land 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


that  he  bought,  but  it  being  in  a  poor  condition  he 
was  soon  obliged  to  build  another.  He  was  a  resi- 
dent of  that  place  a  good  many  years,  and  then 
purchased  the  farm  adjoining  which  he  now  occu- 
pies. He  owns  176  acres  of  finely  improved  land, 
which  is  under  careful  cultivation,  and  has  three 
sets  of  frame  buildings.  He  rents  his  land,  and 
lives  in  retirement  on  the  good  income  that  he  thus 
secures.  When  he  came  here  Lacon  was  his  near- 
est railroad  point,  and  continued  so  for  many 
years,  and  deer  and  other  kinds  of  wild  game  were 
plenty. 

Mr.  Shafer  was  married  in  Boston, to  Miss  Frances 
Shafer.  She  was  also  a  native  of  Westphalia.  The 
death  of  that  estimable  woman  occurred  June  30, 
1884.  There  were  eight  children  born  of  that 
marriage — William,  Eddie,  Mary,  Caroline  and 
Elizabeth  being  the  only  survivors.  Mr.  Shafer  is 
a  member  of  the  St.  Elizabeth  Catholic  Church,  of 
which  he  Ins  been  a  Trustee  many  years.  Our  sub- 
ject has  not  only  contributed  liberally  to  the  sup- 
port of  this  church,  of  which  he  is  a  devoted 
member,  but  he  has  given  generously  to  aid  in 
the  upbuilding  of  every  other  church  in  the  vil- 
lage, thus  showing  the  deep  interest  he  takes  in  its 
well  being,  and  endearing  himself  to  the  hearts  ot 
the  community.  In  his  political  sentiments  he  is 
a  sturdy  adherent  of  the  Democrat  party. 


w.  WEBER,  the  oldest  druggist, 

in  years  of  service,  of  Minonk,  Jl!.,  estab- 
lished business  Oct.  6,  1873.  He  was  born 
in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Nov.  28,  1848,  and  is  the  son  of 
Peter  S.  and  Elizabeth  C.  (Kern)  Weber,  the  former 
a  native  of  Virginia,  the  latter  of  Penns3'lvama. 
The  Weber  family  is  of  Holland  extraction,  and 
the  ancestry  can  be  triced  back  in  direct  line  to 
Wolfort  Weber,  who  emigrated  to  America  in  the 
year  1640,  locating  at  New  Amsterdam,  which  was 
the  beginning  of  New  York  City.  He  did  not, 
however,  become  a  permanent  resident  of  this  coun- 
try, and  other  mi'inhcrs  of  the  family  also  made 
trips  between  the  two  countries,  some  remaining 


while  others  returned  to  Holland.  Wolfort  Weber 
obtained  a  tract  of  land  from  the  Holland  Govern- 
ment, known  as  the  Harlem  grant,  and  afterward 
purchased  fifty-seven  acres  which  is  now  within  the 
city  limits  of  New  York.  The  genealogical  table 
of  the  family  is  as  follows: 

Wolfort  Weber  married  Ancke  Case,  in  Holland, 
in  1641,  and  Dec.  18,  1645,  there  was  born  unto 
them  a  son,  whom  they  named  Arnout.  He  mar- 
ried Arintzie  Arens,  Aug.  25,  1  669,  and  on  the  24th 
of  November,  1670,  their  son,  Wolfort,  was  born. 
lie  married  Gratzie  Jacobs,  Oct.  29,  1697,  and  a 
son  born  to  them  May  22,  1  698,  was  called  Arnout. 
Arnout  Weber  married  Sarah  Ronicer,  Oct.  9,  1733, 
and  their  son,  John  B.,  born  June  14,  1749,  is  the 
next  in  direct  descent.  He  wedded  Hannah  Web- 
ster, June  8,  1769,  and  on  the  19th  of  October, 
1772,  was  born  unto  them  a  son,  John  Baltzer. 
The  last  named  married  Elizabeth  Schult,  in  1805, 
and  they  had  six  sons — William,  George  Richard, 
John  Baltzer,  Philip  W..  Jacob  Shutt,  and  Peter 
Stroble.  Peter  S.  was  born  Jan.  31,  1817,  and  was 
three  times  married,  his  first  union,  which  was  cele- 
brated March  11,  1837.  being  with  Lavina  Eliza 
Adams,  by  whom  he  had  one  son,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. On  the  7th  of  June,  1842,  Sarah  Brown 
Elliott  became  his  wife,  and  their  only  son  also 
died  in  infancy.  He  was  the  third  time  married, 
June  24,  1845,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Eliza- 
beth Catherine  Kern,  who  became  the  mother  of  four 
children,  three  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  George 
William,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  being  the  only 
survivor. 

The  mother  was  born  at  Ligonier,  Westmoreland 
Co.,  Pa.,  March  31,  1827,  and  when  ten  years 
of  age,  in  1 837,  came  with  her  parents  to  Wood- 
ford  County,  111.,  the  family  locating  in  Worth 
Township.  Peter  Weber,  when  a  young  man,  left 
his  Eastern  home,  emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  also 
settled  in  the  same  county.  'The  young  people  here 
became  acquainted,  and  on  the  24th  of  June,  1845, 
in  Woodford  County,  were  united  in  marriage. 
Some  time  later,  they  removed  to  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade  as  wood  cutter  and 
machinist  until  about  the  year  1851,  when  he  be- 
came a  resident  of  New  Orleans,  where,  on  the  25th 
of  August,  1853,  he  died  of  yellow  fever.  His 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


323 


wife  survived  him  many  years,  and  after  the  deatli 
of  her  husband,  returned  to  this  county,  and  made 
her  home  with  her  fattier  near  Metamora,  until  his 
deatli  March  16,  1883.  She  then  removed  to  Mi- 
nonk,  and  resided  with  her  son,  George  W.,  until 
culled  to  her  final  rest  Jan.  28,  •  1888.  She  was  an 
earnest  Christian  woman,  and  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  four  years  old 
when  his  father's  death  occurred.  He  then  made 
his  home  with  his  mother  and  grandparents  in 
Metamora  Township,  until  starting  out  in  life  for 
himself.  His  educational  advantages  were  those 
afforded  by  the  common  schools  of  the  neighbor- 
•hood,  and  at  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  began  life's 
battle.  Going  to  Southwestern  Missouri,  he  was 
for  some  time  engaged  in  clerking  in  a  store,  but 
at  length  returned  to  Illinois.  The  following  win- 
ter he  attended  school  at  Minonk,  and  during  the 
summer  worked  at  an}-  employment  which  he 
could  find  to  do,  whereby  he  might  earn  an  honest 
dollar.  The  next  winter  was  spent  in  teaching 
school  in  Mason  County,  after  which  he  taught  in 
this  county,  and  subsequently  engaged  in  clerking 
in  Minonk.  In  the  fall  of  1873.  he  embarked  in  his 
present  business,  in  which  he  has  been  very  success- 
ful. From  the  beginning  his  trade  has  constantly 
increased,  and  he  now  receives  a  liberal  patronage. 

In  the  month  of  January,  1873,  Mr.  Weber  led 
to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Lucy  A.  Bailey,  who 
was  born  in  Boston,  Mass.  The  family  is  descended 
from  Samuel  Bailey,  who  was  born  in  Rhode  Isl- 
and, Nov.  27,  1742,  of  Scotch  ancestry,  and  on  the 
3d  of  January,  1772,  married  Roby  Webb;  they 
became  parents  of  eleven  children,  one  of  whom, 
Ira  Bailey,  was  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Weber. 
He  was  born  March  24,  1798,  and  wedded  Martha 
lloughton,  by  whom  he  had  nine  children.  Of  that 
family,  Cyril  O.  Bailey  was  bom  April  8,  1824, 
and  Oct.  30,  1847,  was  joined  in  wedlock  with 
Miss  Mary  A.  Phillips.  Their  union  was  blessed 
with  five  children :  Byron  W.,  Lucy  Ann  Enie- 
line;  Ambrose  P.,  Mary  A.,  and  an  infant  daugh- 
ter, are  deceased.  Mr.  Bailey  was  a  blacksmith 
and  also  gunsmith. 

Mrs.  Weber  was  born  May  5,  1852.  and  with  her 
family  came  to  this  county,  where  she  was  married,  i 


Four  children  have  been  born  of  the  union — Alma, 
Romain  C.,  and  Elsie,  and  one  the  eldest,  who  died 
in  childhood,  named  Newell  B. 

Mr.  Weber  is  numbered  among  the  leading  busi- 
ness men  of  Minonk,  and  is  also  one  of  its  promi- 
nent and  influential  citizens.  In  political  sentiment, 
he  is  a  Republican.  For  three  years,  he  served  as 
Township  Clerk,  and  is  now  serving  his  third  term 
ns  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education.  Socially, 
he  is  a  member  of  Robert  Morris  Lodge  No.  247, 
A.  F.  <fe  A.  M.,  in  which  he  has  filled  all  the  offices 
with  the  exception  of  that  of  Master.  In  connec- 
tion with  his  store,  he  owns  a  nice  residence  in 
Minonk,  and  his  wife  also  is  owner  of  some  valu- 
able property.  This  worthy  couple  have  a  large 
circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances  throughout  the 
community,  and  are  greatly  esteemed  by  all  who 
know  them.  Their  home  is  noted  for  its  hospital- 
ity, and  its  inmates  hold  a  high  position  in  the  so- 
cial world. 


'j'OHN  JURY,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  1850,  is 
now  a  prosperous  farmer  residing  on  section 
9,  Minonk  Township.  He  was  born  in 
Devonshire,  England,  February,  1836,  being 
a  son  of  John  and  T.  (Matters)  Jury,  who  were  also 
natives  of  Devonshire,  England.  In  1850  the  family 
came  to  the  United  States  and  settled  near  Meta- 
mora, Woodford  County.  They  were  poor  but  they 
worked  diligently  and  managed  wisely  and  were 
soon  in  a  more  prosperous  condition.  The  father 
rented  land  shortly  after  coming  here  and  was  op- 
erating it  with  good  success  until  in  July,  1853, 
when  he  was  suddenly  stricken  dead  while  cutting 
grain  in  the  field.  He  had  always  previously  en- 
joyed good  health.  The  family  thus  left  to  struggle 
on  by  themselves  consisted  of  the  widow  and  five 
children,  viz.:  Margaret,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Robert 
Thompson  of  Livingston  County,  III.;  John;  Jane, 
now  Mrs.  Judsou  Cutler,  of  Kansas;  Peter  residing 
in  Allen  County,  Kan.;  Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  Albion 
Ramsey,  of  Allen  County,  Kan.;  Emanuel  died 
in  childhood.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  again 


324 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


united  in  marriage,  taking  for  her  second  husband 
Daniel  Hallenback.  He  died  at  Minonk,  a  short 
time  after  marriage,  and  she  subsequently  removed 
to  Kansas,  where  she  died  at  the  residence  of  her 
daughter  in  1888. 

Our  subject  was  fourteen  years  old  when  the 
family  moved  to  the  United  States.  He  at  once 
sought  employment  which  he  found  as  a  farm  hand 
at  $6  per  month,  the  father  receiving  only  $12  per 
month.  He  worked  in  this  capacity  for  some  time 
and  assisted  with  his  meager  wages  in  supporting 
the  family.  In  1854  his  mother  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  government  land,  paying  $2.50  per  acre. 
This  was  located  in  Minonk  Township  on  section  1. 
To  this  place  the  family  then  moved  and  com- 
menced improving,  building  as  far  as  possible  for 
permanence  and  comfort.  Our  subject  also  rented 
some  land,  but  resided  with  the  family  until  De- 
cember, 1800.  In  that  year  he  married  a  lady  of 
the  neighborhood  and  settled  on  section  12,  where 
he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  railroad  land,  paying 
$10  per  acre,  which  seemed  a  large  amount  at  that 
time,  when  corn  was  but  ten  cents  a  bushel.  He 
resided  on  said  farm  and  made  many  improvements 
bringing  the  land  under  a  fine  state  of  cultivation, 
until  1867,  when  finding  a  location  that  pleased 
him  better  he  removed,  buying  land  which  became 
the  nucleus  of  his  present  place.  He  now  has  a  fine 
large  estate  of  365  acres  of  excellent  land  in  Mi- 
nonk Township.  This  was  bought  at  various  times 
and  cost  him  different  prices  ranging  from  $16  to 
$70  per  acre.  He  also  owns  160  acres  of  land  in 
Jefferson  County,  Neb. 

Mrs.  Jury  is  an  amiable,  intelligent  lady  and  a 
good  housewife,  looking  well  to  the  ways  of  her 
household.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Joseph  H.  Brown, 
of  Minonk,  and  is  a  native  of  Marshall  County,  111. 
To  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  bom 
three  children,  Genevievc,  wife  of  Andrew  M. 
Strawhacker,  of  Marshall  County,  111.;  Welby,  of 
Minonk  and  Adelbert  Lee,  who  is  at  home. 

Politically  our  subject  is  a  Republican  but  takes 
very  little  active  part  in  the  management  of  party 
affairs.  He  has  never 'sought  or  desired  an  office, 
but  has  yielded  to  the  solicitation  of  his  friends 
and  served  his  district  ns  School  Director.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Jury  are  both  believers  in  the  Christian  reli- 


gion and  active  and  efficient  helpers  in  all  good 
works.  Mrs.  Jury  finds  a  religious  home  within 
the  fold  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  where 
her  blameless  life  and  abundant  charity  make  her 
a  valued  member. 


ARON  B.  MASON  is  successfully  conduct- 
ing the  mercantile  business  in  Washbnrn, 
where  he  has  a  neat,  well-appointed  store, 
and  carries  a  fine  and  well-selected  assort- 
ment of  dry-goods,  notions,  etc.  He  is  a  native 
of  Indiana,  born  in  the  town  of  Middleton,  Shelby 
County,  Sept.  13,  1840,  a  son  of  John  and  Sarah 
(Parker)  Mason,  natives  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.  His 
father  was  reared  in  the  city  of  his  nativity,  and 
early  learned  the  trade  of  tobacconist,  which  he 
followed  there  till  1836.  In  that  year  he  removed 
to  Indiana,  and  locating  in  Shelby  County,  among 
its  pioneers,  established  himself  as  a  tobacconist 
in  the  town  of  Middletown.  He  bought  property 
there  and  was  engaged  in  business  in  that  place  for 
several  years,  but  finally  retired  and  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days  free  from  business  cares,  and 
in  the  enjoyment  of  a  comfortable  income.  He 
died  in  1880,  and  in  his  death  his  community  lost 
a  public-spirited,  upright  citizen.  His  good  wife 
also  died  in  Middletown.  There  were  thirteen 
children  in  their  family,  of  whom  eleven  grew  to 
maturity. 

He  of  whom  we  write  spent  bis  early  life  in  his 
native  town,  gaining  the  preliminaries  of  a  sound 
education  in  the  local  schools,  and  subsquently  ad- 
vancing by  attendance  at  the  excellent  city  schools 
of  Indianapolis.  He  commenced  lifu  for  himself 
ns  a  clerk  in  an  auction  and  commission  store  in 
that  city,  and  during  the  three  years  that  he  held 
that  position  he  gained  an  accurate  knowledge  of 
the  mercantile  business,  and  by  intelligent  and  effi- 
cient service  won  the  commendation  of  those  above 
him.  In  1877  he  resolved  to  come  West  to  see 
what  life  held  for  him  in  the  Prairie  State.  He  es- 
tablished himself  in  Peoria,  as  a  house  and  sign 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


325 


painter,  and  was  thus  occupied  there  seven  years. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  came  to  Wash- 
burn,  and  followed  the  same  trade  the  ensuing  two 
years.  He  then  entered  into  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness which  lie  has  carried  on  ever  since  with  great 
financial  success.  In  the  few  years  since  he  opened 
his  store,  he  has  built  up  a  paying  trade  by  strictly 
honorable  methods,  and  his  prompt  attention  to  the 
wants  of  his  customers,  his  genial  and  obliging 
manner  render  him  popular  with  all  who  have  deil- 
ings  with  him.  Mr.  Mason  was  married  in  1869  to 
Miss  Sarah  Hudson,  a  native  of  Richmond,  Ind., 
and  a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Eunice  (Reed)  Hud- 
son. Her  parents  were  Quakers,  and  were  pioneers 
of  Richmond.  Mrs.  Mason  has  the  requisite  tact 
and  ability  to  make  her  home  attractive  to  its  in- 
mates, and  to  whomsoever  else  crosses  its  threshold, 
it  being  the  seat  of  genuine  hospitality. 

Mr.  Mason  is  a  gentleman  of  true  culture,  and, 
possessing  much  literary  talent,  he  is  a  correspond- 
ent for  various  papers,  and  a  regular  weekly  con- 
tributor to  the  Lacon  Home  Journal.  His  articles 
are  well  and  carefully  written,  giving  evidence  of 
a  bright  and  thoughtful  mind,  and  are  quite  widely 
read.  A  firm  Republican  in  his  political  views, 
Mr.  Mason  is  a  devoted  adherent  to  his  party.  In 
his  wife,  the  Christian  Church  finds  one  of  its  most 
influential  members. 


HARLE8  MOL1TOR.  During  the  early 
part  of  the  present  century,  Europe  was  in 
a  fever  of  discontentment  and  political  ex- 
citement, and  amid  the  tottering  of  kingdoms  the 
immortal  Napoleon  marched  forward  in  his  con- 
quests, climbing  the  Alps  to  the  victory  beyond. 
Before  his  pathway  was  fear,  and  behind  him  he 
left  devastation  and  ruin.  The  termination  of 
this  glory  we  all  know.  The  battle  of  Waterloo 
put  an  end  to  the  ambitious  of  Napoleon,  and 
left  him  alone  in  defeat,  as  he  had  never  been  in 
conquest.  The  little  province  of  Alsace  was  in  no 
small  degree  affected  by  the  wars  and  the  rumors  of 


wars.  It  nestled  among  the  mountains  of  north- 
eastern France,  and  has  often  been  a  bone  of  con- 
tention between  neighboring  kingdoms.  Among 
the  inhabitants  of  Alsace  few  watched  the  march  of 
events  with  greater  interest  than  Charles  A.  and 
Verbena  (Conrad)  Molitor,  with  their  little  group 
of  children.  Three  childish  forms  at  this  period 
clustered  around  the  hearth,  and  for  their  sakcs 
especially  the  parents  rejoiced  to  have  the  fierce 
and  bloody  war  brought  to  a  speedy  termination. 
These  children  were  named:  Charlotte,  Verbena 
and  Charles.  The  latter  was  born  Sept.  29,  1 809, 
and  was  thus  a  lad  of  six  years,  when  the  defeat  of 
Waterloo  occurred. 

Charles  A.  Molitor,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  Bavaria,  but  none  of  his  children 
remained  in  the  Fatherland.  Verbena  died  at  an 
early  age.  while  Charlotte  married  John  Trom,  a 
native  of  France,  but  now  a  resident  of  Canada, 
to  which  country  he  and  his  wife  emigrated  in 
1834.  Their  home  is  beautifully  situated  in  the 
picturesque  district  near  Niagara  Falls. 

The  only  son  of  Charles  A. Molitor  is  now  an  hon- 
ored resident  of  this  count}',  and  rests  quietly  in  his 
pleasant  home  after  a  long  and  adventurous  life. 
He  has  made  his  home  in  many  countries,  and  has 
lived  under  many  flags.  In  1824  he  left  his  child- 
hood home,  and  sojourned  for  a  time  in  Russia. 

But  the  cold,  uncongenial  climate,  and  barren, 
unproductive  soil,  were  not  suited  to  his  tastes,  nor 
was  the  political  condition  of  Russia  all  that  he 
could  wish.  He  set  sail  from  the  port  of  Havre 
de  Grace,  France,  in  1835,  and  after  a  tempestu- 
ous voyage  of  thirty-five  days  landed  in  New  York 
City.  For  one  year  he  was  employed  in  that  city 
at  his  trade  as  a  cabinet-maker.  While  a  resident 
of  that  city  he  increased  his  responsibilities,  and 
also  his  share  of  happiness,  by  uniting  his  interests 
and  cares  with  those  of  Miss  Mary  Burky,  a  native 
of  Bavaria,  to  whom  he  was  married  May  1,  1836. 
Her  parents  left  their  old  home,  and  located  in 
America,  the  same  year  that  witnessed  the  depart- 
ure of  her  future  husband.  Her  father  had  been  a 
farmer  in  the  old  country,  but  engaged  in  keeping 
a  boarding-house  in  New  York  Cit}'. 

After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Molitor  became  at- 
tracted by  stories   of  the  West,   and  accordingly 


326 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in  1837,  changed  their  abode  to  Tazewell  County, 
111.,  where  they  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty  acres. 
This  was  in  a  wild,  uncultivated  state,  but  he  im- 
proved it  until  lie  had  it  all  in  good  condition, 
when  he  sold  it,  and  bought  a  farm  of  136  acres 
with  a  small  house.  Here  he  made  his  home  and 
here  his  wife  passed  away  in  1844. 

Of  the  eight  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Molitor, 
one  alone  survives,  Catarina,  who  married  Charles 
Wineland,  of  Kankakee,  111.  He  is  engaged  as  a 
contractor,  and  has  established  an  enviable  reputa- 
tion in  his  occupation.  They  are  the  parents  of 
eight  children. 

A  second  matrimonial  alliance  was  formed  by 
Mr  Molitor  in  1844,  when  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mary  Ann  Phillips,  a  native  of 
Tazewell  County,  III.  She  is  of  French  descent, 
her  parents  having  been  residents  of  Loudraj7, 
France.  Of  the  eleven  children  born  of  this  union, 
six  arrived  at  the  years  of  maturity,  as  follows : 
Charles  P.,  Joseph,  Frank,  George  L.  Benjamin  S.. 
and  Rupert  D.  The  eldest,  Charles  P.  married 
Miss  Ilagaman,  of  Tazewell  County,  and  he  is  em- 
ployed as  a  railroad  engineer  in  Chicago,  where 
they  make  their  home.  The  record  of  their  chil- 
dren is  as  follows:  George,  Mary,  Emma,  and 
Frank.  The  second  son,  Joseph,  married  Miss 
Ragley,  l>y  whom  he  has  two  children — Robert 
and  Edward.  After  the  death  of  this  wife  he  again 
married,  the  name  of  his  second  wife  being  Miss 
Tracie  Hummel,  a  native  of  Germany,  by  whom  he 
has  three  children.  He  is  occupied  as  a  farmer  in 
this  county.  George  L.  married  Eve  Geiger,  a 
native  of  this  county,  and  they  reside  in  Metamora, 
with  their  three  children — Douglas,  Henry  and 
George  L.  The  occupation  of  the  father  is  that  of 
a  farmer,  in  which  he  is  very  successful.  Benjamin 
S.  married  Miss  Camp,  whose  birthplace  was  in 
Tazewell  County,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  two 
children — Wilsie  and  Benjamin  L.  Their  home  is 
in  Washington  Village,  where  the  husband  and 
father  has  been  engaged  for  many  years  as  a  farmer. 
Frank  is  in  the  employ  of  a  railroad  company  in 
Chicago. 

Mr.  Molitor  is  justly  proud  of  his  war  record, 
and  as  a  slight  compensation  for  injuries  received 
in  the  service  he  now  draws  a  pension.  He  en- 


listed in  the  14th  Illinois  Cavalry,  under  Col. 
Caliron;  was  engaged  in  the  conflict  at  Salina,  Tenn. 
and  then  at  Castle  Creek.  In  the  latter  battle  he 
was  wounded  in  the  head.  lie  was  taken  prisoner 
at  Scottsville,  Tenn.,  but  was  fortunate  enough  to 
get  exchanged  shortly  after.  He  received  an  hon- 
orable discharge  at  Indianapolis,  in  1865. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Molitor  returned 
to  his  home,  and  commenced  farming  operations, 
lie  now  owns  a  farm  with  a  fine  residence,  and  the 
land  is  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  He  and  his 
wife  and  family  are  members  in  good  standing  of 
the  Catholic  Church.  Politically,  our  subject  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  has  held  the  office  of  the 
Justice  of  the  Peace  for  the  period  of  forty  years. 


f,  AMES  PIPER,  a  resident  of  Cazenovia  Town- 
ship, has  been  a  prominent  factor  in  the  re- 
ligious, social,  political,  and  material  devel- 
opment of  Woodford  County,  where  he  has 
lived  for  so  many  years.  He  is  connected  with  its 
farming  interests,  having  improved  a  farm  from 
the  wild  prairies  on  which  he  has  made  his  home 
for  a  period  of  thirty-six  years.  He  was  born  in 
Cumberland  County,  Pa.,  Nov.  1,  1824.  His 
father,  Capt.  James  Piper,  was  born  on  the  same 
farm,  and  his  father,  John  Piper,  was  born  either 
in  Scotland  or  the  North  of  Ireland.  His  father, 
Samuel  Piper,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  emigrated  to 
the  North  of  Ireland,  where  he  spent  his  last  years. 
The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  reared  in  Ire- 
land, and  soon  after  marriage  came  to  America,  and 
settled  in  Cumberland  County,  Pa.,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land  on  the  stream  known  as  the 
Big  Spring.  There  was  an  unimproved  water- 
power  on  the  place,  which  he  utilized,  damming  the 
stream,  and  building  the  flrst  mill  ever  erected  in 
that  part  of  the  country.  While  operating  the  mil  I  he 
superintended  the  improvement  of  a  farm,  and  was 
a  resident  there  until  his  death.  The  father  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  fell  heir  to  his  father's  prop- 
erty, and  spent  his  entire  life  in  the  home  of  his 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


327 


birth,  dying  Jan.  1,  1846.  He  served  his  country 
in  the  War  of  1812,  having  a  captain's  commission. 
The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Catherine  Irvin.  She  was  born  in  Cumber- 
land County,  Pa.,  while  her  father,  Samuel  Irvin, 
was  a  native  of  Chester  County,  Pa.  John  Irvin, 
the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Scotland,  and  on  coming  to  America,  located  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  spent  his  last  years  in  Cumber- 
land County.  The  grandfather  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  erected  the  second  mill  ever  built  on 
the  Big  Spring.  He  devoted  his  time  to  farming 
and  milling,  and  passed  his  last  years  in  Cumber- 
land County.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  died  on  the  homestead  June?,  1844.  There 
were  six  children  born  to  the  parents  of  our  sub- 
ject: Mary  married  John  S.  Dunlap,  and  lives  in 
Pennsylvania:  Jane  died  at  the  home  of  our  sub- 
ject in  1885;  John  died  in  Lacon,  in  1889;  Samuel 
lives  in  Cumberland  County,  Pa.;  Elizabeth  mar- 
ried G.  V.  Mallorey,  and  died  in  1876. 

He  of  whom  we  write,  was  reared  and  educated 
in  his  native  county,  and  in  1847,  in  the  prime  and 
vigor  of  early  manhood,  he  stalled  on  an  explor- 
ing expedition  to  Illinois,  wishing  to  gain  a  good 
knowledge  of  the  country,  and  to  try  life  on  the 
broad  prairies  of  the  West.  He  proceeded  by 
stage  to  Mansfield,  Ohio,  and  thence  by  rail  to 
Sandusky,  where  he  embarked  on  a  steamer  for 
Milwaukee,  and  from  that  city  he  walked  to  Galena, 
111.  He  made  a  short  stay  there,  and  then  made 
his  way  to  Alban}*,  Whiteside  County,  where  he 
remained  two  months.  After  that  lie  went  to  Mar- 
shall County,  and  there  turned  his  education  to 
account  by  commencing  a  term  of  school  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1848,  in  the  Round  Prairie  school  house,  five 
miles  southeast  of  Lacon.  He  taught  there  until 
June  with  excellent  success,  and  then  after  working 
on  a  farm  until  fall,  returned  to  Pennsylvania.  He 
remained  in  his  native  State  until  1850,  when  he 
once  again  came  West,  traveling  by  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  rivers  to  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  then  a  small 
village,  and  on  the  spot  where  Minneapolis  now 
stands,  there  were  but  a  few  small  houses.  He 
staid  there  ten  days,  but  liking  what  he  had  seen  of 
Illinois,  better,  he  came  here,  and  sought  employ- 
ment in  Wood  ford  County,  and  until  the  follow- 


ing spring  of  1851  worked  by  the  day  or  month  at 
whatsoever  his  hands  found  to  do.  With  good 
judgment  and  foresight,  he  invested  his  hard  earn- 
ings in  160  acres  of  land,  forming  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  26,  Ca/.enovia  Township.  It 
was  wild  prairie  land,  but  by  the  quiet  force  of 
persistent  and  wisely  directed  labor,  in  the  years 
that  followed  he  reclaimed  it  from  its  wild  state, 
improving  it  into  one  of  the  most  desirable  farms 
in  this  locality,  and  has  since  made  his  home  on  it, 
having  erected  substantial  buildings  in  the  spring 
of  1853.  He  has  been  enabled  to  add  more  land  to 
his  original  purchase,  and  now  has  240  acres  of 
choice  farming  land,  provided  with  a  commodious 
dwelling,  a  neat  barn,  and  other  necessary  out- 
buildings. He  has  a  fine  orchard,  and  has  other- 
wise adorned  his  place  by  planting  hedges,  and 

i    beautiful  shade  trees. 

Mr.  Piper  has  been  twice  married.  To  the  wife 
of  his  earlier  years,  Miss  Elizabeth  Dodds,  he  was 

|  wedded  in  February,  1851.  She  was  a  native  of 
Montgomery  County,  Ohio,  and  the  oldest  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Priscilla  Dodds.  (For  her  pa- 
rental history  see  sketch  of  John  E.  Dodds  on 
another  page  of  this  ALBUM.)  Aug.  7,  1872,  Mrs. 
Piper  was  taken  from  her  family  by  her  untimely 
demise.  There  were  six  children  born  of  that  mar- 
riage, namely:  William  I.,  James  E.,  Robert  D., 
Mary  E.,  Joseph  L.,  and  Clara  May.  The  latter 
died  when  four  years  old. 

Mr.  Piper  was  married  to  his  present  wife  in 
October,  1873,  and  to  them  have  come  two  chil- 
dren, John  G.,  and  Charles  A.  Mrs.  Piper's  maiden 
name  was  Priscilla  Gracey,  and  Cumberland  County, 
Pa.,  was  her  native  place.  Her  parents,  Col.  Will- 
iam and  Sarah  A.  Gracey,  were  also  born  in  that 
county.  Her  father  is  a  man  of  considerable  promi- 
nence in  his  community,  and  is  an  officer  in  the 
Stale  militia,  holding  a  commission  in  the  44th 
Pennsylvania  Regiment,  P.  N.  G. 

During  his  many  years  residence  here,  Mr.  Pip- 
er's course  in  life  has  been  such  as  to  win  the  re- 
gard and  respect  of  all  who  have  come  under  the 
genial  influence  of  his  guileless,  manly  character, 
his  pleasant,  helpful  ways,  and  his  unswerving  ad- 
herence to  the  right.  He  has  filled  an  important 
place  in  the  government  of  the  county  and  town- 


328 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ship,  and  his  fellow-officials  have  found  him  to  be 
an  able  and  wise  counselor.  He  represented  Caz- 
enovia  Township  on  the  County  Board  of  Super- 
visors several  terms,  and  from  1868  to  1872,  was  a 
member  of  the  State  Board  of  Equalization.  He 
has  filled  various  local  offices,  served  as  School  Di- 
rector ten  years,  and  as  Trustee  twelve  years.  His 
patriotism  and  loyalty  to  his  country  were  abun- 
dantly proved  during  the  late  war,  when  he  joined 
a  company  of  home  guards,  receiving  a  commis- 
sion from  Gov.  Yates,  as  captflin.  In  politics,  he 
is  a  faithful  supporter  of  the  Republican  party.  In 
him  and  his  estimable  wife,  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church  finds  two  of  its  most  consistent  and  valued 
members. 


\W)AMES  FORSYTH.  To  Illinois  have  emi- 
||  grated  the  best  elements  of  nearly  all  na- 
tions, and  in  the  early  days  the  English 
emigrant  was  not  slow  to  take  advantage  of 
the  promise  held  out  in  her  rich  soil  awaiting  de- 
velopment from  the  hand  of  the  husbandman.  Mr. 
Forsyth,  a  native  of  Cumberland  County,  England, 
came  to  Panola  Township,  in  the  early  days,  con- 
tributed his  full  quota  toward  its  growth  and  de- 
velopment, and  is  now  numbered  among  her  leading 
farmers  and  stock-raisers.  He  selected  land  on 
section  11,  where  we  now  find  him  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  a  well-cultivated  farm,  and  all  the  comforts 
and  conveniences  of  modern  rural  life. 

Our  subject  was  born  June  14,  1833,  and  is  the 
son  of  James  and  Margaret  (Kerr)  Forsyth.  who 
were  natives  of  Scotland,  but  settled  in  England 
prior  to  the  birth  of  their  son,  James,  Jr.  The  lat- 
ter was  deprived  by  death  of  the  affectionate  care 
of  his  mother  when  in  the  fourth  year  of  his  age. 
He  was  the  youngest  son,  and  was  given  a  good 
education.  He  took  kindly  to  his  books,  and  since 
leaving  school,  has,  by  a  course  of  reading,  kept 
himself  posted  upon  the  general  topics  of  the  day. 
He  served  an  apprenticeship  at  farming  in  his  na- 
tive county,  and  lived  there  until  a  young  man  of 
twenty-four  years.  In  the  meantime  he  had  been 


receiving  information  of  the  encouragement  held 
out  to  the  young  men  in  the  great  West  of  the 
United  States,  and  now  determined  to  emigrate 
thither. 

In  1857,  Mr.  Forsyth  repaired  to  Liverpool,  and 
embarked  on  a  sailing  vessel,  which,  after  a  voyage 
of  thirty-seven  days,  landed  him  safely  in  New 
York  City.  Thence  he  came  directly  to  Illinois, 
and  for  about  two  years  thereafter  worked  in  the 
coal  mines  of  La  Salle  County.  In  1 859  he  changed 
his  residence  to  Woodford  County,  of  which  he  has 
since  been  one  of  the  most  valued  citizens.  His 
first  purchase  of  land  was  eighty  acres  of  raw  prai- 
rie, which  remained  in  the  condition  which  the  In- 
dians had  left  it,  and  over  which  deer,  wolves  and 
other  wild  animals  had  heretofore  roamed  unre- 
strained. He  began  at  first  principles  in  the  con- 
struction of  a  farm,  breaking  the  prairie,  building 
fences,  planting  trees,  and  while  raising  each  year 
his  grain  and  provisions,  effected  improvements  as 
rapidly  as  possible.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  a 
quarter  section,  all  of  which  he  has  brought  to  a 
good  state  of  cultivation,  and  which,  in  fact,  is  ad- 
mitted to  be  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  township. 

In  1856,  the  year  prior  to  leaving  England,  our 
subject  was  married  to  Miss  Jane  Watson,  a  native 
of  his  own  county,  and  who  died  after  becoming 
the  mother  of  one  child,  a  daughter,  whom  they 
named  Mary.  Our  subject  contracted  a  second 
marriage,  1876,  in  this  township,  with  Mrs.  Sarah 
Taylor.  This  lady  was  born  in  Lancashire,  April 
4,  1838,  and  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
Morris,  who  were  likewise  of  English  birth  and 
parentage,  and  who  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
when  their  daughter  Elizabeth  was  a  child  of  three 
years.  Coming  to  Illinois,  they  settled  in  Peoria 
County,  of  which  they  were  among  the  pioneers, 
and  there  the}'  spent  their  last  days.  Neither,  how- 
ever, lived  to  be  aged,  the  father  dying  Aug.  10, 
1847,  and  the  mother  Aug.  13,  1850.  They  were 
the  parents  of  nine  children,  only  three  of  whom 
are  living,  viz:  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  O.  B.  Greene, 
of  Peoria  County;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Forsyth,  and  James 
T.,  in  Peoria  County. 

The  present  Mrs.  Forsyth  was  first  married  in 
Peoria  Count}-,  111..  June  2,  1856,  to  Samuel  Tav- 
lor,  a  native  of  Lancashire  England,  and  by  whom 


I 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


329 


she  became  the  mother  of  four  children.  The  eld- 
est, Ella  R.,  is  now  the  wife  of  Samuel  A.  Ennefer, 
of  Iliincock  County,  111.;  Frank  M.,  and  Oswald  B. 
are  living  at  home;  Lizzie  J.  is  deceased.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Taylor  located  in  Panola  Township,  this 
county,  in  1865.  Mr.  Taylor  taking  up  land  on 
section  2,  lie  engaged  in  its. improvement  and  culti- 
vation until  the  illness  which  resulted  in  his  death, 
March  7,  1872.  Mrs.  Forsyth  has  in  her  own  right 
a  farm  of  160  acres.  She  was  the  second  wife  of 
Mr.  Taylor,  who,  by  his  first  marriage  was  the 
father  of  one  son,  John  C.,  who  is  now  in  Peorin. 
Mr.  Forsyth,  politically,  is  a  sound  Republican, 
and  has  served  two  terms  as  Road  Commissioner. 
In  the  spring  of  1888,  he  was  elected  to  represent 
Pnnola  Township,  in  the  County  Board  of  Super- 
visors. He  may  properly  be  numbered  among  the 
self-made  men  of  Wood  ford  Count}',  and  has  con- 
tributed his  full  quota  to  her  progress  and  de- 
velopment. 


IHLLIAM  S.  BULLOCK.  The  difference 
in  men  is  keenly  recognized  as  the  biog- 
rapher  goes  from  place  to  place  and  meets 
all  kinds  of  individuals.  He  finds  some  living  for 
self  alone,  regardless  of  the  rights  or  happiness  of 
others,  and  others  intent  upon  getting  gain.  Here 
and  there  is  a  man  who,  unlike  the  others,  entertains 
a  conviction  that  he  was  born  to  be  of  some  use  in 
the  world  and  endeavors,  is  far  as  in  him  lies,  to 
fulfill  his  manifest  destiny.  The  subject  of  this 
notice  is  one  of  those,  living  with  a  purpose  in 
view  which  shall  reflect  honor  upon  his  name  when 
he  can  labor  no  longer.  He  is  generally  regarded 
as  a  quiet  and  unostentatious  citizen,  but  lie  carries 
with  him  an  influence  which  will  be  felt  after  he 
has  been  gathered  to  his  fathers.  His  life  perhaps 
lias  been  passed  in  a  comparatively  uneventful 
manner,  a  life  which  for  many  years  has  been 
strengthened  in  its  best  purposes  by  the  assistance 
and  influence  of  his  amiable  and  excellent  wife. 
Mrs.  Bullock  is  one  of  the  most  estimable  ladies  of 
her  community,  and  has  proven  herself  well  fitted 


for  the  position  she  occupies,  as  the  presiding 
genius  of  a  good  man's  home  and  the  mother  of  a 
family  of  intelligent  children. 

Mr.  Bullock  is  a  fanner  by  occupation,  and  be- 
sides owning  a  thoroughly  cultivated  farm  of  160 
acres,  has  in  partnership  with  his  sons,  an  interest 
in  450  acres.  The  homestead  occupies  a  portion 
of  section  23  in  Olio  Township,  and  has  been  the 
property  of  our  subject  since  1863.  He  has  effected 
most  of  the  improvements  upon  it,  and  to  assist 
him  in  his  labors  employs  modern  machinery  of  an 
improved  pattern,  and  keeps  himself  well  posted 
in  regard  to  the  best  methods  of  agriculture. 
Without  making  any  pretentions  to  elegance,  his 
.  buildings  are  neat  and  substantial  and  kept  in  good 
repair,  while  he  has  gathered  about  himself  and 
family  all  those  comforts  and  conveniences  which 
have  so  much  effect  upon  the  happiness  of  a  home- 
stead. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Woodford  County, 
Ky.,  May  12,  1827,  and  was  the  eldest  son  and 
second  child  of  Thomas  and  Agnes  (Ware)  Bul- 
lock, the  former  a  native  of  Woodford  County, 
and  the  latter  of  Franklin  County,  Ky.  Thomas 
Bullock  lived  near  the  place  of  his  birth  until 
after  his  marriage.  Then  he  changed  his  residence 
to  Owen  County,  and  from  there,  in  1835,  emi- 
grated to  Woodford  County,  111.,  settling  one  mile 
southwest  of  the  present  site  of  Eureka;  no  signs  of  a 
town  were  visible  at  that  time.  There  he  built  up 
a  homestead  from  an  uncultivated  tract  of  land, 
where  he  lived  until  the  death  of  the  mother, 
which  occurred  Feb.  16,  1882.  After  her  death, 
the  father  of  our  subject  came  to  live  with  the 
latter,  and  departed  this  life  Feb.  18,  1887. 

Thomas  Bullock  was  a  man  of  note  in  his  com- 
munity, liberal,  public-spirited,  and  warmly  inter- 
terested  in  the  progress  and  development  of  his 
adopted  county.  He  was  instrumental  in  having 
it  named  after  his  native  county  in  Kentucky,  and 
himself  presented  it  to  the  consideration  of  the 
Slate  Legislature.  He  opened  up  a  farm,  and  be- 
sides carrying  on  agriculture,  dealt  considerably  in 
live-stock.  Seven  of  his  children  survive  him. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  eight  years  old 
when  his  parents  removed  to  Woodford  Count}', 
this  State,  and  here  he  grew  to  manhood  in  Olio 


330 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


VORTER  S.  BASSETT  came  to  Illinois  in 
1855,  identifying  himself  with  the  pioneer 
farmers  of  Woodford  County  in  the  fol- 
lowing spring,  and  has  been  so  fortunate 
in  his  enterprise  that  he  is  now  numbered  among 
the  prominent  and  well-to-do  agriculturists  and 
stock-raisers  of  this  part  of  the  State.  His  farm 
is  on  section  32,  of  Panola  Township,  and  is  in 
every  way  one  of  the  most  desirable  of  the  produc- 
tive farms  of  this  locality. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Cheuango  County, 
N.  Y.,  born  Jan.  11.  1828,  to  Urian  and  Submit 
(C'liapin)  Bassett.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, while  his  mother  was  of  New  York  birth,  her 
father  being  a  native  of  Connecticut.  The  Bas- 
setts  are  said  to  have  emigrated  to  Vermont  at  an 


Township.  He  remained  a  member  of  the  parental 
household  until  reaching  his  majority,  and  remem- 
bers many  of  the  incidents  connected  with  pioneer 
life.  He  assisted  in  building  the  first  mill  erected 
in  Eureka,  and  was  employed  in  it  for  a  short  time. 
It  was  owned  and  operated  by  John  Major  &  Co. 
Aside  from  this  diversion,  he  has  always  been  en-  j 
gaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  When  approach- 
ing the  twenty-fifth  year  of  his  age  he  was  married, 
Oct.  14,  1852,  to  Miss  Mary  A.Mitchell.  This 
lady  was  born  in  Indiana,  and  came  with  her  par- 
ents to  this  county  in  1833.  Of  her  union  with 
our  subject  there  have  been  born  three  children: 
Clara,  the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Spencer, 
and  lives  in  Buffalo  County,  Neb.;  Harvey  W. 
married  a  Miss  Ay  res,  and  lives  in  Woodford 
County;  John  M.  married  a  Miss  Blanchard,  and 
they  live  in  Woodford  County. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Bullock  affiliates  with 
the  Democratic  party.  He  has  held  some  of  the 
minor  offices,  but  prefers  that  other  men  should 
assume  their  cares  and  responsibilities.  Both  he 
and  his  good  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church,  and  their  children  have  been  given  a  good 
practical  education.  The  family  represents  the 
best  element  of  the  community. 


early  day  and  to  have  been  among  its  first  settlers. 
Porter  Bassett  of  this  sketch,  was  the  oldest  child 
of  his  father's  family,  and  was  bred  to  the  life  of  a 
farmer  in  his  native  State.  He  received  a  limited 
common-school  education,  which  he  has  improved 
by  extensive  reading  and  by  observation,  he  hav- 
ing a  quick,  receptive  mind.  In  taking  that  im- 
portant step  in  life,  his  marriage  Aug.  15,  1851,  to 
Miss  Malvina  L.  French,  he  was  so  fortunate  ns 
to  secure  a  good  wife,  one  who  has  been  both  a 
companion  and  a  helpmate.  She  is,  like  himself,  a 
native  of  New  York,  and  of  New  England  anteced- 
ents, her  parents,  James  A.  and  C3'nthia  French, 
having  been  born  in  that  part  of  the  country.  Two 
children  have  been  born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife, 
namely:  Florence,  wife  of  P.  M.  Evans,  of  Panola 
Village;  Addie,  wife  of  J.  C.  Schofield,  of  Panola 
Township.  In  1855  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bassett  left 
their  native  State  for  the  .purpose  of  building  up" 
a  new  home  under  more  favorable  auspices  in  the 
West,  and  coming  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  that  year, 
they  spent  the  ensuing  winter  in  LaSalle  County. 
In  the  spring  of  1855  they  took  up  their  abode  in 
Woodford  County,  Mr.  Bassett  buying  a  tract  of 
wild  land  of  the  railway  company  in  Greene  Town- 
ship. He  broke  and  placed  under  cultivation  the 
whole  eighty  acres,  and  made  many  fair  improve- 
ments during  the  ten  years  that  he  and  his  family 
lived  on  it.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  dis- 
posed of  it,  and  moved  onto  his  present  farm, 
which  at  that  time  comprised  115  acres,  of  which 
about  one-half  had  been  broken,  and  a  small 
house  stood  on  the  place.  In  the  years  that  have 
passed  since  then,  Mr.  Bassett  has  wrought  a  great 
change  by  the  quiet  force  of  persistent  labor. 
There  was  much  pioneer  labor  to  be  performed, 
and  many  hardships  to  endure  before  this  could  be 
brought  about.  But  happily  Mr.  Bassett  was  not 
easily  discouraged,  and  having  a  strong  will,  good 
powers  of  endurance,  and  a  clear  mind  in  a  health}' 
body,  has  accomplished  a  great  deal,  with  the  aid 
of  a  helpful  wife,  where  others  might  have  failed, 
and  his  farm, which  now  comprises  225  acres, is  under 
admirable  tillage,  is  provided  with  ample  buildings, 
and  everything  about  the  place  is  in  excellent  order. 
When  the  Bassetts  first  came  to  the  county  it  was 
still  in  quite  a  wild  condition.  Many  of  its  first 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


331 


settlers  were  still  living  here  and  had  not  completed 
their  work.  The  few  farms  tlmt  had  been  devel- 
oped lacked  the  many  comfortable  improvements 
that  distinguish  the  numerous  fine  farms  of  to  Any. 
Civilization  was  not  so  far  advanced,  but  that  deer, 
wolves  and  other  wild  animals  were  still  plenty  and 
often  troublesome,  though  the  flesh  of  the  deer  and 
other  wild  game  furnished  the  pioneers  with  deli- 
cious food. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bassett  are  regarded  with  feelings 
of  affection  and  respect  by  the  people  of  this  com- 
munity, where  they  have  made  their  home  so  many 
years,  and  their  neighbors  have  always  found  them 
kin.I  hearted,  charitable,  friendly,  and  hospitable, 
always  ready  and  glad  to  give  assistance  where  it 
was  needed,  and  never  failing  to  extend  sympathy 
to  those  in  trouble  or  sorrow.  Mr.  Bassett  is 
worthily  fulfilling  the  duties  of  citizenship,  and 
has  served  his  township  faithfully  as  Assessor  and 
Road  Commissioner  for  several  years.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Grange  Lodge  at  El  Pa»o,  and  polit- 
ically, is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party. 


MOSCHEL  is  one  of  the  most 
progressive  and  enterprising  of  the  native- 
born  young  men  of  Woodford  County,  who 
within  the  last  decade  have  stepped  to  the  front  to 
take  up  the  work  so  well  begun  by  their  pioneer 
sires,  and  are  pushing  forward  the  great  commer- 
cial and  agricultural  interests  of  the  county,  and 
are  prominent  factors  in  the  promotion  of  its  finan- 
cial prosperity.  He  is  member  of  the  firm  of 
Moschel  &  Tweddale,  grocers,  who  are  conducting 
the  grocery  business  in  Washburn.  Although  so 
young,  our  subject  is  already  prominently  identi- 
fied with  the  public  life  of  his  native  county,  as  a 
member  of  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors. 

Our  subject  wns  born  in  Cazenovia  Township, 
Dec.  1,  1862.  His  father,  John  Moschel,  was  born 
in  Bavaria.  Germany,  and  his  father  bearing  the 
same  name,  was  a  native  of  the  same  place.  The 
grandfather  of  our  subject  and  his  two  brothers, 
Nicholas  and  Christian  came  to  America  and 


all  reared  families.  The  grandfather  of  our 
subject  came  about  1853,  and  first  lived  below 
Peoria.  lie  had  always  followed  agricultural 
pursuits,  but  after  coming  to  the  United  States,  he 
did  not  engage  in  any  active  business.  His  last 
years  were  passed  quietly  in  Cazenovia  Township. 
His  children  were  as  follows:  John,  Christian, 
Philip,  Susanna,  Sophia  and  Phebe. 

The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
reared  and  married  in  his  native  land,  and  lived 
there  till  about  1852,  then  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  residing  for  a  short  time  in  Peoria.  After 
that  he  removed  to  a  farm  below  that  city,  on 
which  he  lived  till  1859,  and  in  that  year  he  came 
to  Cazenovia  Township.  There  he  purchased  a 
farm,  located  on  sections  2  and  3,  erected  a 
good  set  of  frame  buildings,  and  made  his  home 
there  till  death  claimed  him,  During  that  time  he 
had  purchased  desirable  property  in  Washburn, 
and  had  erected  a  fine  house,  in  which  he  intended 
to  spend  his  declining  years,  but  was  taken  sick 
and  died  just  as  it  was  ready  for  occupancy.  He 
was  a  well-educated  man,  possessing  a  good  fund 
of  general  information,  and  was  a  conspicuous  fig- 
ure in  the  public  and  political  life  of  Woodford 
County,  and  was  a  member  of  the  County  Board 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  having  filled  various  other 
offices  of  trust.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was 
Mary  Sandmeyer,  a  native  of  the  same  place  as 
himself.  There  are  three  of  their  children  living: 
Mary,  wife  of  Henry  Lesch,  of  Washburn;  John, 
who  lives  on  the  home  farm,  and  the  subject  of 
this  sketch. 

The  latter  received  a  substantial  education  in 
the  village  schools,  and  afforded  his  father  valuable 
assistance  on  the  farm  till  the  month  of  October, 
1885.  At  that  time  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
J.  R.  Tweddale,  to  engage  in  the  grocery  business, 
which  they  have  carried  on  together  with  excellent 
success  ever  since.  They  have  a  fine  store,  replete 
in  all  its  appointments,  and  carry,  besides  gro- 
ceries, jewelry,  of  which  they  have  a  well-  selected 
stock.  ''}'•:, 

A  bright,  active  young  man,  with  a  well-bal- 
anced mind,  and  an  exceptional  talent  for  business, 
our  subject  has  early  been  called  to  take  his  part 
in  the  administration  of  the  government  of  his 


332 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


native  county.  The  people  among  whom  he  has 
grown  to  manhood  regarding  him  as  eminently 
worthy  of  their  suffrage,  elected  him  to  the  Super- 
visorship  to  succeed  himself,  he  having  been  ap- 
pointed to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  his  father  at 
the  time  of  the  latter's  death,  and  his  course  in  that 
position  was  so  satisfactory,  that  at  the  expiration 
of  that  term  in  1889,  he  was  re-elected  to  represent 
the  interest  of  Cazenovia  Township  a  second  term. 
Politically  he  is  an  ardent  follower  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  Religiously,  he  believes  in  the  tenets 
of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  is  one  of  its  most 
useful  members. 


I  OHN  M.  PHILLIPS,  the  present  efficient  Su- 
pervisor of  Montgomery  Township,  is  num- 
bered among  the  prominent  and  progressive 
farmers  of  this  count}',  where  he  has  made 
his  home  since  1 865.  He  now  owns  and  operates  a 
ftne  farm  of  226  acres  situated  on  section  3,  which 
he  purchased  in  1866.  Almost  the  entire  amount 
is  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  the  surround- 
ings indicate  the  thrift  and  enterprise  of  the  owner, 
whose  efforts  have  been  very  successful.  He  is 
numbered  among  the  prosperous  farmers  of  the 
community,  where  he  has  so  long  been  favorably 
known. 

Mr.  Phillips  is  a  native  of  Guernsey  County, 
Ohio,  born  Feb.  22,  1829.  His  parents  were  Will- 
iam and  Priscilla  (White)  Phillips,  the  former  a 
native  of  Loudoun  County,  Va.,  the  latter  of  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.  For  several  generations  past,  the 
Phillips  family  have  been  residents  of  the  Old 
Dominion,  where  William  was  reared  to  manhood. 
He  then  emigrated  to  the  Buckeye  State,  locating 
in  Guernsey  County,  where  he  became  acquainted 
with,  and  married  Miss  White.  They  began  their 
domestic  life  on  a  rented  farm  in  that  county,  but 
later  purchased  land,  and  in  the  home  thus  made 
Mrs.  Phillips  resided  until  her  death,  which  occurred 
Aug.  15,  1851,  at  the  age  of  forty-six  years.  She 
was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  was  be- 
loved by  all  who  knew  her  for  her  many  excellent 


traits  of  head  and  heart.  After  the  loss  of  his 
loved  companion,  Mr.  Phillips  came  to  the  West, 
locating  in  Topeka,  Kan.,  where  he  resided  in  the 
home  of  his  son,  W.  W.,  until  called  from  the  busy 
scenes  of  this  life.  His  death  occurred  Aug.  15. 
1 88 1 ,  at  the  age  of  eight}- -three  years,  just  thirty 
years  after  his  wife  crossed  the  dark  river.  He  was 
a  man  of  high  moral  character,  and  though  he 
never  united  with  any  religious  organization,  his 
upright  life  commanded  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  all.  He  scorned  to  do  a  wrong  or  inflict  an  in- 
jury, but  in  a  quiet  and  unostentatious  manner 
performed  many  acts  of  kindness,  which  will  long 
be  remembered.  In  early  life  he  cast  his  ballot 
with  the  Whig  party,  but  at  the  formation  of 
the  Republican  part}'  joined  its  ranks,  and  con- 
tinued to  fight  under  its  banner  until  death. 

By  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phillips,  a  family 
of  eight  children  was  born,  five  sons  and  three 
daughters,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the  eldest. 
The  family  circle  remained  unbroken  until  all  had 
reached  maturity.  The  entire  number  were  mar- 
ried and  had  families,  and,  with  one  exception,  are 
yet  living.  One  of  the  brothers  died,  leaving  a 
wife  and  child. 

Mr.  Phillips,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  passed  the 
days  of  his  childhood  and  youth  in  his  native  county, 
and  in  the  schools  of  the  neighborhood  received  his 
education.  In  Guernsey  Count}'  his  parents  resided, 
and  with  them  he  remained  until  attaining  his  ma- 
jority, when  he  left  home  and  became  a  resident  of 
Pickaway  County.  There  he  led  to  the  marriage 
altar  Miss  Sarah  Reed,  who  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, June  7,  1833,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Lewis  and 
Mary  (Myers)  Reed,  also  natives  of  the  Keystone 
State.  The  parents  were  reared  and  married  near 
their  childhood  home,  where  their  children  were 
also  born.  When  Mrs.  Phillips  was  a  young  girl, 
they  left  their  Eastern  home,  emigrating  to  Pick- 
away  County,  Ohio,  where  the  parents  passed  the 
remainder  of  their  lives.  They  were  members  of 
the  Evangelical  Association,  and  both  died  in  the 
faith  of  that  society,  at  a  ripe  old  age. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phillips  have  been  born 
eleven  children,  and  though  nearly  all  of  them  are 
married  and  have  left  the  parental  roof,  none  have 
been  called  from  this  life.  Ezra,  the  first-born, 


RESIDENCE  OF  JOHN  M  .PHILLIPS, SEC. 3. MONTGOMERY  TOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCE  OF  JOHN  SNYDER^SEC'S.  7.a.8.METAMORATowN5HiP. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


335 


married  Loui-sa  Cooper,  and  now  resides  with  his 
family  in  Fremont,  Dodge  Co..  Neb.,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  farming;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Trumbull 
Skinner,  a  resident  farmer  of  Cass  County,  Neb.; 
William  married  Ellen  Stumbaugh,and  follows  the 
same  occupation  in  Dodge  County,  Neb.;  Kate 
wedded  George  Gibson,  and  the}7  reside  on  a  farm 
near  Fremont,  Neb.;  Olive  married  William  Gib- 
son, a  farmer  of  Dodge  County;  Lewis  R.,  unmar- 
ried, is  a  successful  teacher  of  Dodgy  County; 
Evan  is  at  home;  Josephine  is  the  wife  of  Perry 
J.  Hoyt,  who  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Montgomery  Township  [John  W.,  Sherman  and 
David  are  at  home.  The  children  have  received  lib- 
eral educational  advantages,  and  are  now  respected 
men  and  women  of  the  various  communities,  in 
which  they  reside.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phillips  are  active 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  have 
been  instrumental  in  advancing  its  interests  and 
promoting  its  welfare.  They  give  liberally  to  all 
enterprises  for  the  good  of  the  community,  and 
rank  among  the  best  citizens  of  Woodford  County. 
None  are  held  in  higher  respect,  and  few  are  better 
known  throughout  the  community.  Mr.  Phillips 
manifests  a  deep  interest  in  political  affairs,  and  is 
a  stanch  advocate  of  Republican  principles.  He 
has  held  various  offices  of  honor  and  trust,  for  a 
number  of  years  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
and  is  now  filling  his  third  term  as  Township  Su- 
pervisor. He  discharges  his  duties  with  prompt- 
ness and  fidelity,  and  his  public  career  is  marked 
with  the  same  faithfulness  which  has  characterized 
his  actions  throughout  life.  A  lithographic  view 
of  Mr.  Phillips'  neat  and  pleasant  home  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


J";  OHN  SNYDER,  an   intelligent,  progressive 
member  of  the  farming  community  of  Wood- 
j    ford  County,  has  several  valuable  farms,  in- 
'    eluding  the   large    and   well-ordered   estate 
in  Metomora  Township,  where  he  makes  his  home. 
It  is  finely  located  one  and  one-half  miles  north  of 
the  city,  and  comprises  370  acres  of  well- improved 


tillable  and  pasture  land.  It  is  well  supplied  with 
modern  machinery  of  all  kinds  for  facilitating  the 
labor  of  carrying  on  a  farm,  and  has  a  good  set 
of  conveniently  arranged  buildings,  indeed  every- 
thing about  the  place  shows  that  it  is  under  the  di- 
rection of  a  skilled,  practical  hand. 

Our  subject  is  of  German  birth,  and  was  born  in 
the  Fatherland,  in  the  month  of  October,  1819. 
His  father,  Nicholas  Snyder,  was  also  born  in  Ger- 
many, and  was  of  German  ancestry  as  far  back  as 
is  known.  He  worked  at  the  trade  of  a  miller  in  his 
native  couptry  until  about  1828,  when  he  con- 
eluded  to  try  his  fortunes  in  America,  hoping  to  be 
able  to  do  better  for  his  family  than  he  could  in 
the  land  of  his  nativity.  Accordingly  he  came 
here  with  his  wife  and  five  children,  and  located  in 
Pennsylvania.  He  remained  a  resident  of  the 
Keystone  Slate  until  1855,  then  emigrated  to  Illi- 
nois, with  his  family,  coming  by  the  way  of  the 
Ohio,  Mississippi,  and  Illinois  rivers,  and  landing 
at  Peoria,  then  a  small  hamlet  of  log  houses.  He 
found  a  vacant  log  house  on  the  present  site  of 
the  Peoria  House,  and  his  family  took  shelter  in 
that  while  he  went  forth  in  search  of  a  suitable 
location.  He  found  the  country  round-about  still 
in  a  very  wild,  sparsely  settled  condition,  deer 
and  wolves  plentiful,  and  mucli  of  the  land  still 
held  by  the  Government,  and  for  sale  at  $1.25  an 
acre.  He  secured  a  claim  to  a  tract  of  land  on  Blue 
Creek,  three-fourths  of  a  mile  south  of  Spring  Bay. 
He  immediately  began  to  provide  a  suitable  dwell- 
ing for  his  family,  building  for  that  purpose  a  log 
cabin,  with  a  stick  and  mud  chimney.  Before  his 
death  Mr.  Snyder  had  improved  a  good  farm,  that 
compared  in  all  points  with  the  best  in  his  neigh- 
borhood, and  he  and  his  wife  closed  their  eyes  to 
the  scenes  of  earth  on  the  old  homestead  that  their 
united  labors  had  made  into  a  comfortable  home. 
They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  who  grew 
to  maturity:  Our  subject;  Isaac,  a  resident  of 
Roanoke;  Peter,  who  lives  on  Partridge  Creek; 
Nicholas,  living  in  Spring  Bay;  Daniel,  who  lives 
near  Spring  Bay;  Caroline,  wife  of  Adam  Gable; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Christopher  Winkler;  Margaret, 
wife  of  Robert  Stinger;  Christine,  wife  of  Mr. 
Knapp. 

He  of   whom  we   write  was  a  lad  of  nine   years 


336 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


when  he  came  to  this  country  with  his  parents,  and 
in  their  Pennsylvania  home  he  passed  the  years  of 
his  boyhood,  remaining  an  inmate  of  the  parental 
household  until  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  when  he 
commenced  life  for  himself,  working  out  by  the 
day  or  month.  He  was  very  industrious,  and  care- 
fully saved  his  earnings,  so  that  he  was  soon 
enabled  to  buy  a  tract  of  land  in  Partridge  Town- 
ship, after  the  removal  of  his  father's  family  to 
this  State.  It  was  wild  land,  partly  prairie,  and  the 
remainder  covered  with  timber.  He  built  a  com- 
fortable log  house  on  his  place,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  marriage  he  and  his  bride  began  their  wedded 
life  in  that  humble  abode.  He  developed  a  good 
farm  from  his  land,  and  continued  to  reside  in  that 
township  until  1874,  then  coming  to  Metamora, 
invested  in  his  preseit  farm,  which  he  purchased 
from  Nancy  Wilkinson,  paying  therefor  $f>0  per 
i.cre,  and  besides  owns  other  farms,  as  before  men- 
tioned. 

Mr.  Snyder  has  been  twice  married.  The  mai- 
den name  of  his  first  wife  was  Susan  Caldwell,  and 
she  was  born  in  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Betsy  Caldwell.  This  truly  estimable  woman 
closed  her  eyes  in  death  in  the  month  of  December, 
1867,  leaving  one  child,  Ellen.  Mr.  Snyder  was 
married  to  his  present  amiable  wife,  formerly  Miss 
Lovina  Baker,  in  January,  1869.  She  is  a  native 
of  Lnzerne  County,  Pa.,  and  a  daughter  of  Chaun- 
cey  Baker,  who  was  also  born  and  reared  in  that 
county,  and  there  married.  In  1836  he  emigrated 
to  Illinois  with  his  wife  and  two  children,  making 
the  entire  journey  overland  with  a  part  of  their 
household  goods  in  their  wagon,  and  cooking  and 
camping  by  the  wayside  at  night.  He  had  been 
here  the  year  previous,  and  had  selected. a  claim  in 
Partridge  Township.  He  did  not  settle  on  that 
claim,  however,  but  soon  bought  another,  on  which 
was  a  cabin  built  of  slabs,  where  the  family  lived 
for  a  time.  He  then  replaced  it  with  a  more  sub- 
stantial frame  house.  He  improved  a  good  farm 
anil  lived  thereon  until  his  death,  when  an  honest, 
sober-minded,  industrious  pioneer  passed  away 
from  the  scenes  of  his  usefulness.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  wife  was  Julianne  Stale}-,  and  she  wns 
born  in  the  same  county  as  her  husband,  and  died 
on  their  homestead  in  Partridge  Township.  They 


were  the  parents  of  eight  children:  Louisa,  Mrs. 
Snyder.  Juliett,  Mary,  Mcrritt,  Amanda,  Perry, 
and  Jennie.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snyder's  union  has 
been  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  three  children 
— Susan,  John,  and  Simie. 

Mr.  Snyder  is  virtually  a  self-made  man,  having 
accumulated  his  money  by  patient  toil  and  excellent 
management  of  his  affairs.  He  is  a  man  of  sound 
understanding  and  solid  worth,  whose  sterling  traits 
of  character  have  commended  him  to  the  respect  and 
regard  of  his  fellow-citizens.  He  is  public-spirited, 
open  hearted  and  open  handed,  giving  liberalljr  of 
his  means  for  charitable  objects,  and  materially 
aiding  his  township  and  county  in  various  direc- 
tions. 

A  lithographic  engraving  of  the  residence  of  our 
subject  appears  in  this  work,  and  brings  before  the 
reader's  eye  a  picture  of  one  among  many  beautiful 
rural  homes  in  Woodford  County. 


ffiOHN  DARST,  the  able  and  gentlemanly 
|  President  of  the  Farmers'  Bank  of  Eureka, 
is  a  son  of  Jacob  Darst,  who  was  a  native  of 
f^^f/  Augusta  County,  Va.  The  mother  was  a 
native  of  Greene  County,  Ohio.  His  parents  were 
married  and  settled  in  Greene  County,  Ohio,  con- 
tinuing to  reside  there  until  they  crossed  the  river 
to  their  home  beyond.  In  addition  to  managing 
his  farm,  Mr.  Jacob  Darst  also  followed  the  occu- 
pation of  a  blacksmith,  tho  village  smithy  thus 
becoming  the  center  of  interest  for  the  youthful 
population  for  miles  around.  Their  family  was  in- 
creased by  the  addition  of  six  children,  of  whom 
John  was  the  fourth.  He  was  born  Nov.  6,  1816, 
;it  his  parents'  residence  in  Greene  Count}'.  Ohio, 
where  he  was  reared  to  manhood,  continuing  to 
live  under  the  parental  roof  until  1838.  During 
his  residence  with  his  parents  he  followed  the  pur- 
suits of  agriculture. 

In  the  spring  of  1851  he  came  to  this  county, 
and  the  following  autumn  removed  his  family  to 
Olio  Township,  near  Eureka.  In  1856  Mr.  Darst 
laid  out  the  original  town  of  Eureka,  near  his  farm, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


337 


establishing  his  family  within  the  limits  of  the  cor- 
poration, where  they  have  since  made  their  home. 
On  Jan.  6,  1882,  in  connection  with  Mr.  E.  O. 
Eymon,  Mr.  Darst  and  his  son  Georre  founded  the 
bank  of  Eureka,  known  as  the  Farmers'  Bunk. 
In  1885  Mr.  Eymon  withdrew  from  its  man- 
agement, since  which  time  Mr.  Darst  and  his  son 
have  conducted  its  affairs.  The  first  flouring-rnill 
to  be  erected  in  Eureka  was  put  up  in  1857,  Mr. 
Darst  being  one  of  the  company  who  built  it.  He 
remained  connected  with  the  business  interests  of 
the  mill  for  some  five  or  six  years.  The  Eureka 
College  is  proud  to  point  to  him  as  one  of  its 
charter  members.  His  well  known  integrity  and 
his  extensive  business  experience  have  made  him 
a  prominent  factor  in  the  growth  and  prosperity 
of  this  superior  institution  of  learning.  He  was 
elected  one  of  the  Trustees  of  the  college  at  the 
first  business  meeting  held  by  those  interested,  and 
has  continued  in  that  office  to  the  present  time. 
He  has  also  been  President  of  the  Board  for  some 
fifteen  or  twenty  years,  during  all  of  which  time 
his  unfaltering  trust  in  the  future  of  the  college, 
and  his  unflagging  industry  in  pushing  forward  its 
affairs,  have  redounded  not  only  to  his  honor  but 
to  the  enlargement  of  its  facilities  and  the  increase 
of  its  efficiency. 

Our  subject  and  Miss  Ruharnah  Moler  pledged 
hearts  and  hands  in  the  marriage  tie  on  the  22d 
day  of  November,  1838,  in  Greene  County,  Ohio. 
The  bride's  parents  were  John  and  Susan  (Grumes) 
Moler,  natives  of  Virginia.  Leaving  their  South- 
ern home  they  removed  to  Greene  County,  Ohio, 
establishing  themselves  on  a  farm  near  Dayton, 
which  they  made  their  home  until  removed  hence 
by  the  .grirn  destroyer,  death.  Mrs.  Darst  was  a 
native  of  Greene  County,  Ohio,  having  been  born 
April  22.  1822,  in  that  place. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Darst  have  become  the  parents  of 
eleven  children,  viz.:  Oliver  P.,  Harrison  H.,  Leo 
C.,  James  P.,  Henry  R.,  Rolla  M.,  Frank  M.,  Susie 
M.;  John  W.  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years; 
George  W.  and  Jacob  A.  Summer's  flowers  and 
winter's  snows  came  and  passed  and  came  again, 
until  threescore  and  ten  years  had  rolled  them- 
selves into  eternity,  bringing  the  anniversary  of 
the  marriage  of  our  subject  and  his  beloved  wife 


around  once  again.  This  event  was  celebrated 
Nov.  22,  1888,  at  their  elegant  home.  All  the 
children  with  the  exception  of ,  John  W.,  were 
present  to  congratulate  their  parents  on  their  suc- 
cessful arrival  at  this  station  of  life's  journey. 
Forty-three  children  and  grandchildren  brought 
their  Jove  and  good  wishes,  while  three  more  were 
unavoidably  absent.  Numerous  and  costly  pres- 
ents testified  to  the  high  regard  in  which  this  noble 
couple  is  justly  held  by  the  community.  Conspic- 
uous among  the  many  and  valuable  gifts  received 
was  a  gold  watch  of  rare  workmanship,  which  was 
given  to  the  father  by  the  children,  with  the  names 
of  the  parents  inscribed  in  the  case,  and  also  all  the 
children's  names. 


HARLES  RIPPEL,  since  the  spring  of  1874, 
_  has  been  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Wood  ford 
^^  County,  where  he  has  a  farm  located  on  sec- 
tion 36,  in  Panola  Township.  When  he  first  re- 
moved to  this  county  he  bought  eighty  acres  of 
wet,  swamp}'  land,  seemingly  unfit  for  cultivation. 
But  it  was  in  the  drainage  district,  and  after  many 
failures  and  under  the  most  discouraging  circum- 
stances, Mr.  Rippel  has  at  last  succeeded  in  getting 
it  well  tiled,  and  now  is  the  owner  of  240  acres  of 
land,  which  having  formerly  been  under  water,  is 
now  in  a  good  condition.  This  is  due  to  the  man- 
agement of  Mr.  Rippel,  who  to  obtain  this  result 
has  expended  no  little  time  and  money.  Into  his 
farm  he  put  over  $1,000  worth  of  tile,  while  he 
and  his  boys  did  the  work  in  laying  the  tile,  etc. 
Now  it  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  farms  in  the 
county. 

Mr.  Rippel  is  a  self-made  man,  and  what  he 
owns  is  the  result  of  his  own  industry,  intelligent 
labor  and  enterprise.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran Church,  and  has  contributed  liberally  of  his 
means  to  promote  the  interests  and  welfare  of  the 
church.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat  and  one  of 
the  political  leaders  in  this  section.  He  is  a  man  of 
sterling  integrity,  honest,  painstaking  in  whatever 
he  attempts,  and  classed  among  the  best  citizens  of 


338 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  county  and  as  one  of  the  representative  Ger- 
man farmers  of  this  section.  Like  all  pioneers  he 
has  been  a  very  hard  working  man,  and  it  is  only  by 
enduring  hardship  and  by  the  utmost  self-denial, 
that  he  has  accumulated  his  present  property. 
During  the  first  years  of  his  residence  in  Illinois  he 
chopped  cord  wood  nnd  railroad  ties  while  a  resi- 
dent of  Adams  County.  He  is  now  in  the  prime 
of  life,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  toil  and  of  a  life 
of  usefulness.  He  is  universally  respected  and  will 
be  long  remembered  as  one  of  the  foremost  citizens 
of  the  county  for  whnli  he  has  done  so  much. 

Charles  Rippel  was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany, 
Feb.  2,  1835.  He  is  the  son  of  John  and  Henri- 
etta Rippel,  who  gave  to  this  son  a  good  common 
school  education,  and  tried  in  every  possible  way 
to  fit  him  ns.  well  as  their  other  children  for  the  re- 
sponsibilities of  life.  He  gained  a  practical  educa- 
tion in  the  German  language  and  after  coming  to 
this  country  also  learned  the  English  language,  of 
which  he  is  a  fluent  speaker.  His  journey  to  this 
country  was  made  in  1856,  in  company,  with  his 
two  brothers,  Frederick  and  Christian  Rippel. 
They  took  passage  from  the  port  of  Bremen  in  a 
sniling  vessel,  and  their  voyage  lasted  for  six 
weeks.  At  last,  however,  they  landed  in  New 
York  City,  whence  they  all  came  to  Fairfield  County, 
Ohio.  There  for  a  period  of  more  than  five  and 
a  half  years  he  worked  for  his  brother,  receiving 
Ilia  salary  by  the  month.  Finally  he  gained  suffi- 
cient knowledge  of  the  English  language  to  start 
out  for  himself,  and  made  his  home  in  Adams 
Count}',  111.,  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

Mr.  Rippel  has  been  twice  married,  his  first 
union  being  with  Johanna  Zeiger,  who  became  the 
mother  of  ten  children,  whose  names  are  as  fol- 
lows: Amelia,  who  was  married  to  Henry  Gottel; 
August,  Christian.  Adolf,  Caroline,  Minnie,  Will- 
iam, Chsirles,  Frederick  and  Louisa.  The  latter  is 
dec-cased.  Mr.  Rippel  in  after  years  was  again 
mnrried;  this  time  his  wife  was  Louisa  Heina,  ann- 
live  of  Germany.  To  them  were  born  two  chil- 
dren, of  whom  one  alone  survives,  Anna. 

After  making  his  home  for  so  many  years  in 
Adams  County,  Mr.  Rippel  at  last  changed  his  res- 
idence to  Wood  ford  County,  of  which  he  has  for 
somb  years  been  an  honored  resident.  lie  nnd  his 


wife  have  become  endeared  to  all  the  citizens  of 
the  place  which  is  now  their  home,  and  number 
their  friends  by  the  score  among  those  with  whom 
chance  or  design  has  placed  them. 


OHN  M.  GLESSING.  It  has  been  nearly 
thirty-seven  years  since  the  subject  of  this 
biography  settled  in  Wood  ford  County,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  was  a  carpenter  and 
mechanic.  He  also  owns  a  good  farm  which  he 
rents.  Frugal,  industrious  and  persevering,  he 
met  with  the  usual  reward  of  industry,  accumu- 
lated a  competence  and  is  now  living  retired  from 
active  labor  at  a  pleasant  and  comfortable  home 
in  El  Paso.  In  Vermilion  County,  he  has  a  fine 
farm  of  190  acres  and  in  El  Paso,  has  his  residence 
and  grounds.  His  possessions  are  the  result  of 
his  own  unaided  efforts,  as  he  began  in  life  de- 
pendent upon  his  own  resources,  and  his  career  has 
been  the  reflection  of  many  of  the  liyes  around 
him — men  who  form  the  bone  and  sinew  of  the 
community,  developed  from  the  force  of  circum- 
stances in  their  youth. 

Mr.  Glessing  came  to  Illinois  from  Lancaster 
County,  Pa.,  where  he  had  settled  in  1842.  His 
boyhood  home  was  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic, 
in  the  Kingdom  of  Wurtemburg.  Germany,  where 
he  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  April  22,  1821. 
He  comes  of  pure  German  stock  as  far  back  as  is 
known  and  possesses  many  of  the  admirable  char- 
acteristics of  his  ancestry.  His  father,  John  Fred- 
erick Glessing,  was  also  born  in  Wurtemburg,  fol- 
lowed the  trade  of  a  tub-maker  for  wine  goods  and 
spent  his  entire  life  upon  his  native  soil.  He  was  a 
skilled  workman  and  to  a  large  extent  turned  out 
wine  casks  and  other  similar  vessels,  which  were 
required  to  be  very  strong  and  well  built.  He  was 
remarkably  stout  and  active  and  lived  to  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ei<fht3--four  years.  Both  he  and  his 
excellent  wife  were  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church. 

The  maiden  name  of    the  mother  of   our  subject 
was  Dora  Wheeland.     She  likewise  was  a  native  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


339 


Wurtemburg  and  died  there  at  the  age  of  fifty-two 
years.  The  parental  family  consisted  of  five  sons 
and  one  daughter.  Three  of  the  sons  died  un- 
married. The  survivors,  besides  our  subject,  are 
Christina,  the  widow  of  Charles  Vogt  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Lancaster,  Pa.,  and  a  brother,  Gotlieb,  who 
still  continues  a  resident  of  Wurtemburg,  and  is 
employed  as  a  timber  and  road  inspector  under 
the  Government. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  had  the  advantages  «>f 
a  practical  education  and  when  leaving  school 
served  a  thorough  apprenticeship  to  the  trade  of  a 
cabinet-maker,  which  he  followed  until  coming  to 
America.  After  that  he  gave  his  attention  mostly 
to  carpentering  until  after  leaving  Pennsylvania. 
In  starting  out  on  his  journey  to  America  he  took 
passage  on  the  sailing  vessel  '•  Burgundy  "  at  the 
port  of  Bremen,  which,  after  a  voyage  of  thirty- 
four  daN's,  landed  him  in  New  York  City.  Thence 
he  made  his  way  to  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  and 
from  there  to  Woodford  County,  111.,  as  before 
indicated. 

After  becoming  fully  established  as  a  citizen  of 
Illinois,  with  the  prospect  of  a  home  and  a  compe- 
tence, Mr.  Glessing  in  1876  took  unto  himself  a 
wife  and  helpmate,  being  married  in  McLean 
County,  to  Miss  Mary  Rchrmann.  This  lady  was 
born  in  Prussia,  Aug.  6,  1852,  and  is  the  daughter 
of  Lewis  and  Ludwina  (Kloidt)  Rehrrnann,  who 
were  born,  reared  and  married  in  Prussia.  Mr. 
Rehrmann  learned  the  trade  of  harness-making 
which,  however,  he  did  not  follow  to  a  great  ex- 
tent, being  a  soldier  most  of  the  time  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  King's  body  guard  with  headquarters  at 
Berlin  and  Potsdam.  In  the  spring  of  1854  lie 
determined  upon  emigrating  to  America,  and  set 
out  with  his  wife  and  daughter,  Mrs.  G.,  for  the 
promised  land.  For  eleven  years  thereafter  they 
were  residents  of  Connecticut,  whence  they  re- 
moved in  1865  to  Atlanta,  Logan  Co.,  111.,  and 
later  came  to  El  Paso.  Finally  the  father  estab- 
lished in  business  on  his  own  account  at  Panola,  and 
dealt  in  harness  and  saddlery,  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  September,  1885.  when  he  was 
nearly  fifty-nine  years  old.  The  mother  is  still 
living  at  Pano'a.  Both  parents  had  identified 
themselves  with  the  German  Catholic  Church  of 


which  the  father  remained  a  member  until  his  de- 
cease and  with  which  the  mother  is  still  connected. 
Mr.  Rehrmann  politically,  was  a  Democrat  and  had 
been  quite  prominent  in  local  affairs,  serving  as 
Postmaster  and  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  holding 
other  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility. 

Mrs.  Glessing  came  to  Illinois  with  her  parents, 
and  when  a  young  lady  learned  the  trade  of  a  dress- 
maker which  she  followed  two  3'ears  prior  to  her 
marriage,  successfully  conducting  a  shop  of  her 
own  at  Bloomington.  She  at  one  time  had  charge 
of  the  nursery  in  the  orphan  asylum  at  Normal. 
Of  her  union  with  our  subject  there  have  been 
born  seven  Children,  two  of  whom,  Albert  and 
Anna  are  deceased.  The  survivors  are  Alfred, 
Emma  R.,  Dora  F.,  Barbara  F.,  and  Fred.  Mr. 
Glessing  belongs  to  the  German- Lutheran  Church 
and  votes  the  straight  Democratic  ticket.  Mrs. 
Glessing  is  identified  with  the  German  Catholic 
Church.  During  their  long  residence  in  this 
county  they  have  made  many  friends  and  are  uni- 
versally esteemed  wherever  known. 


slIOMAS  ROBBINS,  is  a  well-to-do  farmer, 
and  an  honored  resident  of  Linn  Township, 
where  he  has  resided  since  1873.  Though 
not  an  old  settler  of  the  county,  he  has  become 
thoroughly  identified  with  its  agricultural  interests, 
and  has  been  eminently  successful  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  his  calling.  He  was  born  in  North  Hunt- 
ington  County,  Pa.,  Feb.  2,  1836.  His  father, 
Brintnel  Robbing,  was  a  native  of  the  same  county, 
a  son  of  Hezekiah  Robbing,  also  a  native  of  the 
Keystone  State.  Briutnel  Robbins,  the  great-grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  supposed, 
from  the  best  information  we  have  at  hand,  to  have 
been  a  native  of  New  England,  and  was  a  pioneer 
of  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.  He  took  up  a  large 
tract  of  land  bordering  on  the  Youghiogheny 
River,  and  erected  a  mill,  which  he  operated  in 
connection  with  his  farm  labors,  and  resided  there 
until  his  death.  The  grandfather  luid  also  a  steam 
mill,  and  carried  on  a  farm  while  managing  it  until 


340 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


about  1844.  In  that  year  lie  removed  to  Illinois, 
and  located  in  Rock  Island  County,  on  Buffalo 
Prairie,  where  he  improved  a  farm,  on  which  he 
spent  his  last  years.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife 
was  Wilson,  and  she  was  likewise  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania. The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  reared  and  married  in  his  native  county,  and 
was  there  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until 
1870,  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Linn 
Township.  He  purchased  a  farm  on  section  7, 
which  remained  his  home  until  his  demise  in  1883. 
The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Hannah  Wiley, 
who  was  born  in  the  same  county'as  her  husband, 
and  was  a  daughter  of  Sampson  and  Nannie  (Mc- 
Grew)  Wiley.  She  died  on  the  home  farm  in  1875, 
where  seven  of  their  ten  children  were  reared. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  was  reared  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits  in  the  home  of  his  birth,  residing 
with  his  parents  until  he  attained  manhood,  and 
then  commencing  life  on  his  own  account  by  rent- 
ing land  in  his  native  township.  In  18C5  he  re- 
moved to  Sewickly  Township,  dwelling  there  until 
1873.  At  that  time  he  concluded  to  come  West  to 
better  his  fortunes,  so  he  sold  the  farm  that  he  had 
purchased  in  that  place,  and  came  to  Wood  ford 
County.  Here  he  bought  the  farm  where  he  now 
resides,  which  is  well  improved,  with  substantial 
buildings,  pleasantly  located  four  miles  southeast 
of  the  village  of  Washburn.  In  addition  to  his 
homestead,  he  has  160  acres  of  land,  situated  on 
sections  4  and  7,  Linn  Township,  which  is  under  ex- 
cellent cultivation,  and  yields  him  a  good  income. 

In  1860,  Mr.  Robbins  took  unto  himself  a  wife 
in  the  person  of  Miss  Nancy  Gaut,  a  native  of  the 
same  township  and  county  as  himself,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Isabelle  Gaut.  Three  children 
have  resulted  from  this  union — Mary  Isabelle, 
Brintnell,  and  Hannah  Rebecca. 

That  our  subject  is  in  prosperous  circumstances, 
is  due  to  the  fact,  aside  from  the  valuable  aid  lie 
has  received  from  his  wife,  that  he  possesses  a 
certain  force  of  character  and  a  capacity  for  per- 
forming whatever  he  attempts,  and  that  he  is 
blessed  with  accurate  judgment  and  good  powers 
of  discrimination.  He  has  in  a  good  degree  those 
traits  that  win  the  hearty  esteem  of  all  with  whom 
he  deals,  and  have  gained  him  many  life-long 


friends.  A  sound  Republican  in  his  politics,  he 
cordially  supports  his  party  at  the  polls.  Relig- 
iously, both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  in  high 
standing,  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 


ILLIAM  R.  GOUGII.  A  goodly  delega- 
tion of  the  old  pioneers  have  wisely  retired 
from  the  active  labors  of  life,  and  taken 
up  their  abode  in  El  Paso,  among  whom  may  be 
mentioned  as  worthy  of  notice,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  He  is  quite  an  extensive  landholder,  hav- 
ing farm  property  in  Woodford,  McLean  and  Liv- 
ingston counties,  aggregating  probably  400  acres, 
all  of  which  is  thorough!}'  improved,  and  in  a  good 
state  of  cultivation.  Eighty  acres  of  this  is  in  the 
town  limits  of  El  Paso,  and  is  consequently  quite 
valuable. 

A  native  of  Lancashire,  England,  Mr.  Gough, 
was  born  Oct.  21,  1821,  and  for  seven  years  in 
earlier  manhood  followed  the  sea.  In  1842  he 
came  to  America,  and  lived  in  Columbia  County, 
N.  Y.,  until  1844,  engaged  in  merchandising.  In 
1854  he  began  railroading,  which  he  followed  prin- 
cipally until  retiring  from  active  labor.  He  came 
to  Illinois  in  1855,  in  the  interests  of  a  railroad, 
and  for  many  years  was  a  trusted  employe  in  this 
part  of  the  State.  This  calling  seemed  particularly 
adapted  to  his  capacities,  and  one  in  which  he  took 
a  peculiar  pride.  During  these  years  he  was 
connected  with  various  companies,  including  the 
Chicago  &  Alton,  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis,  and 
Missouri  Pacific  Railroads,  and  has  been  a  resident 
of  the  cities  of  Bloomington  and  St.  Louis. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Joseph  Gough,  a 
paper-maker  of  Yorkshire,  and  whose  family  for 
generations  had  been  engaged  considerably  in  this 
industry.  He  spent  his  entire  life  in  his  native 
county,  dying  at  the  age  of  ninety-eight  years.  He 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Hall,  who  passed  away 
twenty-eight  days  prior  to  the  decease  of  her  hus- 
band, and  was  about  his  own  age.  Both  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  of  England.  Joseph  was  the 
eldest  of  his  father's  family,  which  was  quite  large, 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


341 


comprising  ten  children,  nine  of  whom  lived  to  be 
middle  aged  and  over.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Sarah  llushton,  who  was  born  a  ft-w  miles  from 
Birmingham,  in  Staffordshire.  After  their  mar- 
riage they  sectled  in  Lancashire,  where  the  father 
followed  liis  trade  most  of  his  life,  but  finally  re- 
turned to  his  native  town  in  Yorkshire,  and  died 
there  when  about  seventy  years  of  age.  He  sur- 
vived his  wife  thirteen  years.  They  were  Episco- 
palians in  religion. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  eldest  son  of 
his  parents,  whose  family  consisted  of  two  sons  and 
four  daughters.  He  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  until  reaching  his  majority,  and  received  a 
good  practical  education  in  the  private  school. 
His  business  experience  began  in  an  iron  and  hard- 
ware store  at  Liverpool,  where  he  remained  until 
setting  sail  for  America,  in  1842.  He  is  one  of  the 
few  who  have  become  thoroughly  identified  with 
American  institutions,  and  are  proud  of  their 
adopted  country.  He  was  married  in  Missouri,  to 
Miss  Eunice  B.  Washburn,  who  was  born  and  reared 
in  New  York  State,  and  who  went  to  Missuori  to 
visit  a  sister,  thus  becoming  acquainted  with  her 
future  husband. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  (lough  there  have  been  born 
six  children,  three  now  living:  Sarah,  a  teacher 
who  makes  her  home  with  her  parents;  Rushton 
W.,  arid  Josephine.  One  son,  Joseph  and  two  in- 
fants are  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gough  belong 
to  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  our  subject,  who  has 
always  been  active  in  local  matters,  votes  the 
straight  Republican  ticket. 


IIAHLES  McIIUGH,  a  practical  and  pro- 
gressive farmer  residing  on  section  25, 
Greene  Township,  is  one  of  the  leading  citi- 
zens of  the  community.  He  was  born  in  County 
Donegal,  Ireland,  about  sixteen  miles  from  Lon- 
donderry, Dec.  15,  1834,  and  is  the  fourth  in  a 
family  of  nine  children,  whose  parents  are  Charles 
and  Margaret  (Foster)  Mcllugh.  His  father  was 
born  in  Scotland,  and  his  mother  in  Inland,  but 


was  of  Scottish  descent.  Their  children  were  as 
follows:  William,  Robert,  George,  Charles,  Jane, 
James,  John,  Martha  and  Margaret.  Three  of 
that  number  are  now  deceased:  James,  who  died 
in  Pennsylvania;  Margaret,  who  died  in  Blooming- 
ton,  111.;  and  Martha,  who  died  in  Indiana. 

Our  subject  spent  his  early  boyhood  days  in  Ire- 
land, and  attended  both  the  Protestant  and  Na- 
tional schools  of  that  country.  When  seventeen 
years  of  age  he  determined  to  seek  his  fortune  in 
America,  where  three  brothers  and  a  sister  of  the 
family  had  previously  located.  Bidding  good- 
bye to  the  Emerald  Isle,  and  the  friends  of  his 
boyhood,  he  crossed  the  broad  ocean,  landing  -in 
New  York  City  from  the  vessel  "Arbor  Gallitan," 
in  which  he  had  made  the  trip.  For  three  months 
he  remained  in  the  city,  where  he  worked  in  a 
marble  yard,  when  going  to  Orange  County,  in  the 
Empire  State,  he  secured  work  as  a  farm  hand,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  three  years.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  that  time,  following  the  course  of  emi- 
gration westward,  he  reached  Illinois,  and  on  the 
26th  day  of  November,  1855,  he  stepped  off  the 
stage  at  Eureka.  That  was  his  first  introduction 
to  the  county,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
For  several  years  he  again  was  engaged  as  a  farm 
laborer,  and  for  some  time  was  also  an  employe  in 
a  hotel  at  Eureka. 

In  the  year  1857,  in  Woodford  County,  Mr. 
McHugh  was  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matri- 
mony with  Miss  Catherine  Wright,  who  was  born 
in  County  Monaghan,  Ireland,  of  Scottish  parent- 
age. He  then  rented  a  farm  in  Olio  Township, 
which  he  engaged  in  operating  for  several  years, 
when  he  purchased  103  acres  of  land,  also  in  the 
same  township.  His  purchase  was  made  in  1876, 
Elder  John  Darst,  of  Eureka,  being  the  former 
owner.  For  nine  or  ten  years  he  made  his  home  upon 
that  land,  when,  selling  out,  he  purchased  his  pres- 
ent farm  in  the  autumn  of  1885,  taking  possession 
the  following  spring.  It  comprises  213  acres  of 
valuable  land,  the  home  is  a  comfortable  one,  and 
the  surroundings  indicate  thrift  and  enterprise. 

In  1876  Mr.  McIIugh  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  wife,  whose  death  occurred  on  the 
22d  day  of  October,  at  the  age  of  forty-seven 
years.  Seven  children  were  born  of  their  union, 


342 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


six  of  whom  are  yet  living:  John  William  ;  Martha 
A.  died  at  the  age  of  six  months;  George  W., 
Leona,  Annie,  Tillie  and  May  arc  still  with  their 
father.  Mr.  McHugh  was  a  second  time  married, 
April  15,  1878,  when  Miss  Mary  S.  Hill  became 
his  wife.  The  lady  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  a 
daughter  of  Richard  and  Mary  (Worthington)  Hill, 
the  former  a  native  of  Cynthiana,  Ky.,  and  the 
latter  of  Clermont  County,  Ohio.  In  1864  the 
family  came  to  Woodford  County,  locating  near 
Minonk.  The  parents  are  still  living,  and  reside 
near  Secor.  The  father  is  now  fifty -seven  years  of 
age,  while  the  mother  is  fifty-six  years.  Unto  them 
have  been  born  eight  children,  namely:  Thomas, 
Mary  S.,  James,  Anna,  Grant,  John,  Ellen  and 
Benjamin. 

With  her  parents,  Mrs.  McHugh  left  her  native 
count}',  Clermont,  when  a  child,  and  became  a 
resident  of  Illinois.  She  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  this  county,  and  made  her  home  with  her 
parents  until  her  marriage  with  Mr.  McHugh. 
Three  children  grace  their  union — Robert,  Jennie 
and  G  rover.  Harmony  and  good  cheer  characterize 
the  home  of  this  family,  and  the  household  is  noted 
for  its  hospitality. 

Mr.  McHugh  is  an  industrious  farmer,  and  by 
his  own  efforts  hns  secured  a  comfortable  compe- 
tency. Though  he  began  life  in  this  country  without 
capital,  working  as  a  farm  laborer,  he  has  stead- 
ily climbed  the  ladder  of  success,  and  prosperit}' 
has  crowned  his  efforts.  As  a  citizen,  he  is  true 
and  patriotic,  and  has  a  warm  love  for  his  Ameri- 
can home  and  the  free  institutions  of  this  country. 
He  has  identified  himself  with  the  Democratic 
party,  of  which  he  is  a  warm  advocate,  and  takes 
a  deep  interest  in  all  public  affairs. 


AVID  T.  FAUBER,  an  honored  citizen 
of  Woodford  County,  who  has  been  prom- 
inent in  its  public  and  political  life  many 
years,  is  connected  with  its  farming  in- 
terests as  one  of  the  practical,  substantial  farmers 
of  Roanoke  Township,  who  have  been  so  largely 


instrumental  in  its  upbuilding.  He  was  born  in 
Augusta  County,  Va.,  Nov.  15,  1822.  His  father, 
Samuel  C.  Fauber,  was  born  in  the  same  county 
April  27, 1795,  a  son  of  one.  Peter  Fauber,  a  native 
of  Germany,  who  came  to  America  in  colonial 
times  with  his  parents,  and  on  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Revolution  sided  with  the  colonists  and  took 
an  active  part  in  the  war.  It  was  the  delight  of 
his  grandchildren  to  hear  him  relate  his  experiences 
of  army  life  and  to  recount  tales  of  his  narrow 
escapes  from  British  clutches.  He  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  and  spent  his  last  years  in  Virginia. 
The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Fanny  Cable, 
and  she  was  born  of  German  parentage  either  in 
Germany  or  America. 

The  father  of  our  subject  learned  the  trade  of 
a  cabinet-maker  and  also  that  of  a  carpenter  in  his 
youth,  he  possessing  a  decided  talent  for  mechan- 
ics. He  bought  a  farm  about  nine  miles  south  of 
Stanton,  where  his  children  were  all  reared,  and 
they  used  to  carry  it  on  while  he  worked  at  his 
trade.  He  made  his  home  there  till  death  called 
him  hence  Oct.  10,  1872,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
seventy  -seven  years,  five  months,  and  thirteen  days. 
The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Jane  Trout,  and 
she  was  born  in  the  same  county  as  himself,  the 
date  of  her  birth  being  July  1.  1797,  and  she  died 
on  the  home  farm  April  12,  1884,  at  the  venerable 
age  of  eighty-six  years,  nine  months,  eleven  days. 
Her  father,  David  Trout,  was,  it  is  thought,  born 
in  Germany.  He  was  a  cooper  by  trade,  and  spent 
his  last  days  in  Augusta  County,  Va.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  wife  was  Susan  Whitsill.  There  were 
eleven  children  born  to  the  parents  of  our  subject, 
eight  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  of  whom  the  fol- 
lowing is  recorded :  Sarah  Ann  married  Samuel 
Swisher,  and  died  in  Pettis  Count}',  Mo.;  Mary 
lives  in  Stanton,  Augusta  Co.,  Va.;  our  subject 
was  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  George  lives  in 
Augusta  County,  Va. ;  Elizabeth  married  Henry  C. 
Swisher,  and  they  live  in  Hampshire  County,  Va. ; 
Catherine  married  Henry  Armstrong,  of  Stanton, 
Va. ;  Ellen  married  R.  Ben  ton,  of  South  Carolina; 
William  is  now  deceased;  Margaret,  Rebecca,  and 
Andrew  J.  died  when  quite  young. 

He  of  whom  we  write  grew  to  man's  estate  and 
received   his  education  in  his  native  county,  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


343 


continued  to  reside  with  his  parents  till  his  mar- 
riage. He  then  bought  a  farm  of  forty  acres,  a 
part  of  which  was  improved  and  the  remainder  in 
timber,  and  building  a  log  house  thereon,  in  that 
humble  abode  he  and  his  bride  commenced  life 
together.  They  resided  there  till  1855,  when  our 
subject,  attracted  by  the  cheap,  fertile  lands  of 
Illinois,  and  other  advantages  offered  to  an  enter- 
prising farmer,  sold  his  Virginian  homestead  at  a 
good  advance  on  the  original  price  and  emigrated 
with  his  family  to  these  parts.  Shortly  after  his 
arrival  he  bought  160  acres  of  land  on  section  14. 
Roanoke  Township.  A  small  frame  house  was  in 
process  of  erection  on  the  place,  and  twenty-five 
acres  of  the  land  were  broken  and  partly  fenced, 
but  the  remainder  was  wild  prairie,  except  a  small 
tract  of  brush.  The  greater  part  of  the  prairies 
here  were  unoccupied,  and  deer  were  still  to  be 
found,  while  wolves  and  other  wild  animals  were 
common.  There  were  no  houses  where  El  Paso 
and  Roanoke.  now  stand,  and  the  distant  towns  01 
Peoria  and  Spring  Bay,  were  the  principal  markets. 
Our  subject  has  resided  here  continuously  since 
settling  here,  and  has  reclaimed  all  of  his  land 
from  its  original  wildness,  and  has  sold  a  part  at  a 
good  price  for  town  lots,  it  being  included  in  the 
town  corporation.  His  farm,  owing  to  its  fortun- 
ate situation  rear  good  markets,  its  fertility  of 
soih  and  other  advantages,  is  very  valuable,  and 
he  has  it  under  admirable  cultivation  and  well 
improved,  with  a  fine  set  of  substantial,  roomy 
frame  buildings,  and  a  good  orchard  of  fruit  trees, 
and  all  the  appurtenances  of  a  model  farm. 

Dec.  24,  1844  Mr.  Fauber  and  Miss  Nancy  Kin- 
dig  were  united  in  marriage.  Mr?,  Fauber  is  a 
native  of  Augusta  County,  Va.,  born  Feb.  8,  1824, 
a  daughter  of  Emanuel  and  Betsy  Kindig.  Our 
subject  and  his  wife  have  eight  children  living,  of 
whom  the  following  is  recorded:  Samuel  H.  mar- 
ried Mollie  Faubus,  and  lives  near  Oilman,  Iroquois 
County ;  Emanuel  I).,  of  Roanoke,  married  Mar- 
garet Smith,  and  they  have  one  child,  Annie  Lee; 
Mary  married  Samuel  Bullington,  a  resident  of 
Livingston  Count}',  and  they  have  four  children — 
Olive,  Minnie,  Elcena,  Pearlie;  Barbara  E.  married 
Ed.  M.  Cox,  of  Roanoke,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, William  Winfield  and  David  A.;  Virginia  M. 


married  John  Heppard,  of  Roanoke,  and  they 
have  two  children,  David  P.  and  Progress;  James 
W.,  living  in  Roanoke,  married  Minnie  Peterson; 
Alice  married  Joseph  S.  Risst.r,  of  Roanoke;  Min- 
nie Lee  lives  at  home.  Lavina  J..  the  oldest 
child  of  our  subject  and  his  wife^born  Oct.  24, 
1847,  married  John  Heppard,  and  died  March  31, 
1879,  leaving  one  child,  David  Clarence,  who  lives 
with  his  grandparents.  Elizabeth  Ann,  the  fourth 
child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fauber,  bom  April  9,  1854, 
died  Dec.  24,  1859. 

In  Mr.  Fauber's  life  we  have  an  example  of  the 
true  manhood  that  is  an  honor  to  any  community. 
Whether  in  public  or  in  private  life  he  has  pre- 
served the  same  purity  of  motive  and  integrity  of 
act,  that  have  won  for  him  the  full  confidence  of 
his  fellow- men,  and  they  have  entrusted  to  his  care 
some  of  the  most  responsible  offices  within  their 
gift.  He  has  served  as  School  Treasurer  many 
years,  and  has  represented  Roanoke  Township  on 
the  County  Board  of  Supervisors  several  terms, 
and  in  that  capacity  rendered  invaluable  service  to 
his  township.  He  is,  and  has  been  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace  for  the  last  sixteen  years.  In  politics,  he 
has  been  a  leader  among  the  Democrats  of  this 
locality,  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  numerous 
county  and  district  conventions,  and  has  acted  as 
Chairman.  He  is  a  man  of  earnest  and  sincere 
piety,  and  his  religious  views  are  embodied  in  the 
faith  of  the  Christian  Church,  of  which  lie  and  his 
wife  are  among  the  most  active  members.  He  has 
been  deacon  and  trustee  of  the  church,  and  a 
teacher  and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School. 


R.  JAMES  TWEDDALE,  the  leading 
ji,  physician  and  surgeon  of  Washburn, 
stands  foremost  among  the  members  of 
his  profession  as  represented  in  Woodford 
County,  having  a  large  and  lucrative  practice. 
He  has  built  up  a  beautiful  home  in  this  village. 
New  York  City  is  his  birthplace,  and  Oct.  21, 
1832,  the  date  of  his  birth.  His  father,  (iarlies 
Tweddale,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  born  in  Wig- 


344 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


tonshire,  where  his  father,  James  Tweddale,  spent 
his  entire  life.  He  was  the  proprietor  of  large 
landed  estates,  and  as  far  as  known  had  no  other 
business  than  looking  after  his  extensive  property. 
But  two  of  his  children  ever  mine  to  the  United 
States,  his  sons  Garlics  and  Andrew.  The  latter 
settled  first  in  Western  New  York,  and  later  in 
Hartford,  Conn.,  where  he  died  leaving  no  family. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  well  educated  in 
his  native  land,  and  coming  to  America  soon  after 
marriage,  secured  a  situation  as  clerk  in  the  Man- 
hattan Bank,  and  was  one  of  the  most  trusted  em- 
ployes of  that  institution,  holding  the  position 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  February,  1839, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-eight  years.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  wife  was  Elizabeth  Patterson,  and  she 
was  a  native  of  the  same  shire  as  her  husband. 
She  spent  her  last  years  with  her  children,  and 
died  in  Illinois  in  1867.  She  was  the  mother  of 
four  children,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  being  the 
oldest.  Mary  married  Braman  Loveless,  and  died 
in  Kane  County  in  1866;  Garlies  lives  in- Wood- 
ford  County.  Elizabeth  died  in  infancy. 

He  of  whom  this  biographical  sketch  is  written, 
was  seven  years  old  when  his  father  died,  soon  after 
which  sad  event  his  mother  moved  to  Saratoga 
County,  N.  Y .,  and  located  in  West  Charlton.  There 
he  received  his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools,  and  was  advanced  by  attendance  at  Prince- 
ton Academy.  At  nineteen  years  of  age  he  utilized 
his  knowledge  by  teaching  in  Schnectady  County, 
teaching  and  attending  school  alternately,  and  dur- 
ing the  term  of  1854-55  was  an  instructor  in 
Princeton  Academy.  In  1856  he  came  West  and 
located  in  Elgin,  where  he  was  employed  in  the 
various  occupations  of  teaching,  clerking  and 
farming,  in  order  to  obtain  the  means  with  which 
to  defray  the  expenses  of  a  medical  education, 
and  during  the  year  1856  he  commenced  the  study 
of  medicine  with  doctors  McClure  and  Merrifield, 
of  Elgin,  as  preceptors.  He  subsequently  attended 
lectures  at  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago,  and  was 
n-raduated  from  that  institution  in  1869.  On  the  5th 

O 

day  of  May,  that  year,  he  established  himself  in 
Washburn,  where  he  has  practiced  continuously 
since  with  gratifying  success  both  from  a  profes- 
sional and  financial  point  of  view. 


In  1861  Dr.  Tweddale  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Sarah  Catherine  Russell,  daughter  of  Lemuel 
and  Sarah  (Edwards)  Russell,  natives  of  North  Caro- 
lina and  Kentucky  respectively,  and  pioneers  of 
Marshall  County,  III.,  of  1832.  Her  parents  are  still 
living  at  a  venerable  age.  her  father  being  eighty- 
three  years  old  and  her  mother  eighty.  On  Jan.  7, 
1888,  death  crossed  the  threshold  of  the  pleasant 
home  of  our  subject,  taking  the  amiable  and  beloved 
wife  and  mother.  Of  the  Doctor's  marriage  two 
sons  were  born,  Russell  and  John  11.,  a  sketch  of 
the  latter  appearing  in  this  volume. 

Dr.  Tweddnle  has  shown  great  skill  in  the  treat- 
ment of  difficult  cases;  he  is  well  abreast  of  the 
times,  keeps  himself  informed  as  to  the  new  meth- 
ods and  discoveries  in  the  medical  world,  and  is 
well-educated  apart  from  his  professional  knowl- 
edge. He  is  identified  with  the  Woodford  County 
Medical  Society,  and  the  North-Central  Illinois 
Medical  Society.  He  belongs  to  Washburn  Lodge, 
A.  F.  <fe  A.  M.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a  thor- 
ough Democrat. 


Jl  OHN  ENGEL,  a  worthy  citizen  of  Panola 
Township,  with  whose  farming  interests  he 
!  is  connected,  was  brought  to  Woodford 
'  County,  by  his  parents  when  a  small  boy, 
and  was  reared  under  the  influence  of  the  pioneer 
life  that  obtained  here  in  those  days,  and  since 
attaining  manhood,  has  himself  done  much  labor  in 
improving  his  farm  on  section  32,  which  now  com- 
pares favorably  with  the  many  other  fine  farms  in 
this  township.  He  was  born  Aug.  18,  1845,  in  the 
German  Province  of  Lorraine,  when  it  was  a  part 
of  France.  His  parents,  Christian  and  Anne  Engel. 
were  also  natives  of  that  province.  When  he  was 
about  three  years  old  the}'  emigrated  with  their 
family  to  America  and  came  directly  to  Illinois,  al- 
though they  did  not  locate  in  Woodford  County 
until  about  two  years  later,  when  they  settled  near 
Metamora.  casting  in  their  lot  with  the  pioneers  of 
that  vicinity.  Soon  after  their  arrival  the  father's 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


345 


useful  career  was  suddenly  cut  short  by  his  acci- 
dental death  while  yet  in  the  prime  of  a  stalwart, 
vigorous  manhood.  There  were  six  children  bocn 
to  him  and  his  wife,  three  of  whom  are  living,  ns 
follows:  John,  our  subject:  Joseph,  a  resident  of 
Iroquois  County,  ID.;  Anne,  the  wife  of  George 
Thorpe,  Jr.,  of  El  Paso.  After  the  father's  death 
the  family  remained  near  Metamora  for  a  time, 
and  later  the  mother  married  again,  becoming  the 
wife  of  Andrew  Baughman,  with  whom  she  and 
her  children  removed  to  Roanoke  Township.  There 
our  subject  was  principally  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  though  his  opportunities  for  schooling 
were  somewhat  limited.  He  has  in  a  measure 
made  up  for  those  early  deficiencies  in  his  educa- 
tion by  careful  reading,  and  is  a  well-informed 
man.  He  early  adopted  the  calling  of  a  farmer, 
and  has  made  it  his  life-work.  Having  his  own  way 
to  make  in  the  world,  he  has  had  some  difficulties 
to  contend  with,  some  hardships  to  endure,  and 
not  a  few  obstacles  to  overcome  before  he  achieved 
success,  but  by  patient  toil,  perseverance,  wise 
economy,  and  prudent  management,  and  the  aid  of 
a  capable  wife,  prosperity  has  been  attained,  and 
he  and  his  family  have  a  comfortable  home,  and  all 
the  conveniences  that  are  desirable.  He  has  wit- 
nessed much  of  the  growth  of  the  country  to  its 
present  condition  as  a  splendid  agricultural  center, 
with  many  fine  farms  and  flourishing"  towns,  where 
once  wild  animals  roamed  over  uncultivated,  lonely 
prairies,  and  through  tracts  of  forest,  and  he  has 
helped  to  bring  about  this  change  by  his  labors  as 
a  farmer.  When  about  twenty  years  old  he  came 
to  Panola  Township,  and  in  the  northeastern  part 
of  the  township  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land, 
which  he  lived  on  many  years,  and  was  constantly 
engaged  in  its  improvement.  In  the  spring  of 
1881)  he  removed  to  his  present  farm  on  section 
32.  This  comprises  103|  acres  of  well-cultivated 
land,  and  is  amply  supplied  with  an  excellent  class 
of  buildings,  and  all  things  needful  to  make  it  a 
desirable  farm. 

Mr.  Engel  and  Miss  Mary  A.  Thorpe  were  united 
in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  March  6,  1876, 
and  one  son,  George  L.,  lias  blest  their  union,  born 
Aug.  31,  1878.  Mrs.  Engel  was  born  in  Peoria, 
this  State,  Nov.  15.  1854,  a  daughter  of  George 


Thorpe,  Sr.,  of  whom  see  sketch  on  another  page  of 
this  work. 

Self-made  and  self-educated,  our  subject  may 
truly  be  said  to  have  made  good  use  of  his  God- 
given  faculties,  as  he  is  in  every  respect  a  manly, 
straightforward,  trustworthy  man,  who  is  held  in 
high  esteem  by  all  who  know  him.  He  has  the  in- 
terests of  his  township  at  heart,  and  as  School 
Director  has  promoted  the  cause  of  education 
within  its  borders.  A  temperate  man,  and  an  ad- 
vocate of  temperance  reform,  he  is  an  earnest  Pro- 
hibitionist in  his  political  views.  He  and  his  wife 
are  worthy  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  at  El  Paso. 


\J  ACKSON  PARKER,  a  retired  farmer  and 
honored  pioneer  of  Woodford  County,  now 
residing  in  Minonk,  is  a  native  of  Virginia. 
He  was  born  in  Rappahannock  County,  on 
the  2d  day  of  November,  1819,  and  is  a  son  of 
James  and  Frances  (Settle)  Parker,  who  were  also 
natives  of  the  same  State.  The  family  is  of  Ger- 
man descent.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
James  Parker,  was  a  drummer  in  the  Revolutionary 
War,  and  in  later  life  received  a  pension  for  his 
services. 

James  Parker,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  was 
married  while  in  his  native  State.  His  wife  died, 
leaving  nine  children,  namely:  Thornton,  Shelton, 
Jane,  Louisa,  Matilda,  Alcinda,  Emily,  Sarah  and 
one  who  died  in  infancy.  After  the  death  of  his 
first  wife,  Mr.  Parker  wedded  Frances  Settle,  and 
the  following  is  a  record  of  the  family  born  of  the 
second  union:  Judge,  the  eldest,  was  killed  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  years ;  Jackson,  our  subject,  is  the 
second  in  order  of  birth;  James  is  now  a  resident 
of  Washington,  111.;  Joseph  resides  in  this  county; 
Martin  makes  his  home  in  Livingston  County; 
Lewis  is  now  deceased;  Mary  Ann,  now  Mrs. 
Turner,  is  living  in  Nebraska;  Mildred  is  also  de- 
ceased. The  family  removed  from  Virginia  to  Ill- 
inois in  1838.  and  settled  in  Woodford  County, 
near  the  Illinois  River,  but  the  following  spring 


346 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


removed  to  Wash  burn,  where  the  boys  purchased 
a  farm.  Not  a  house  marked  the  site  of  the 
present  town,  and  for  fifty  miles  to  the  east, 
northeast  and  southeast,  not  a  settlement  had  been 
made.  The  parents  resided  upon  the  farm  which 
their  sons  had  purchased  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  then  removed  to  Minonk,  where  the  remainder 
of  their  lives  was  passed.  Botli  died  at  an  advanced 
age,  Mr.  Parker  at  the  nge  of  ninety-one  years, 
while  his  wife's  death  occurred  when  eighty-four 
years  of  age. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  nineteen  years 
of  age  at  the  time  of  the  removal  of  the  family 
from  his  native  State  to  Illinois.  That  was  before 
the  invention  of  the  railroad  system,  and  the  jour- 
ney was  made  with  teams.  Six  weeks  after  leaving 
home,  the  party  reached  their  destination,  having 
crossed  mountains,  forded  streams  and  traveled 
across  barren  prairies  on  the  trip  hither.  Soon 
sifter  their  arrival,  Jackson  and  his  brother  James, 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  near  the  present 
site  of  the  town  of  Washburn,  and  together  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  three  years,  when  he  sold  his 
interest.  He  then  rented  land  which  he  engaged  in 
cultivating  for  some  time,  but  in  1847  again  pur- 
chased a  farm.  On  the  1  Itli  day  of  March  of  that 
year,  he  was  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony 
with  Miss  Harriet  Dobson,  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Mary  Dobsou.  Mrs.  Parker  is  a  native  of 
England,  but  in  early  life  came  with  her  parents  to 
this  country,  the  family  locating  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  Mr.  Dobson  purchased  land  and  engaged  in 
farming.  Later  they  came  to  Illinois,  and  located 
in  Marshall  County,  where  the  parents  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  days. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Parker  began  the  culti- 
vation and  improvement  of  his  farm,  and  followed 
agricultural  pursuits  until  1865,  when  desiring  to 
retire  from  active  life,  he  removed  to  Minonk, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He  formerly 
owned  240  acres  of  land,  and  Mrs.  Parker  owned  a 
tract  of  120  acres.  He  still  retains  possession  of 
200  acres  in  Marshall  County,  and  has  twenty  acres 
within  the  corporation  limits  of  Minonk.  Six 
children  came  to  gladden  the  home  of  this  worthy 
couple  with  their  presence, and  five  are yet  living — 
Mary  F.,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Samuel  Richard- 


son, a  resident  of  Minonk;  Alice  J.,  who  is  living 
at  home;  Ida,  wife  of  M.  Campbell,  also  of  Min- 
onk; Nora,  wife  of  Charles  Stonier,  who  resides  in 
Marshall  County,  111.;  and  Hattie  E.,  at  home. 
Charles,  the  first-born  died  in  infancy. 

For  more  than  half  a  century  Mr.  Parker  has 
been  identified  with  the  history  of  Wood  ford 
County,  having  witnessed  almost  its  entire  growth. 
At  the  time  of  his  arrival,  the  country  for  miles 
around  was  in  a  wild  anil  uncultivated  condition, 
the  prairies  were  still  uncultivated,  and  the  wood- 
man's ax  had  left  undisturbed  the  timbered  regions. 
Deer  and  wolves  were  still  frequently  seen,  and 
wild  game  was  plentiful.  In  the  changes  which 
have  taken  place  since  that  time  Mr.  Parker  has 
nobly  borne  his  part,  and  has  done  what  he  could 
for  the  upbuilding  and  advancement  of  the  county. 
He  has  aided  in  the  work  of  transformation  and 
progress,  has  participated  in  the  development  of 
the  wild  land,  and  has  been  prominently  connected 
with  the  promotion  of  its  public  enterprises.  In 
company  with  Charles  Dobson,  he  built  the  first 
store  building  in  Minonk,  and  was  the  first  dry 
goods  merchant  of  that  place,  where  he  carried  on 
business  for  about  two  years.  He  subsequently 
carried  on  a  hardware  store  at  that  place  fora  short 
time,  and  has  ever  given  liberally  to  the  support  of 
its  social,  educational  and  moral  interests.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  socially  is  a  charter 
member  of  Robert  Morris  Lodge,  No.  247,  A.  F.  &, 
A.  M.,  of  Minonk.  Few  men  are  more  widely  or 
favorably  known  than  Jackson  Parker,  the  pioneer, 
and  it  is  witli  pleasure  we  record  his  sketch. 


S.  DENMAN,  now  deceased,  was  a  lead- 
ing citizen  of  this  county.  He  was  horn 
in  Essex  County,  N.  J.,  Dec.  7,  1807,  and 
died  at  his  home  in  El  Paso  Township,  on  the  25th 
da3"  of  November,  1879,  honored  and  respected  by 
all  who  knew  him.  He  was  descended  from  an 
early  and  prominent  New  England  family,  and  was 
a  son  of  Joseph  Denman.  His  grandfather  was 
also  named  Joseph.  He  was  born  in  New  Jersey 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


347 


of  English  extraction,  and  on  reaching  manhood 
mnrried  Miss  Catherine  Townley,  daughter  of 
Kttiingham  Townley,  who  was  also  born  of  English 
parentage.  His  father,  -Lord  Townley,  was  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  America,  having  emigrated 
from  his  native  land  to  this  country  during  the 
Colonial  days.  He  wedded  a  daughter  of  one  of 
the  first  Governors  of  Massachusetts,  and  made  his 
home  in  the  old  Bay  State  until  his  death. 

The  Denman  family  has  for  many  generations 
been  prominently  connected  with  the  history  of 
New  England,  and  its  members  have  been  leading 
and  influential  citizens  of  the  various  communities 
in  which  they  reside.  Joseph  Denman,  Sr.,  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  bore  a  prominent  part  in  the 
public  affairs  of  his  native  State,  where  he  was  so 
well  and  favorably  known.  He  died  in  New  Jer- 
sey at  an  advanced  age,  and  his  excellent  wife,  who 
was  a  lady  of  intelligence]and  possessed  of  more  than 
ordinary  ability,  also  died  in  that  State. 

Joseph  Denman,  Jr.,  was  reared  to  manhood 
under  the  parental  roof,  and  on  leaving  home  was 
joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Catherine  Badgely, 
whose  family  was  also  numbered  among  the  promi- 
nent citizens  of  New  Jersey.  They  passed  the 
greater  part  of  their  married  life  in  Elizabethtown, 
and  died  at  a  ripe  old  age.  Like  his  ancestry,  Mr. 
Denman  was  a  man  of  note  in  the  community  where 
he  resided,  and  his  fellow- citizens  greatly  honored 
him  for  his  ability  and  worth. 

Our  subject,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was 
one  of  a  large  family  of  children.  His  life  was  one 
of  usefulness,  and  in  the  various  lines  of  business 
which  lie  followed  at  different  times  he  was  gene- 
rally successful.  In  early  life  he  learned  the 
hatter's  trade,  which  lie  prosecuted  far  some  years. 
Whatever  the  occupation  which  he  pursued,  he 
gave  to  it  his  whole  time  and  attention,  and  by  his 
unbounded  energy  and  zeal  was  recognized  as  one 
of  the  leading  business  men  of  the  community  in 
which  he  lived.  On  the  21st  day  of  March,  1829, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  in  Essex  County,  N.  J.. 
with  Miss  Ruth  J.  Munn,  a  sister  of  the  late  Ira  Y. 
Munn,  who  was  one  of  the  prominent  business 
men  of  Chicago,  where  he  owned  and  operated  an 
elevator  of  large  dimensions  for  some  years.  The 
family  is  descended  from  New  England  stock,  and 


its  members  have  long  been  associated  with  the 
leading  educators  of  that  section~ofTthe  country. 
David  Munn.  father  of  Mrs.  Denman,  was  a  highly 
educated  man  and  influential  citizen,  and  served 
his  country  in  the  War  of  1812.  She  also  num- 
bers among  her  kinsmen  the  well  known  Stephen 
Vale,  who  was  connected  with  the  American  in- 
ventors of  prominence,  being  associated  specially 
with  Prof.  S.  F.  B.  Morse  in  his  electrical  discover- 
ies and  invention  of  the  telegraphic  system.  He 
built  the  first  locomotive  that  was  ever  built  in 
America,  at  Spud  well,  N.  J. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Denman 
began  their  domestic  life  in  New  Jersey,  where 
one  child,  a  sou,  was  born  unto  them.  In  1842 
they  started  for  the  then  far  West,  their  destination 
being  Illinois.  At  length  they  arrived  in  Tazewell 
County,  where  they  first  located.  Mr.  Denman 
there  purchased  a  cargo  of  eggs,  which  he  shipped 
to  New  Orleans,  but  lost  on  that  investment. 
Later  he  purchased  land  and  experimented  in  rais- 
ing hemp,  but  that  venture  also  proved  a  failure, 
and  he  lost  considerable  money  in  the  undertaking. 
Finally  he  became  proprietor  of  a  hotel  at  Tre- 
mont,  which  he  operated  for  four  years,  during 
which  time  he  entertained  such  distinguished 
guests  as  Abraham  Lincoln,  Judge  David  Davis, 
Geti.  Shields,  Gen.  Gridley,  and  Stephen  A.  Doug- 
las. After  four  years  spent  in  hotel  keeping  he 
abandoned  that  business  and  removed  to  Bowling 
Green,  where,  in  connection  with  his  brother-in- 
law,  Ira  Y.  Munn,  he  opened  a  store  and  engaged 
in  general  merchandising  for  eight  years.  They 
were  quite  successful  in  that  line  and  built  up  a 
good  trade.  In  1856.  however,  Mr.  Denman  sold 
out  and  purchased  a  farm  of  160  acres  of  land  on 
section  7,  El  Paso  Township,  situated  about  one 
mile  southwest  of  the  city.  He  secured  the  land 
from  the  Government,  which  consequently  was  in 
an  entirely  uncultivated  condition,  but  in  a  short 
time  he  had  a  considerable  portion  of  the  amount 
under  cultivation,  and  had  erected  good  buildings. 
These,  however,  were  swept  away  by  a  hurricane  a 
few  years  later,  but  with  characteristic  energy  he 
replaced  them  by  more  substantial  structures,  and 
built  a  pleasant  residence  which  he  surrounded  with 
beautiful  shade  trees,  which  to-day  still  adorn  the 


348 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


farm,  and  stand  as  monuments  of  the  thrift  and 
industry  of  him  who  was  the  owner. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Den-man  were  born  six  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  are  now  deceased,  namely: 
Munn;  Alfred,  who  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  llth 
Illinois  Cavalry;  Francis  L.  C.  and  Mary  E.,  wife 
of  Adam  Basford,  who  died  leaving  a  family  of 
children.  Those  who  yet  survive  are  Theodore  A., 
unmarried,  who  for  some  years  was  engaged  in 
business  in  Chicago,  111.,  Wisconsin,  and  Bloom- 
ington,  III,  but  is  now  engaged  in  farming  with 
his  brother;  William  C.,  the  younger,  is  a  leading 
young  farmer  of  El  Paso  Township.  He  received  a 
liberal  education  in  the  schools  of  El  Paso,  and 
remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  the  death 
of  his  parents,  whom  he  kindly  and  tenderly  cared 
for  until  they  were  called  home.  He  now  owns 
and  operates  the  old  homestead  farm,  which  was 
entered  and  improved  by  his  father,  and  under  his 
able  management  it  has  brought  a  rich  return  for 
his  labor.  He  possesses  good  business  ability,  and 
will  doubtless  become  one  of  the  wealthy  farmers  of 
the  county.  In  politics,  he  is  a  warm  advocate  of 
the  Republican  party,  while  his  brother  Theodore 
supports  the  Democratic  party. 

Mr.  Denman  is  a  prominent  and  influential  citi- 
zen of  El  Paso  Township,  and  by  his  sterling  worth 
and  strict  integrity,  gained  a  large  circle  of  friends, 
by  whom  his  death  was  sincerely  mourned.  His 
life  was  a  long  and  useful  one,  and  no  person 
could  say  aught  against  his  character.  He  never 
united  with  any  church,  but  his  wife  embraced  the 
faith  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  On  the  25th  day  of 
November,  1879,  he  passed  away,  and  the  county 
lost  one  of  its  best  citizens. 


)EORGE  W.  HORNER,  ex-Sheriff  of  Wood- 
ford  County,  is  one  of  the  leading  citizens 
of  Panola,  both  as  a  valued  public  official 
and  as  one  of  its  most  enlightened  farmers.  He  is  a 
veteran  of  the  late  Civil  War,  entering  the  army 
ere  he  had  attained  his  majority,  and  displaying 
the  courage,  coolness  and  fortitude  of  a  true  soldier 


on  many  a  hard-fought  battle-field,  where  his  good 
services  won  him  the  commendation  and  esteem  of 
his  commanding  officers,  and  would  have  brought 
him  promotion  if  he  had  not,  with  noble  disinter- 
estedness, refused  a  commission  that  lie  might  re- 
main with  his  regiment. 

Mr.  Homer  was  born  in  Perry  County,  Ohio, 
Aug.  12,  1842,  a  son  of  William  and  Susan  Horner, 
the  former  a  native  of  Maryland  and  of  New  En- 
land  ancestry,  and  the  latter  born  in  Ohio,  and  of 
Pennsylvania-German  descent.  When  our  subject 
was  about  four  years  oltl  his  parents  removed  to 
Licking  County,  Ohio,  and  in  1854  came  to  Illinois 
to  live.  They  left  Licking  County,  October  10,with 
their  seven  children,  in  a  wagon  covered  with  can- 
vas and  drawn  by  two  horse?,  and  camped  by  the 
way  wherever  night  overtook  them,  and  were  some 
twenty  days  in  getting  to  their  destination  in 
Wooriford  County.  They  located  in  Kansas  Town- 
ship for  a  short  time,  renting  land  for  awhile,  and 
during  the  war  the  father  bought  a  farm  in  Olio 
Township,  near  Eureka,  and  resided  thereon  fur  a 
time  actively  engaged  in  carpentering.  His  sons 
carried  on  the  farm  But  he  finally  came  to  Pan- 
ola, and  spent  his  last  years  here,  as  did  his  wife. 
They  were  people  of  integrity  and  worth,  and  were 
held  in  general  esteem  by  all  who  knew  them. 

George  Horner  was  a  lad  of  ten  years  when  he 
accompanied  his  parents  to  this  county.  At  that 
time  the  surrounding  country  was  still  in  a  wild  con- 
dition, still  in  the  hands  of  the  pioneers,  not  having 
madv  much  progress  toward  the  advanced  state  of 
civilization  that  it  has  since  attained,  and  he  may 
virtually  be  said  to  have  grown  up  with  the  county. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Ohio  and  this  State,  and  has  still  further  extended 
it  by  careful  reading  and  close  observation,  and  is 
well  posted  on  all  topics  of  general  interest.  He 
was  bred  to  the  life  of  a  farmer,  and  lias  since  car- 
ried on  that  occupation,  except  when  his  public 
duties  have  caused  him  to  lay  aside  private  busi- 
ness. Aug.  9,  1862,  a  few  days  before  he  was  twenty 
years  old  Mr.  Horner  enlisted  in  Company  E, 
108th  Illinois  Infantry  as  a  private,  and  went  forth 
to  fight  his  country's  battles.  His  regiment  was 
attached  to  the  13th  Army  Corps,  and  operated 
mainly  in  the  western  department.  He  was  with 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


349 


Sherman  in  his  attack  on  Vicksburg,  and  took  part 
in  the  siege  of  that  ciiy,  and  subsequently  be  and 
his  regiment  were  put  under  the  command  of  Gen. 
A.  J.  Smith,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  cele- 
brated Guntown  raid,  in  which  8,000  brave  men 
went  to  battle  with  colors  flying,  and  only  2,000 
men  returned  to  tell  the  tale  of  that  awful  carnage. 
Our  subject  was  also  at  the  battles  of  Arkansas  Post, 
Grand  Gulf,  Champion  Hills  and  Big  Black  River, 
and  at  the  sieges  of  forts  Spanish  and  Blakely, 
and  took  part  in  many  skirmishes  too  numerous 
to  mention.  For  his  brave  conduct  he  was  offered 
the  position  of  First  Sergeant  of  another  company, 
but  he  refused  it,  preferring  to  remain  with  his  old 
comrades  by  whose  side  he  had  fought  since  enter- 
ing the  army  He  was  engaged  in  the  running 
fight  with  Gen.  Forest,  the  noted  rebel  cavalry 
chieftain,  in  the  celebrated  raid  at  Memphis.  Our 
subject  was  honorably  discharged,  having  done  his 
duty  as  a  soldier  faithfully  and  conscientiously, 
Aug.  12,  1865,  just  three  years  to  a  day  from  his 
enlistment. 

After  the  war  closed  Mr.  Homer  returned  to 
Woodford  County,  and  has  been  a  resident  here 
ever  since,  making  his  home  on  section  29,  Panola 
Township,  where  he  is  busily  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  His  farm,  one  of  the  best  cultivated 
and  most  productive  in  the  vicinity,  comprises  180 
acres  of  choice  land,  and  is  provided  with  all  nec- 
essary buildings  and  farming  machinery,  and  every- 
thing about  the  place  is  orderly  and  well-kept. 

In  every  position  in  which  our  subject  has  been 
placed  he  has  never  been  found  wanting  in  those 
traits  that  win  confidence  and  true  respect,  or  in  the 
ability  and  intelligence  to  fulfill  his  duties  in  the 
best  possible  manner.  He  was  elected  Sheriff  of 
Woodford  County  in  1878,  for  a  term  of  two  years, 
and  so  well  did  he  manage  the  affairs  of  that  office, 
displaying  ready  tact,  great  sagacity  and  discrim- 
ination, that  in  1882  his  constituents  honored  him 
by  re-election  to  that  responsible  position  for  a 
period  of  four  years,  the  term  having  been  length- 
ened by  law.  His  every  act  during  the  whole  six 
years  that  he  was  an  incumbent  of  the  shrievalty 
would  bear  the  test  of  public  scrutiny,  and  his  whole 
course  was  such  as  to  call  down  upon  him  the  com- 
mendations of  all  men  irrespective  of  party.  In  Jan- 


uary, 1 889  he  was  appointed  to  the  office  of  School 
Treasurer  of  Panola  Township,  and  is  to  serve  for 
a  term  of  two  years.  He  is  an  active  member  of 
the  Republican  party,  takes  a  keen  interest  in  poli- 
tics, and  also  in  everything  that  tends  to  promote 
the  highest  good  of  his  township  or  county,  soci- 
ally, religiously  or  materially. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Horner  with  Miss  Mary  A. 
Shaw,  daughter  of  O.  P.  Shaw,  of  FA  Paso,  was 
solemnized  March  3,  1872.  They  have  four  chil- 
dren, namely:  Charles  P.,  Clyde  F..  Clara  A.  and 
Chester.  He  and  his  wife  are  people  of  exemplary 
habits,  and  are  among  the  leading  members  of  the 
Christian  Church  at  El  Paso,  and  he  is  at  present 
serving  as  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  of 
that  society.  He  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  at  El  Paso. 


ETER  DONNER,  the  Assessor  of  Panola 
1)  'Township,  is  likewise  considered  one  of  its 
leading  farmers,  making  his  headquarters 
on  section  3,  and  taking  an  honest  pride  in 
the  operation  of  one  of  the  best  homesteads  in  that 
region.  He  is  a  gentleman  in  the  prime  of  life, 
having  been  born  Jan.  3,  1853,  and  is  a  native  of 
this  county,  to  which  his  parents,  Christian  and 
Catherine  (Rogy)  Don ner,  came  nearly  forty  years 
ago. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and  after  coming  to  Illinois,  was  married  in 
Woodford  County  to  the  mother,  who  was  a  native 
of  this  State.  The  father  operated  as  a  farmer  on 
rented  land  about  five  miles  west  of  Metamora, 
from  about  1849  until  the  spring  of  1856.  He 
then  settled  upon  the  land  which  he  now  owns  and 
occupies.  His  first  purchase  was  eighty  acres,  for 
which  he  paid  $fi  per  acre,  and  upon  which  no  im- 
provements had  been  made  whatever,  and  there 
were  but  two  houses  in  sight  in  any  direction  out- 
side of  Panola  Village. 

By  a  course  of  unremitting  toil  and  close  econo- 
my the  elder  Donner  brought  his  first  purchase  to 
a  good  state  of  cultivation,  and  subsequently  in- 


350 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


vested  his  surplus  capital  in  additional  land  until 
he  became  the  owner  of  200  acres.  He  had  nothing 
when  landing  in  America,  and  his  accumulations 
were  the  result  of  his  own  unaided  efforts.  He 
first  followed  carpentering  for  a  while,  and  then 
wisely  concluded  that  farming  would  yield  better 
results. 

Christian  Donner,  politically,  votes  the  straight 
Democratic  ticket,  and  has  been  quite  prominent 
in  local  affairs,  serving  as  School  Director  for  many 
y ears,  as  Road  Commissioner  and  School  Trustee. 
Both  he  and  his  excellent  wife  are  members  in 
good  standing  of  the  Mennonite  Church.  There 
have  been  born  to  them  seven  children,  only  four 
of  whom  are  living,  viz. :  Peter,  Bena,  the  wife 
of  J.  M.  Shaw,  of  this  county;  Katie,  Mrs.  Peter 
Strubhar  of  Tazewell  County  ;  and  Anna,  who  is  at 
home  with  her  parents.  Besides  his  real  estate  in 
Illinois,  Mr.  Donner  owns  property  in  Kearney, 
Neb.  Although  now  past  sixty  years  of  age,  he  is 
still  healthy  and  active.  No  man  has  taken  a  live- 
lier interest  in  the  growth  and  development  of  his 
adopted  county,  and  he  may  justly  feel  that  he  has 
been  no  unimportant  factor  in  assisting  it  to  its 
present  condition.  He  has  seen  the  time  when 
deer  and  wolves  were  plentiful  in  this  region,  sev- 
eral of  which  he  has  brought  down  with  his  own 
rifle.  As  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Woodford 
County,  and  possessing  all  the  qualities  of  an  honest 
man  and  a  good  citizen,  he  is  held  in  universal  re- 
spect. 

Peter  Donner,  our  subject,  was  but  three  years 
old  when  his  parents  settled  on  the  farm  where 
they  now  live.  He  received  a  practical  education 
in  the  common  schools,  and  for  a  short  time  at- 
tended Eureka  College.  He  worked  with  his  father 
on  the  farm  during  his  boyhood  and  youth,  but  in 
1886  left  home  and  began  selling  steam  threshers 
for  the  firm  of  Nichols,  Shepard  &  Co.,  of  Battle 
Creek,  Mich.,  a  business  in  which  he  is  still  engaged, 
while  at  the  same  time  superintending  the  opera- 
tions of  his  farm.  He  was  married,  Oct.  2.  1883, 
to  Miss  Anna  Risser,  who  was  born  in  this  county, 
April  22,  1861,  and  is  the  daughter  of  John  and 
Anna  (Farney)  Risser,  who  are  residentsof  Roanoke 
Township. 

Our  subject  rents  his  father's  farm  of  200  acres, 


and  as  an  agriculturist  is  meeting  with  unqualified 
success.  In  politics  he  is  an  uncompromising 
Democrat,  and  is  serving  his  second  term  in  his 
present  office.  In  local  affairs  his  aim  is  to  support 
the  candidate  whom  he  considers  will  best  serve  the 
interests  of  the  people.  Enterprising,  intelligent 
and  popular,  there  is  before  him  a  fair  outlook  for 
the  future. 


>HOMAS  SCOTT,  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser 
of  Panola  Township,  is  one  of  the  many 
prosperous  residents  of  Woodford  Count3'. 
His  farm  is  located  on  section  8,  where  he  has  120 
acres  of  land,  all  under  high  cultivation  and  kept 
in  fine  condition.  When  he  made  it  his  home  he 
found  it  in  a  highly  uncultivated  state,  it  being 
covered  with  a  rank  growth  of  thistles  and  weeds. 
Those  were  not  conquered  and  subdued  without  a 
great  deal  of  trouble,  but  they  at  last  disappeared 
under  the  persistent  efforts  used  to  remove  them. 
Now  he  has  a  pleasant  farm,  with  substantial  farm 
buildings,  and  a  comfortable  home,  where  he  and 
his  family  live  happily,  and  in  which  they  wel- 
come their  many  friends. 

Mr.  Scott  is  an  Englishman,  possessed  of  their 
many  persistent,  industrious  traits,  and  having 
enough  of  their  noted  stubborness  to  make  him  de- 
termined and  successful  in  whatever  he  undertakes. 
The  fame  of  England  is  to  a  large  extent  due  to 
their  so-called  '-stubborness,"  and  perhaps  it  would 
be  a  fortunate  characteristic  if  Americans  culti- 
tivated  it  even  more  than  they  do.  Our  subject 
was  born  Nov.  7,  1830,  in  Buckinghamshire, 
England,  to  William  and  Charlotte  Scott.  He  was 
their  eldest  son,  and  received  a  fair  education,  per- 
haps better  than  the  majority  of  the  young  men  of 
that  time  were  fortunate  enough  to  obtain.  In  the 
years  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  he  attended  quite 
a  number  of  schools  of  different  kinds  and  grades. 
In  the  spring  of  1859  he  emigrated  to  America, 
taking  passage  at  Liverpool,  and  occupying  five 
or  six  weeks  in  the  ocean  voyage.  The}-  escaped, 
however,  without  any  severe  storms,  having  what 
is  called  a  "fair  voyage."  He  came  immediately 


RAPH1CAL  ALBUM. 


PORTRAIT  AND  B1OG 


^.  Woodford  County,  111.,  and  for  one  year  re- 
mained with  his  brother.  William  Scott,  near  Meta- 
mora.  In  1800  he  came  to  Panola  Township,  where 
be  rented  bis  farm  for  some  time,  but  finally  set- 
tled on  his  present  homestead  in  18G4  or  1865.  He 
n0>v  owns  a  well-improved  farm  of  120  acres  of 
land,  all  obtained  by  his  own  efforts.  His  original 
purchase  was  forty  acres  of  land  from  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad  Company,  which  had  been  broken 
but  not  cultivated.  He  soon  afterward  bought 
forty  acres  near  his  first  purchase,  and  subsequently 
a(Uled  another  forty  to  this,  making  in  all  120 
seres  of  good  land.  Upon  this  he  has  made  all  the 
improvements  necessary  to  a  well-cultivated  farm 
of  the  present  time,  and  has  added  to  the  value  of 
the  real  estate  by  his  labor.  His  has  been  a  life 
of  hard  work,  battling  with  nature,  breaking  up 
the  prairie,  and  gradually  reducing  a  seemingly  un- 
inhabitable tract  of  land  to  its  now  prosperous 
appearance. 

Mr.  Scott  has  added  to  his  pleasures  and  re- 
sponsibilities by  taking  unto  himself  a  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Keziah  Clark,  and  who  was  also 
a  native  of  England.  To  her  he  wa>  married,  in 
1852,  in  England.  They  have  had  a  large  family 
of  children,  of  whom  the  following  survive:  Ze- 
jiora,  who  is  the  widow  of  William  Tool,  and  a 
resident  of  McLean  County,  this  State:  Mary  A., 
who  became  the  wife  of  Sydney  Williams,  a  resi- 
dent of  McLean  County;  Sarah,  the  wife  of  George 
Bell,  living  in  Woodford  County,  III.:  Adelaide 
and  Oliver  6.  These  children  were  all  given  good 
educations  by  their  parents,  and  were  prepared  to 
take  prominent  places  in  the  society  which  they  now 
adorn.  Mr.  Scott  has  served  as  School  Director, 
hut  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  public  office, 
preferring  the  tranquillity  of  home  life  to  the  noise 
and  tumult  attendant  upon  the  race  after  the 
honors  and  emoluments  of  office.  He  does  not 
bind  himself  to  any  party  opinions,  but  votes  for 
the  man  irrespective  of  party  affiliations.  His  wife 
owns  eighty  acres  of  good  land  in  McLean  County, 
which  contributes  to  the  financial  stilus  of  the 

family. 

"  Mrs.  Scott,  as  has  been  already  mentioned,  is  a 
native  of  England,  and  was  born  in  October,  1831. 
Ik-r  parents  were  James  and  Frances  Clark,  also 


born  in  England.  Mrs.  Scott  emigrated  to  America 
with  her  husband  in  1859,  and  has  been  of  mate- 
rial assistance  to  him  in  his  undertakings,  and  has 
always  been  a  wise  counselor  and  faithful  com- 
panion. They  have  many  friends  iu  their  vicinity, 
who  all  unite  in  wishing  them  continued  prosper- 
ity in  the  future,  such  as  they  have  had  in  the 
past. 


EUBEN  P.  BELL,  whose  portrait  is  pre- 
sented to  the  readers  of  this  volume,  is  a 
retired  farmer,  occupying  a  beautiful  house 
in  Minonk,  and  is  numbered  among  the 
wealthy  men  of  Wood  ford  County.  He  is  a  fine 
representative  of  those  persevering,  thrifty  and 
prudent  pioneers,  who  came  to  this  section  of  the 
country  when  it  was  yet  in  its  infancy,  and  while 
building  up  fine  homes  and  enriching  themselves, 
have  also  become  important  factors  in  developing 
the  resources  and  aiding  the  prosperous  growth 
of  county  and  township. 

Mr.  Bell  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  born  in  Old- 
ham  County.  March  31,  1810,  to  Robert  F.  and 
Mary  (Pembertou)  Bell,  natives  respectively  of 
Pennsylvania  and  Kentucky.  Joseph  Bell,  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  also  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  He 
wns  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  in  1788  removed 
from  his  native  State  to  Kentucky,  becoming  a 
pioneer  thereof,  and  there  he  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  dying  at  the  age  of  ninety-six  years. 

To  him  and  his  wife  were  born  eight  children, 
seven  of  whom  attained  old  age:  Robert,  father  of 
our  subject,  was  reared  a  farmer,  and  in  1809  mar- 
ried in  Kentucky,  remaining  there  several  years 
after.  In  1818  he*  removed  with  bis  family  to 
Indiana,  residing  in  that  State  until  1833,  when  he 
came  to  Illinois  as  one  of  its  earliest  settlers,  and 
located  in  Putnam  (now  Marshall)  County,  where 
he  had  two  years  previously  entered  a  tract  of 
land,  and  there  he  and  his  wife  passed  their  re- 
maining days,  she  dying  when  fifty- one  years  old, 
and  be  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years.  Of  their 
family  of  nine  children,  all  grew  to  maturity,  the 


354 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


following  being  their  record:  Reuben  P.;  Julia L.. 
who  married  .John  Bates,  died  in  Marshall  County; 
Frances  is  the  wife  of  John  Wineteer,  of  Minonk; 
George  F.  died  in  Marshall  County;  Susan,  who 
married  William  Myers,  died  in  Marshall  County; 
J.  M.  lives  in  Bureau  County;  John  E.  died  in 
Minonk;  Elizabeth,  who  married  Jackson  Laudter- 
man,  died  near  Springfield;  Robert  died  in  Cali- 
fornia. 

Reuben  P.,  of  this  sketch,  left  his  native  Slate 
with  his  parents  when  a  lad.  and  going  to  Harrison 
County,  Ind.,  finished  his  education  and  became  a 
tiller  of  the  soil.  He  continued  an  inmate  of  the 
parental  home  for  some  years,  coming  with  his 
family  to  Illinois  and  settling  in  Marshall  County, 
lie  was  industrious,  energetic,  possessed  of  financial 
shrewdness,  and  with  his  ability  to  earn  mone}', 
also  had  the  faculty  of  saving  it,  two  qualities  not 
alwavs  combined  in  the  same  person.  Continuing 
a  resident  of  Marshall  County,  for  many  years,  he 
in  the  meantime  purchased  and  improved  400  acres 
of  land,  and  accumulated  a  good  property.  In  1860 
he  came  to  Wooclford  County ,"and  bought  a  tract  of 
raw  prairie  land,  which  is  now  -near  the  center  of  the 
city  limits  of  Minonk,  on  which  he  built  his  com- 
modious house,  one  of  the  finest  in  the  place,  the 
buildings  and  their  attractive  surroundings  being 
indicative  of  the  prosperity,  excellent  judgment 
and  good  taste  of  the  occupants.  Mr.  Bell  is  also 
the  owner  of  other  real  estate  in  Illinois,  besides 
that  already  alluded  to,  the  number  of  acres  in 
his  possession  aggregating  1,500.  Of  this  large 
property  all  has  been  amassed  since  he  came  to 
Illinois,  and  is  due  entirely  to  his  own  wise  sagacity 
and  true  economy. 

Mr.  Bell  has  been  twice  married.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  first  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  in 
Marshall  County,  III,  in  November,  1837,  was 
Nancy  Palmer,  a  native  of  Indiana.  She  died  in 
September,  1844,  leaving  him  with  one  child.  Fran- 
ces, now  the  wife  of  .James  Dennis,  of  Eureka.  The 
second  union  of  our  subject  took  place  April  1, 
1846,  when  he  was  married  to  Miss  Lydia  A., 
daughter  of  Charles  S.  nnd  Mar}'  Edwards.  Mr. 
.iiiil  Mrs.  Edwards  were  born  in  the  United  States, 
of  Welsh  origin.  In  1831  they  removed  from 
Kentucky,  where  the  birth  of  Mrs.  Bell  occurred 


Dec.  31,  1827,  to  Marshall  County,  being  among 
the  pioneers  of  that  county.  For  a  few  years  after 
coming  to  Illinois  Mr.  Edwards  taught  school,  then 
engaged  in  farming,  and  is  at  present  living  in 
Rutland,  at  an  advanced  age,  having  been  born 
April  I,  1806.  Mrs.  Edwards  died  at  the  age  of 
sixty-nine  years.  They  had  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren, eight  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  the  follow- 
ing being  their  record :  Lydia  is  the  wife  of  our 
subject;  William  and  James  died  in  Lacon;  Sarah, 
who  married  Norval  Baruum,  died  in  Whiteside 
County:  John  lives  in  Butler  County,  Nek ; 
Charles  lives  in  York,  Neb.;  Robert  lives  in  Lacon; 
Mary  is  the  wife  of  J.  II.  Bovoort,  of  Rutland. 

To  Mr.  Bell  and  his  present  wife  have  been  born 
two  children,  Sarah,  wife  of  B.  M.  Stoddard,  of 
Minonk,  and  Adelaide,  wife  of  William  S.  Marquis, 
of  Rock  Island. 

Mr.  Bell  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  in  1832 
for  Andrew  Jackson,  and  has  since  then  voted  the 
Democratic  ticket.  He  has  taken  much  interest  in 
local  affairs,  and  has  filled  various  township  offices 
acceptably  to  all.  Mrs.  Bell  is  an  esteemed  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


HILIP  F.  LIVINGSTON.  In  a  history  in- 
tended to  perpetuate  the  names  and  lives 
of  prominent  people  of  Wood  ford  County  t 
an  important  place  certainly  belongs  to 
the  gentleman  whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of 
this  sketch,  for  he  has  the  honor  of  being  the  first 
settler  in  Clayton  Township,  as  well  ns  one  of  the 
earliest  in  the  whole  county.  His  residence  here 
dates  from  April  14,  18.54.  when  he  settled  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  7. 

Mr.  Livingston  is  the  son  of  James  and  Miranda 
Livingston,  natives  of  New  Hampshire.  This  fam- 
ily for  five  generations  have  resided  in  New  Eng- 
land. The  parents  of  our  subject  resided  on  a 
farm  in  their  nati-ve  State  until  1854,  when  they 
came  to  Illinois  and"  settled  in  Clayton  Township. 
The  father  of  Philip  Livingston  was  married  three 
times,  our  subject  being  a  child  of  the  first  mar- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


355 


riage-  By  his  first  wife  lie  had  four  children, 
namely:  Luoinda,  who  is  dead;  Hiram,  who  lives 
in  Buffalo  County.  Neb.;  Isaiah,  who  resides  in 
>*e\v  Hampshire,  and  Philip.  The  mother  passed 
away  in  1841.  James  Livingston  was  again  mar- 
ried, being  united  with  Eliza  Roby,  by  whom  ha 
bad  three  children,  whose  names  are  Nathaniel, 
Liifindn  and  Martha.  They  are  all  deceased.  After 
the  death  of  his  wife,  he  subsequently  married  Fan- 
nie G.  Heath,  who  had  accompanied  her  parents 
on  their  removal  to  Illinois,  and  who  died  in  Mi- 
nonk,  leaving  no  children.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  Assessor  of  Clayton  Township,  and  in 
•  politics  lie  was  in  sympathy  with  the  principles  of 
the  Republican  party  from  the  organization  of  the 
same.  He  died  at  his  home  in  Minonk.  in  1878, 
having  reached  the  age  of  seventy-four  j-ears. 

As  before  stated,  our  subject  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  Illinois  in  1854,  and  in  1861  enlisted  at  the 
opening  of  the  great  National  struggle,  and  was 
mustered  in  with  Corn  pan}*  G.  17th  Illinois  In- 
fantry. He  was  sent  to  the  front,  and  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Ft.  Donelson  and  Vicksburg-,  also 
was  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  He  was  wounded 
in  the  battle  of  Ft.  Donelson  by  a  gunshot,  which 
disabled  him,  and  prevented  him  from  returning 
to  the  service  for  the  period  of  eight  months.  Al- 
together he  was  in  the  service  five  years  and  one 
month. 

U[K>n  the  close  of  the  Civil  War,  Mr.  Livingston 
returned  home  and  resumed  farming.  !•  1865  he 
celebrated  the  return  of  peace  by  his  marriage 
with  Miss  Mary  filcCune,  the  daughter  of  Robert 
ami  Nancy  McCunc.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  settled  in  Illinois  in  1857.  where 
they  both  died.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Livingston  have 
six  children,  namely:  Eleanor  Marinda,  Robert 
M.,  Philip  F.,  Fannio,  Nannie  and  Mars'  B.  The 
eldest  child  is  the  wife  of  William  II.  Randolph, 
a  resident  of  Buffalo  County,  Neb.  The  others 
are  yet  under  the  parental  roof. 

In  politics  Mr.  Livingston  is  a  strong  Republi- 
can, and  has  served  as  Town  Clerk,  Assessor,  School 
Trustee  and  School  Director,  all  of  which  positions 
lie  has  filled  to  the  best  of  his  ability,  and  to  the 
entire  satisfaction  of  the  community  at  large. 

Mr.  Livingston  is  the  administrator  of  the  estate 


of  his  brother  Nathaniel,  and  is  also  the  guardian  of 
his  two  orphan  children.  Our  subject  and  his  fam- 
ily are  comfortably  situated  in  their  pleasant  home, 
and  are  met  and  welcomed  in  the  most  select  circles 
of  society.  Mr.  Livingston  is  now  the  owner  of 
128  acres  of  laud,  which  is  will  improved  and 
highly  cultivated. 


NDREW  J.  GARDNER,  late  of  El  Paso, 
departed  this  life  at  his  home  in  that  citj', 
June  '29.  1869.  He  was  born  in  New  Lis- 
bon. Otsego  Co..  N.  Y..  June  4,  1830,  and 
was  the  son  of  Potter  and  Mary  (Th  UTS  ton)  Gard- 
ner.  who  were  likewise  natives  of  the  Empire 
State.  The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and 
spent  his  entire  life  in  his  native  State,  dying  in 
Otsego  County  when  middle-aged.  He  lived  the 
life  of  an  honest  man  and  a  good  citizen,  was  sue-  • 
cessful  in  business  and  respected  by  all  who  knew 
him.  His  widow,  although  past  eighty  years  of 
age.  is  still  living  and  remark.il  ily  active  in  mind 
and  body.  She  makes  her  home  with  her  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  William  Newman,  in  Vermilion  County, 
this  State.  Both  she  and  her  husband  identified 
themselves  with  the  Baptist  Church,  of  which  she 
is  still  a  member. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  second  child 
in  a  family  of  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  com- 
prising the  parental  famih',  all  of  whom  lived  to 
mature  years  and  were  married.  There  are  now 
living  one  son  and  one  daughter — William  H.  and 
Mrs.  William  Newman,  both  residents  of  Ver- 
milion County.  Andrew  J.,  like  his  brothers  and 
sisters,  received  careful  parental  training.  He  took 
kindly  to  his  books  at  school,  and  at  an  early  age 
developed  into  a  teacher,  which  profession  he  fol- 
lowed during  the  winter  season  a  number  of  terms. 
He  was  entirely  dependent  upon  bis  own  resources, 
and  the  necessit}'  for  earnest  effort  was  the  means 
of  developing  within  him  those  qualities  which 
which  have  brought  him  success  in  life. 

While  n  resident  of  his  native  count}-,  our  sub- 
ject was  married.  Aug.  23,  1858,  to  Miss  Eliza- 


356 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


beth  Angel,  who  was  a  native  of  Chenango  Count}'. 
N.  Y.  Mrs.  Gardner  was  born  June  9,  1837,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Lewis  and  Lucy  (Caswell)  Angel, 
who  were  likewise  natives  of  tbe  Empire,  State. 
Her  paternal  grandparents  were  Asa  and  Cynthia 
Angel,  natives  of  New  England,  and,  it  is  believed, 
were  born  in  Rhode  Island".  Her  family  was  first 
represented  in  America  by  three  brothers,  who 
crossed  tbe  Atlantic  from  Scotland,  and  founded 
homes  in  Rhode  Island,  near  the  capital  of  the 
State,  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  War.  They  are 
now  represented  by  a  large  number  of  descendants. 
Asa  Angel  and  his  wife  spent  their  last  days  on  a 
farm  in  Chenango  County,  N.  Y.,  passing  away 
when  ripe  in  years. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Gardner  after  their  mar- 
riage began  life  on  a  farm  in  Chenango  County, 
N.  Y.,  and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives, 
each  dying  after  having  attained  their  threescore 
vcars.  They  were  most  estimable  and  worthy 
|>eople,  and  Baptists  in  religion.  Their  family  con- 
s-isted  of  four  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom 
Mrs.  Gardner  was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth,  and 
all  of  whom  lived  to  become  men  and  -women. 
Three  daughters  and  two  sons  are  yet  living.  Mrs. 
Gardner  received  careful  parental  training  and  a 
good  education  in  the  schools  of  her  native  town- 
ship, and  was  thus  well  fitted  for  her  future  posi- 
tion in  life  as  the  partner  of  a  good  man's  home. 

Soon  after  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gard- 
ner set  out  for  tbe  wilds  of  Woodford  County, 
11!..  locating  in  Panola  Township,  in  the  summer 
of  1858.  Mr.  Gardner  purchased  160  acres  of 
wild  land,  in  the  cultivation  and  improvement  of 
which  be  was  successful,  building  up  a  good  home, 
which  they  occupied  until  the  .spring  of  1869.  They 
thiMi  changed  their  residence  to  HI  P.-iso,  and  Mr. 
Gardner  did  not  long  survive  the  removal.  He 
was  a  man  who  read  much,  thus  keeping  himself 
thoroughly  informed  as  to  current  events,  and  em- 
ployed his  leisure  hours  in  improving  his  mind. 
Politically,  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  in  religion  a 
I>:t|>ii.-t.  lie  presented  the  example  of  a  true  Chris- 
tian life,  and  made  for  himself  a  record  which  his 
descendants  may  look  upon  with  pride. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gardner  there  were  born  three 
children,  one  of  whom,  Frank  A.,  died  Nov.  20. 


1863,  aged  three  years.  The  survivors  are:  Flora 
V...  the  wife  of  Frank  Stitt,  Cashier  of  the  National 
Bank  of  El  Paso,  and  Lewis  A.,  who  remains  at 
home  with  his  mother.  Mrs.  Gardner  is  a  very  in- 
telligent lady,  and  has  successfully  managed  her 
financial  affairs  since  the  death  of  her  husband. 
Both  she  and  her  children  are  members  in  good 
standing,  of  the  Baptist  Church.  They  occupy  a 
pleasant  home  in  the  central  part  of  the  city,  and 
number  their  friends  and  acquaintances  among  its 
best  people. 


•|  OHN  DOWN,  a  general  farmer,  residing  on 
section  7,  El  Paso  Township,  is  an  intelli- 
gent and  enterprising  citizen,  and  one  of 
tbe  truly  self-made  men  of  this  county, 
where  he  has  m:ulc  his  home  for  almost  a  quarter  of 
a  century,  dating  his  residence  from  1865.  Few  men 
starting  in  life  in  like  circumstances  as  he,  have 
been  so  successful,  but  he  well  merits  the  prosperity 
which  have  attended  his  efforts,  as  he  Ins  labored 
with  untiring  zeal  to  make  for  himself  and  family 
a  home. 

Mr.  Down  was  born  in  Devonshire,  England, 
near  Highbickington,  on  the  21st  day  of  Novem- 
ber, 1837,  and  is  a  son  of  William  Down,  who  was 
also  a  native  of  the  same  count}-.  On  attaining  to 
man's  estate,  his  father  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Bragg,  and  they  began  their  domestic  life  in  the 
community  where  they  were  born  and  reared.  A 
family  of  seven  children,  three  sons  and  four 
daughters  were  born  to  them.  One  daughter  died 
in  England  at  the  age  of  forty  six  years,  but  the 
other  members  of  the  family  became  residents  of 
this  count;-}',  where  four  are  yet  living.  The  par- 
ents spent  their  entire  lives  in  the  vicinity  of  their 
childhood  home,  the  father  dying  at  the  nge  of 
seventy  years,  while  the  mother,  at  the  time  of  her 
death,  had  long  since  passed  the  psalmist's  three 
score-and-ten,  being  called  to  her  final  rest  in  the 
eighty-first  year  of  her  age.  Both  Mr.  Down  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  Church  of  England, 
thn  Episcopal. 

Our  subject  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


357 


voiitli  in  liis  native  land,  but  at  an  early  age  began 
earning  his  own  livelihood.  Since  that  time  he  has 
been  dependent  upon  his  own  resources,  but 
though  he  has  met  manv  trials  mid  discourage- 
ments, he  has  overcome  all  the  dilliculties  until  he 
is  now  numbered  ainon£;  the  well-to-do  fanners 
of  Woodford  County.  When  seventeen  years  of 
aife.  believing  that  the  opportunities  afforded  in 
tlie  New  World  were  superior  to  those  of  the  older 
countries  of  the  East,  he  resolved  to  make  America 
llie  scenes  of  his  future  operations,  and  acting  upon 
that  determination,  sailed  from  Liverpool,  in  the 
American  vessel,  "Orient."  After  six  weeks  spent 
upon  the  Atlantic,  he  landed  in  New  York  City,  on 
July  #,  1855.  He  spent  the  succeeding  year  near 
Baiavia,  N.  Y.,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  contin- 
ued his  journey  until  reaching  Peoria  County,  111. 
On  his  arrival,  lie  was  notonly  entirely  without  capi- 
tal with  which  to  begin  life  in  this  land  of  strangers, 
but  .previous  to  leaving  home  he  was  compelled  to 
borrow  $50  with  which  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the 
voyage.  Part  of  that  sum  was  obtained  from  his 
brothers  and  part  from  a  young  girl,  a  domestic, who 
for  five  years  had  worked  in  the  same  place  in 
England,  where  Mr.  Down  was  employed.  He  re- 
mained in  Peoria  County,  from  185C  until  1805, 
covering  a  period  of  nine  years,  when  he  came  to 
this  county  and  settled  inPanola  Township,  where 
he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land.  He  engaged 
in  operating  that  farm  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
added  greatly  to  its  value  by  placing  the  entire 
amount  under  u  high  state  of  cultivation,  and 
making  useful  improvements.  In  1885,  however, 
he  removed  to  his  present  home  on  section  7,  El 
Paso  Township,  where  he  owns  a  fine  and  well  im- 
proved farm  of  seventy-nine  acres.  From  an 
humble  position,  he  has  steadily  worked  his  way  up- 
ward until  he  has  now  a  comfortable  competence, 
and  by  his  industrious  life,  upright  and  honorable 
dealing  has  won  the  confidence  and  good  will  of 
all  with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact. 

While  residing  in  Peoria  County,  Mr.  Down  led 
to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Ann  Vailey,  who  was 
also  a  native  of  Devonshire.  England.  She  was 
born  Nov.  1.  1841,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Ann  (Lang)  Vailey.  whose  birth  also  occurred  in 
the  same  county.  By  occupation,  her  father  was 


a  farmer,  and  in  the  fall  of  1855.  he  emigrated  to 
America  with  his  family,  nnd  nnde  his  first  settle- 
ment in  Peoria  County,  111.  At  the  age  of  seventy 
years,  he  was  called  to  his  final  rest.  His  wife 
then  came  to  this  county,  and  died  in  El  Paso 
Township  in  Fehruar}-,  18S8.  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years.  The}-  were  members  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, and  were  highly  respected  |icople. 

Seven  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Down,  five  of  whom  are  yet  living — Lizzie,  who  is 
a  teacher  of  recognized  ability  in  Panola  Town- 
ship; Minnie  E..  Flora  B..  Luella  J.  and  Alice  E. 
arc  at  home.  Two  sons  of  the  family,  William  and 
Thomas  are  deceased.  In  politics,  Mr.  Down  affili- 
ates with  the  Democratic  party.  Himself  and  wife 
attend  the  Baptist  Church,  and  rank  among  the 
best  citizens  of  the  county,  where  they  are  so  well 
and  favorably  known. 


AMUEL  L.  KERR,  M.D.  The  medical 
fraternity  of  El  Paso  and  vicinity,  bears 
fair  comparison  with  that  of  its  sister 
cities,  and  the  subject  of  this  notice  is  no 
unworthy  representative  of  his  profession.  He 
made  his  advent  in  this  county  in  June,  1856,  and 
after  one  3-ear  spent  in  Kappa  established  himself 
at  El  Paso,  where  he  soon  entered  upon  a  large  and 
lucrative  practice,  extending  throughout  this  part 
of  the  county.  He  has  been  a  close  student  and 
a  careful  practitioner,  and  enjoys  in  a  marked  de- 
gree the  confidence  and  esteem  not  only  of  his 
patrons  but  the  erftire  community. 

When  a  young  man  Dr.  Kerr  began  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  East  Liberty,  Allen  Co., 
Ind.,  in  May,  1850.  He  traversed  the  country  on 
horseback  with  his  saddle  bags  behind  him.  and  for 
a  number  of  years  was  frequently  called  out  both 
day  and  night  with  comparatively  little  rest.  His 
health  finall}'  broke  down  under  the  strain,  and  he 
spent  one  3Tenr  traveling  over  the  country,  sight- 
seeing and  hunting  deer  and  wild  turkeys.  This 
year's  rest  and  recreation  were  very  beneficial,  and 


358 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in  the  spring  of  1856  he  resumed  his  practice  and 
has  since  pursued  it  almost  uninterruptedly  to  the 
present  time.  Before  entering  upon  the  study  of 
medicine  he  had  followed  the  profession  of  a 
teacher  nine  terms. 

A  native  of  Washington  County,  Pa.,  Dr.  Kerr 
was  born  Aug.  11,  1823,  at  the  homestead  of  his 
parents,  which  lay  on  Pigeon  Creek.  His  father  was 
Aaron  Kerr,  a  native  of  New  Jersey  and  the  son  of 
Samuel  Kerr.  Joseph  Kerr,  the  father  of  the  lat- 
ter, came  from  Scotland  to  America,  with  two 
brothers  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  War.  He 
married  a  lady  whose  first  name  was  Elsie  and 
they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in  New  Jer- 
sey, living  to  be  quite  aged.  The  wife  was  like 
her  husband  a  descendant  of  Scotch  ancestry,  and 
both  were  the  offspring  of  old  and  substantial 
families. 

It  is  believed  that  Samuel  Kerr  married  a  New 
Jersey  lady.  The  name  of  his  wife  was  Rlioda 
Bescherer.  who  was  born  in  1757,  and  was  the 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Bescherer,  who  are 
believed  to  have  been  of  Scotch  parentnge.  After 
a  few  years  spent  in  New  Jersey,  Samuel  Kerr  with 
his  wife  emigrated  to  Washington  County.  Pa., 
where  his  death  took  place  Dec.  31,  182!),  when  he 
was  within  a  few  days  of  his  seventy-third  year. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  a  Presbyterian, 
in  religion.  His  wife  died  Nov.  16,  1810,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-two  years  and  nine  months.  The 
Kerrs  have  always  been  distinguished  for  their 
splendid  constitutions  and  great  stature,  and  the 
subject  of  this  ske'tch  in  this  respect  is  quite  equal 
to  the  accounts  given  of  his  ancestors. 

To  Samuel  Kerr  and  his  wife  there  were  born 
eleven  sons  and  one  daughter,  the  greater  part  of 
whom  lived  to  mature  years  and  were  married. 
Aaron,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  reared  to 
farm  pursuits  and  must  have  emigrated  with  his 
parents  when  a  young  man  to  Washington  County, 
Pa.,  where  he  was  married  later  to  Miss  Margaret, 
daughter  of  John  ami  Margaret  Nevin.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Nevin  were  natives  of  Ireland,  whence  thev 
came  after  their  marriage  to  America,  during  the 
Colonial  days.  They  located  first  in  Washington 
Count}-,  Pa.,  and  later  removed  to  Beaver  County, 
where  they  spent  their  last  days  and  died  when 


ripe   in   years.     They  belonged    to    the  Sececlers' 
Church,  and  were  both  possessed  of  stout  and  vi«. 

O 

oroi's  frames  and  more  than  ordinary  intelligence. 

Aaron  Kerr  after  his  marriage  carried  on  farm, 
ing  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  and  also  manufac- 
tured earthenware,  being  very  successful  as  a 
potter.  In  1832,  however,  leaving  the  Keystone 
State,  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Carroll  Countv, 
Ohio,  near  the  town  of  Carrollton,  where  he  and 
his  wife  spent  their  last  years,  he  dying  Sept.  28, 
1846,  when  a  little  past  fifty  years,  of  congestive 
fever.  In  religion  he  was  an  active  Presbyterian 
and  in  politics  a  decided  Democrat.  The  wife  and 
mother  survived  her  husband  until  April  2.  1861, 
dying  at  the  age  of  sixty  years  and  three  months. 

To  Aaron  Kerr  and  his  estimable  wife  there 
were  born  the  children  recorded  as  follows:  Sam- 
uel L.,  oiy  subject,  was  the  eldest  of  the  family; 
John  Jackson  married  Miss  Cornelia  Ilutciiinson, 
and  both  are  now  deceased ;  Sarah  Jane  became 
the  wife  of  John  Elder,  who  was  killed  by  being 
thrown  from  a  horse,  and  she  was  then  married  to 
William  Scott,  her  first  cousin.  They  live  at  Scio, 
Harrison  Co.,  Ohio.  Joseph  Alexander  took  to 
wife  Miss  Carrie  Grisell.  and  operates  as  a  banker 
at  Salem,  Ohio;  Margaret  Ann  became  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Uriah  C'oulson,  an  attorney  and  editor  at 
Sullivan,  Ind.,  and  is  now  deceased;  Aaron  Wylie 
married  a  Miss  Hebdeu.  and  is  now  deceased;  his 
widow  lives  in  Bloomington,  111.  George  Nevin 
operates  a  flour  and  feed  store  at  Cotton  wood 
Falls,  Kan.;  Robert  Harvey  is  married  and  farming 
near  Richmond,  Jefferson  Co.,  Ohio;  James  Mc- 
Millen  married  Miss  Lizzie  Young,  and  they 
are  living  at  C'ottonwood  Falls,  Kan. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  when  ready  to  estab- 
lish a  home  of  his  own  was  married  at  Bellaire. 
Ohio,  near  Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  to  Miss  Caro- 
line Ilutciiinson,  who  was  born  near  Wheeling, 
where  she  was  educated  and  reared  to  womanhood. 
Her  parents  were  John  W.  and  Maria  (McConnell) 
Hutchinson,  who  were  of  American  birth  and  par- 
entage, and  are  both  now  deceased.  Mr.  Hutchin- 
son  at  the  time  of  his  death  had  been  for  some 
time  operating  a  woolen  factor}'  near  Bellaire.  His 
widow  later  moved  to  Grand  View.  Iowa,  where 
she  died  of  old  age.  Mrs.  Kerr  wasrone  of  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


359 


eldest  of  a  large  family  of  children  and  received  a 
good  education,  completing  her  studies  in  the  col- 
lege at  Washington.  Pa.  She  is  a  very  intelligent 
and  callable  lady,  and  is  the  mother  of  eight  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 

The  Doctor  and  his  "family  are  Presbyterians  in 
religion,  and  our  subject  politically  is  a  reliable 
Democrat.  He  takes  a  lively  interest  in  politics, 
has  officiated  as  Mayor  of  El  Paso  and  likewise  as 
Alderman. 


>ILLIAM  MEGINNES,  who  is  numbeied 
among  the  prominent  and  progressive 
farmers  and  extensive  land  owners  of 
Greene  Township,  has  long  been  identified  with  the 
history  of  tbis  county,  his  residence  dating  from 
1853,  when  he  emigrated  to  the  West  and  settled  in 
Roanoke  Township.  He  was  born  in  Franklin 
County,  Pa.,  five  miles  south  of  Chambersburg,  in 
Franklin  Township,  April  22,  1827,  and  is  the  son 
of  William  and  Catherine  (Harmon)  Meginnes. 
On  his  father's  side  he  is  descended  from  Irish  an- 
cestry, and  on  his  mother's  side  the  descent  is  traced 
in  direct  line  to  German  ancestors,  but  for  many 
generations  his  people  lu.d  followed  farming  in  the 
Keystone  State.  The  scenes  of  his  first  recollections 
go  back  to  his  parents'  home,  where  clustered 
around  the  fire-side  was  a  family  of  nine  children. 
That  little  band  is  now  widely  scattered,  some  hav- 
ing removed  to  distant  States,  while  (fibers  have 
been  called  to  their  final  home.  All,  however, 
reached  manhood  and  womanhood,  and  the  record 
is  as  follows :  Rebecca  became  the  wife  of  Peter 
Layman,  and  died  at  her  home  in  Ohio  in  1884, 
leaving  three  children;  Catherine  married  Benja- 
min Hawes,  and  removed  with  her  husband  to 
Texas,  where  death  occurred,  leaving  one  child; 
John,  who  was  married  and  had  a  family  of  seven 
children,  resided  in  Knox  County,  Ohio,  until  his 
death  in  about  1867;  Eliza  is  the  wife  of  Simon 
Christine,  of  Worcester,  Ohio,  by  whom  she  has 
nine  children;  Teena  became  the  wife  of  James 
Butts,  and  resided  in  Knox  County,  Ohio,  where 
tb.ree  children  were  born  unto  them,  but  both  par- 


ents are  now  deceased;  Henry  resides  in  Wichita, 
Kan.;  William,  of  this  sketch,  is  the  next  in  order 
of  birth;  Daniel,  a  furniture  dealer  of  Boulder, 
Col.,  and  has  two  children:  Mary  is  the  wife  of 
William  JSporaman.  a  resident  farmer  of  Morton 
County,  Kan.  The  father  of  this  family  died  Oct. 
18.  1858,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  His 
people  were  characterized  by  strong  physical  and 
mental  powers,  and  were  noted  for  longevity,  many 
of  them  attaining  to  very  advanced  ages.  His  wife 
died  in  1851,  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years. 

Our  subject  remained  under  the  parental  roof 
until  twenty  years  of  age  and  was  educated  in  the 
subscription  schools.  The  lady  who  afterwards  be- 
came his  wife,  attended  the  same  school,  and  they 
were  friends  from  early  childhood.  In  1847  he 
left  home  and  began  learning  the  plastering  trade. 
During  his  three  years  of  apprenticeship  he  worked 
for  $2  a  month.  When  his  term  had  expired  he 
began  looking  about  him  for  some  favorable  loca- 
tion, and  came  to  .the  conclusion  that  the  West  fur- 
nished better  opportunities  than  were  afforded 
by  the  older  States  in  the  East,  so  he  left  Pennsyl- 
vania and  emigrated  to  Worcester.  Wayne  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  until  the  fol- 
lowing fall. 

In  that  autumn  he  returned  to  his  old  home,  and 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Nancy  Evey, 
daughter  of  Michael  and  Lydia  (Meyers)  Evey, 
who  were  natives  of  Franklin  County,  and  of  Irish 
and  German  descent,  respect ively.  Their  family 
numbered  seven  children — John,  Fannie,  Susan, 
Ellen,  Michael,  Nancy  and  David.  The  following 
spring  after  their  wedding  took  place,  Mr.  Megin- 
nes and  his  J'oung  bride  removed  to  Huron,  Ohio, 
where  he  engaged  in  plastering  for  two  3'ears.  One 
child  was  there  born  to  them.  John,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  nine  months.  In  October,  1855.  they  con- 
tinued their  westward  journej-  and  became  resi- 
dents of  Woodford  County,  where  they  have  since 
made  their  home.  The  expenses  of  the  removal 
had  about  exhausted  Mr.  Meginnes'  capital,  and  he 
began  life  in  Illinois  in  verj-  limited  circumstances. 
He  purchased  fort\-  acres  of  land  in  Roanoke  Town- 
ship, from  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company, 
the  purchase  price  being  §5  per  acre,  the  whole 
amount  to  be  paid  within  five  3'ears.  That  formed 


360 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  nucleus  of  his  present  extensive  possessions, 
now  amounting  to  more  than  1,000  acres.  It  is  di- 
vided into  four  farms,  two  of  which  he  has  himself 
improved,  spending  thousands  of  dollars  for  that 
purpose.  His  home  farm  is  one  of  the  very  best 
in  the  county,  his  house  is  an  elegant  frame  resi- 
dence, barns  and  other  outbuildings,  which  are 
models  of  convenience,  have  been  erected,  wind- 
mills have  been  put  up,  and  the  entire  premises 
plainly  indicate  prosperity,  and. the  careful  super- 
vision of  an  industrious  and  energetic  ownfr.  His 
other  farms  are  also  in  keeping  with  the  one  on 
which  he  resides,  and  in  Roanoke  Township,  where 
he  formerly  made  bis  home, the  dwelling  was  a  large 
and  beautiful  buck  house.  He  has  endured  the- 
trials  and  hardships  which  come  to  those  who  set- 
tle in  a  new  countrv,  but  notwithstanding  the  dif. 
ficulties  encountered,  lias  made  his  life  a  successful 
one. 

Since  l>ccoinirig  residents  of  Woodford  County 
the  family  circle  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moginnes  has 
bei'n  increased  by  the  birth  of  seven  children — 
William,  who  died  in  infancy;  Ella  is  the  wife  of 
Richard  Bryant,  who  is  engaged  in  operating  the 
old  homestead  in  Roanoke  Township,  and  by  her 
marriage  has  become  the  mother  of  five  children, 
namely:  Nannie  Myrtle,  Frank  A.,  Charles  E., 
Klbert  R.  and  Iva  May ;  Henry  the  next  of  the 
family,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years;  Lydia 
died  when  seven  years  of  age;  Nannie  J.  and 
William  L.  were  twins,  and  the  former  is  still  with 
her  parents,  but  William  died  in  infancy;  Charles, 
who  completes  the  family,  assists  his  father  in  the 
management  of  the  farm. 

Mr.  Meginnes  and  his  wife  rank  among  the  best 
citizens  of  the  county,  and  are  held  in  the  highest 
regard  by  all  who. know  them.  He  is  a  supporter 
of  the  Democratic  party  in  politics,  and  for  six 
years  served  as  Clerk  of  the  Township.  The  lady- 
is  a  member  of  the  German  Baptist  Church,  and  to 
tier,  in  a  great  extent,  is  due  the  wealth  which  Mr. 
Meginnes  possesses,  for  industry,  frugality  and  able 
management  of  household  affairs,  has  largely  sup- 
plemented his  own  efforts.  The  thought  comes  to 
our  minds  when  we  look  at  the  hale  and  hearty  old 
pioneer,  as  he  is  SIM  rounded  by  wealth  and  pros- 
perity, that  "  It  is  better  to  wear  out,  than  to  rust 


out,''  not  that  he  is  by  any  means  worn  out,  for  his 
step  is  elastic  as  in  youth,  while  his  firm,  clear 
voice,  ruddy  cheek  and  bright  eye.  bespeak  a  state 
of  almost  perfect  health  in  a  gentleman  past  sixty- 
two  years  of  age.  lie  is  a  man  of  brain,  nerve  and 
muscle.  Promptness  characterizes  his  work  and 
dealings,  and-  his  very  appearance  indicates  great 
energy  and  endurance.  Few  men  in  Woodford 
County  are  more  widely  known  than  William  Me- 
ginnes,  and  this  volume  would  be  incomplete  with- 
out the  sketch  of  this  worthy  pioneer. 


VT=^>  I)  HODGSON.  The  name  of  this  gentleman 
jfe)  is  familiar  to  a  large  portion  of  the  resi- 
,-'*' — ^  dents  of  El  Paso  and  vicinity,  as  one  of  the 
most  successful  breeders  of  fine  horses  in  Wood- 
ford  County.  For  the  prosecution  of  this  busi- 
ness he  has  large  roomy  stables,  titled  up  with 
every  convenience,  and  keeps  about  sixty  head  of 
valuable  equities,  mostly  of  Norman  blood  and 
several  imported  directly  from  France.  He  has 
given  the  most  of  his  attention  to  this  industry 
since  1882,  although  he  has  been  interested  in 
horseflesh  for  the  past  twenty-five  years. 

Mr.  Hodgson's  beautiful  home  is  situated  at 
the  head  of  Main  Street,  El  Paso,  and  com- 
prises a  commodious  and  tasteful  residence  in 
the  midst  of  a  nourishing  grove  of  large  trees,  with 
a  wide  pleasant  lawn,  picturesque  walks,  and  the 
outbuildings,  which  complete  the  ideal  modern 
home.  It  is  a  popular  retreat  for  the  many  friends 
of  Mr.  Hodgson  and  his  excellent  wife,  who  oc- 
cupy a  high  jx.'sition  in  the  social  circles  of  their 
community. 

Mr.  Hodgson  became  largely  interested  in  fine 
horses  while  living  on  his  farm,  two  miles  from  El 
Paso,  at  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  men  to  introduce  the  Norman  breed  into 
Woodford  County,  and  has  exhibited  some  very 
choice  stock  at  the  State,  St.  Louis  and  New 
Orleans  fairs,  besides  thdse  nearer  home,  and 
as  the  result  of  this  has  realized  from  16,000  to 
$8,000  in  prizes.  He  left  his  farm  in  1881,  estab- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


361 


lisliing  himself  at  El  Paso,  and  since  that  lime  has 
given  his  whole  attention  to  his  present  business, 
jn  1880  he  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  El 
pnso  Agricultural  Society,  of  which  he  was  made 
1'resident.  which  office  he  held  for  a  period  of  six 
vears.  and  is  still  a  stock -holder  and  Director. 
The  Society  has  freed  itself  from  a  $5.000  debt 
and  has  now  a  surplus  in  the  treasury.  Is  the  only 
one  of  its  kind  in  the  county. 

Wood  ford  County  is  largely  indebted  to  Mr. 
Hodgson  for  her  present  reputation  as  a  stock- 
breeding  center,  and  there  goes  from  out  her 
borders  each  year  a  large  number  of  choice 
draft  animals.  He  has  taken  an  active  interest 
in  everything  affecting  the  welfare  of  the  Prairie 
State,  of  which  he  is  a  native.  He  was  born  in 
Tazewell  County,  Jan.  1.  1844.  and  is  the  son  of 
William  Hodgson,  a  native  of  Ohio.  The  paternal 
grandfather.  Amos  Hodgson,  was  born  in  North 
Carolina  and  traced  his  ancestry  to  England.  The 
first  representatives  of  the  family  in  America  were 
Quakers  in  their  religious  belief,  and  among  them 
was  George  Hodgson,  who  it  is  believed  settled  in 
Massachusetts.  Later  he  or  his  descendants  emi- 
arated  to  North  Carolina.  Amos  Hodgson  took  for 
his  wife  Miss  Mary  Barnett.  and  upon  leaving  the 
South  they  took  up  their  abode  in  Wilmington. 
Ohio,  whence  they  came  later  and  about  1828  to 
this  State.  They  settled  in  the  wilderness  of 
Tazewell  County,  on  Government  land,  when  their 
son  William  was  a  youth  of  about  eighteen  years, 
and  there  spent  their  last  days.  William  after  at- 
taining his  majority  was  married  to  Miss  Phebe 
Bennett,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  they  bega|j  life  on  a  ' 
new  farm  in  Groveland  Township,  where  they 
lived  for  the  long  period  of  fifty  years;  then 
retiring  from  active  labor  they  removed  to  Pekin. 

The  subject  of   this  sketch  was  the  second  child    i 
in  a  family  of  three  sons  and   four  daughters  born 
to  his  parents,  five  of  whom  are  married  and  have 
families  of   their  own.     He   was  educated   in  the   i 
common    schools  and  served  an  apprenticeship  in 
the  stock    business,  working   with  his    father  who 
pursued    the  same  occupation   very    successfully. 
He  was  first  married  in  Tazewell  County,  to  Miss 
Sarah  Worley.  who  was  born  there  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  one  of  its  pioneer  settlers.     She  died  at  her   .' 


home  in  Panola  Township,  this  county,  in  1872, 
at  the  early  age  of  thirty -six  years.  She  was  a 
lady  possessing  all  the  Christian  virtues  and  greatly 
beloved  by  her  family  and  friends.  Of  this  union 
there  have  been  born  eight  children,  four  of  whom 
died  young.  Minnie,  Etta,  Gertrude  and  Sarah. 
William  E.,  a  bright  and  promising  young  man,  at- 
tended first  the  schools  of  El  Paso,  then  entered 
Eureka  College,  and  was  one  year  at  the  Mili- 
tary' Academy  at  Oxford.  Mil.  Later  he  en- 
tered upon  the  study  of  law.  which  he  has  chosen 
for  his  future  vocation;  Lester  E.  also  secured  a 
good  education  and  remains  at  home  with  his 
father  and  two  younger  brothers,  Eugene  M.  and 
Charles  W. 

Our  subject  contracted  a  second  marriage  in 
1881  at  El  Paso,  with  Miss  Kate  Gibson,  a  native 
of  this  county.  She  received  a  thorough  educa- 
tion and  careful  home  training.  Her  father, 
George  Gibson,  is  retired  from  active  labor  and 
makes  his  home  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Fleming. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hodgson  are  noted  for  their  kind- 
ness and  hospitality,  and  nothing  pleases  them  bel- 
ter than  to  see  their  friends  in  their  pleasant  home, 
where  they  have  every  convenience  for  entertain- 
ing and  have  gathered  around  them  all  the  com- 
forts and  man)-  of  the  luxuries  of  life.  The  father 
of  our  subject  voted  for  the  two  Harrisons,  and 
all  the  male  members  of  the  family  have  been 
supporters  of  the  Republican  party  since  its  organ- 
ization. 


HELD,  a  wealthy  retired  farmer,  re- 
siding in  one  of  the  pleasant  homes  of  Wash- 
burn,  was  for  many  years  a  powerful  factor 
in  developing  the  agricultural  interests  of 
Linn  Township,  of  which  he  was  an  early  settler, 
and  thus  promoting  the  growth  of  Wood  ford 
County.  He  was  for  many  years  actively'  and 
profitably  engaged  in  farming  in  that  township, 
and  is  still  the  proprietor  of  a  fine  farm  there,  be- 
sides having  valuable  property  in  Washburn. 

He  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  Sept.  24,  1823. 
His  father.Conrad  Held,  and  his  ancestors  as  far  back 


362 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


as  known,  were  natives  and  life-long  residents  of 
the  same  country.  His  father  was  a  sober-minded, 
honest  man  of  industrious  habits,  and  comfortably 
supported  his  family  by  farming.  The  maiden 
name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject  was  Mary 
Wolfe,  and  she  also  spent  her  entire  life  in  Baden. 
There  were  five  children  born  to  her  and  her  hus- 
band— Christian,  Conrad,  Jacob.  Mary  and  John — 
all  of  whom  came  to  America  at  different  times, 
settled  in  Illinois,  and  all  married  and  reared  fami- 
lies, with  the  exception  of  Christian.  The  father 
owned  a  small  farm  in  the  old  country,  and  it  re- 
mained in  the  hands  of  the  family  till  the  death  of 
the  mother,  eight  years  after  the  father's  demise. 
On  that  our  subject  was  reared  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  he  remained  a  citizen  of  the  Fatherland 
till  1845,  when  he  resolved,  if  possible,  to  better 
his  prospects  in  life  by  emigration  to  the  United 
States  of  America,  where  so  many  of  his  country- 
men, with  their  simple,  frugal,  industrious  habits, 
had  been  so  greatly  prospered.  And  in  the  month 
of  August,  that  year,  he  set  sail  from  Havre  de 
Grace,  with  his  brothers  Conrad  and  John,  and  after 
a  voyage  of  twenty-nine  days  landed  safely  in 
New  York.  The\-  came  directly  to  Illinois,  by  the 
way  of  the  Hudson  River  to  Albany,  the  Erie 
Canal  to  Buffalo,  the  lakes  to  Chicago,  whence  they 
took  a  team  for  Peru.  The  only  capital  that  our 
subject  possessed  in  all  the  world,  was  good  health 
and  willing  hands,  but  he  was  not  long  in  finding 
work,  obtaining  employment  on  the  Illinois  Canal 
at  Peru.  He  remained  there  two  weeks,  and  we  next 
hear  of  him  in  Henry,  Marshall  County. where  he  and 
his  brother  Conrad,  bought  eighty  acres  of  timber 
land  for  the  sum  of  £150.  It  was  located  two 
miles  from  Henry,  and  on  it  was  a  log  cabin,  in 
which  the  brothers  resided  the  ensuing  three  years, 
and  our  subject  then  sold  his  share  of  the  place  to 
his  brother,  and  resumed  working  by  the  month  for 
a  time.  He  subsequently  rented  land  in  Marshall 
County,  and  was  busily  engaged  in  its  cultivation 
till  1858,  when  he  settled  on  his  farm,  the  one  that 
he  still  owns,  he  having  previously  bought  160 
acres  of  wild  land  in  Linn  Township,  and  eighteen 
acres  in  Cnzenovia.  He  had  built  a  small  frame 
house  on  the  land,  and  had  a  ftw  acres  broken, 

• 

which  constituted   all  the  improvements   that   had 


been  attempted  before  his  settlement  on  the  place. 
In  the  busy  years  that  followed,  Mr.  Held  devel- 
oped it  into  a  valuable,  highly  productive  farm, 
provided  it  with  suitable  buildings,  and  increased 
its  area  to  480  acres  of  choice  land,  which  he  has 
since  reduced  to  240  acres,  having  deeded  to  each 
of  his  three  sons  eighty  acres  apiece.  In  1876  he 
came  to  \Vashburn,  bought  a  neat  little  farm  of 
eighteen  acres  of  land  adjoining  the  village,  and 
has  resided  here  since  in  one  o.f  the  coziest  and 
most  comfortable  of  homes. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Held  took  place  in 
18501*  Miss  Lucy  Shugart,  a  native  of  De  Witt 
County,  111.  Their  wedded  life  was  not  destined 
to  be  of  great  length,  for  after  they  had  been  to- 
gether fifteen  years  they  were  called  upon  to  part, 
death  removing  the  patient,  devoted  wife  and 
mother  from  the  scene  of  her  labors  in  1865.  Five 
children  had  been  born  to  them — Zion,  John, 
Charles,  Kate  and  Jennie.  Our  subject  was  mar- 
ried a  second  time,  Miss  Margaret  Howell,  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  becoming  his  wife.  Mrs.  Held 
died  Feb.  3, 1887.  and  Mr.  Held  contracted  a  third 
marriage,  with  Wilhelmine  Benecke,  March  5,  1889. 

When  our  subject  came  to  Wood  ford  County,  a 
quarter  of  a  century  or  more  had  elapsed  since  the 
first  settlement  had  been  made  within  its  borders, 
and  civilization  had  made  much  progress;  good 
farms  had  been  opened,  and  several  prosperous 
towns  had  sprung  up.  although  much  of  the  county 
was  still  in  the  hands  of  the  pioneers.  Especially 
was  this  true  of  that  part  of  it  included  in  Linn 
Township,  and  the  country  round  about,  which  still 
presented  to  the  eye  of  the  beholder  its  primeval 
condition,  the  land  being  considered  swampy  and 
worthless  for  agricultural  purposes.  It  remained 
for  men  of  keen  discriminination  and  shrewd,  prac- 
tical judgment,  like  our  subject,  to  prove  the  con- 
trary. That  they  have  succeeded,  perhaps  far 
beyond  their  expectations,  is  attested  by  the  many 
broad,  rich  farms  of  which  this  region  can  boast, 
the  beautiful  homes  and  busy  villages  that  have  been 
built  up.  Mr.  Held  may  well  take  pride  in  the 
fact  that  he  has  had  a  hand  in  bringing  about  this 
great  change.  He  has  in  every  way  proved  himself 
a  worthy  and  desirable  citizen  of  any  community. 
While  a  resident  of  Linn  Township,  he  took  a  deep 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


363 


interest  in  its  social,  moral,  educational  and  mate- 
rial welfare,  lie  served  as  Assessor  of  the  town- 
ship, and  held  the  office  of  School  Trustee  many 
years,  and  in  that  capacity  aided  in  securing  the 
excellent  facilities  the  children  of  the  present  day 
are  afforded  for  obtaining  a  substantial  education. 
In  regard  to  National  politics,  our  subject  voted 
with  the  Democrat;-,  but  in  local  affairs  he  is  inde- 
pendent, supporting  the  man.  not  the  party.  He 
is  a  faithful  member  of  the  Evangelical  Associated 
Church,  and  in  him  his  fellow-members  find  an  ef- 
ficient co-worker  in  their  labors  for  the  good  of 
the  community. 


R.  JAMES  M.  FISHBURN.  The  dental 
*  profession  of  El  Paso  finds  a  most  worthy 
representative  in  the  subject  of  this  notice, 
who  has  a  well-equipped  oflice.  pleasantly 
located  on  Front  street.  After  a  thorough  course 
of  study  he.  in  1879.  established  himself  in  busi- 
ness, since  which  time  he  has  been  successful  ami 
is  gaining  an  enviable  reputation.  He  took  a  thor- 
ough course  of  study  under  the.  instruction  of  Dr. 
M.  H.  Patten,  then  a  leading  dentist  of  this  place, 
and  was  given  a  diploma  after  a  careful  examina- 
tion by  the  State  Board.  He  has  labored  hard  and 
earnestly  and  has  become  well  known  to  the  peo- 
ple throughout  this  part  of  the  county  as  an 
accomplished  practitioner. 

The  Doctor  lias  been  a  resident  of  El  Paso  since 
his  boyhood  days,  and  a  resident  of  Illinois  most  of 
the  time  since  1850.  His  father,  Jacob  Fishburn. 
upon  coming  to  Illinois  settled  in  the  vicinity  of 
Spring  Bay,  in  the  fall  of  1850.  Two  years  later 
he  removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Washington,  Taxe- 
well  County,  settling  upon  a  farm,  and  in  1854  re- 
moved to  a  point  three  miles  southeast  of  the 
present  city  of  El  Paso.  There  he  improved  a 
farm  which  he  resided  on  some  years,  then  took  up 
his  home  in  the  city,  the  site  of  which  he  first  ap- 
proached with  an  ox  team  nearly  forty  years  ago, 
and  erected  the  first  bouse  in  that  vicinity.  About 
that  time  the  Toledo,  Peoria  &  Western  Railroad 


was  being  built  through  this  action.  After  re- 
moving into  El  Paso,  the  father  of  our  subject  dc 
cided  to  go  South  and  repaired  to  Little  Rock. 
Ark.,  where  he  purchased  a  fine  piece  of  property. 
He  only  lived  there  one  year,  however,  then  re- 
turned to  this  county,  and  died  in  El  Paso,  Feb. 
13,  1877,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  He 
was  a  prominent  Democrat  politically,  and  in  relig- 
ious matters  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  The  descendant  of  a  fine  old  family,  he 
was  born  in  Franklin  County.  Pa.,  in  1804.  and 
traced  his  ancestry  to  Holland.  His  father,  Philip 
Fishburn,  spent  his  last  years  in  Pennsylvania. 

Jacob  Fishburn.  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
reared  a  farmer  and  was  married  in  his  native 
county  to  Miss  Mary  Mahan.  She  likewise  was  a 
native  of  the  Keystone  State,  and  is  still  living, 
making  her  home  with  her  daughter.  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth B.  Hanna.  widow  of  Harvey  H.  Hanna.  late 
of  El  Paso.  Although  eighty-one  years  old  she  is 
still  quite  active  and  very  intelligent.  She  has 
been  connected  with  the  Presbyterian  Church  for 
about  fifty  3'ears.  Her  family  consisted  of  five 
sons  and  four  daughters,  all  but  one  of  whom  are 
living  and  married.  The  parents  began  their  wed- 
ded life  on  a  farm  in  Franklin  County,  Pa.,  where 
all  these  children  were  born,  and  the}'  all  came 
to  Illinois  with  their  parents  in  1850. 

Dr.  Fishburn  after  leaving  the  common  school 
attended  the  normal  school,  and  subsequently 
entered  the  office  of  Dr.  H.  M.  Patten,  with 
whom  he  remained  three  years.  He  then  de- 
gun  operating  on  his  own  account.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  El  Paso,  Sept.  1,  1881.  to  Miss  Flora  A.  E. 
Sutton,  a  native  of  El  Paso  Township,  and  the 
daughter  of  Frank  and  Mary  (Barfoot)  Sutton, 
who  are  now  resfdents  of  El  Paso  and  retired  from 
the  active  labors  of  life.  Mrs.  Fishburn  was 
reared  to  womanhood  under  the  parental  roof,  re- 
ceiving a  good  education  and  followed  the  profes- 
sion of  a  teacher  before  her  marriage. 

To  the  Doctor  and  his  amiable  wife  there  have 
bean  born  two  children,  only  one  of  whom  is  liv- 
ing, Nina.  Garnet  died  at  the  age  of  two  years 
and  eleven  months.  The  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Fish- 
burn  belong  to  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  our 
subject  stands  high  in  Masonic  circles,  being  con- 


364 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


netted  with  .the  Blue  Lodge,  Chapter,  Council  and 
Comraandery,  and  is  Treasurer  in  all  four  of  these 
hodies.  His  political  opinions  are  in  sympathy 
with  those  of  the  Democratic  party. 


I  ACOB  C.  WICKLKR,  City 'Marshall  of  Min- 
onk,  was  born  in  Richland  County,  Ohio, 
Oct.  21,  1837.  and  is  a  son  of  Peter  and 
Barbara  (Keller)  Wiekler,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Wurtemberg.  and  the  latter  of  Darmstadt, 
Germany.  His  father  was  born  in  1810,  and  when 
a  young  man  of  twenty-two  years  came  with  his 
parents,  in  1832,  to  America.  The  family  numbered 
seven  children,  three  sons  and  four  daughters — 
Jacob  is  now  residing  near  Sandusky,  Ohio;  Will- 
iam makes  his  home  in  Peru,  Ind.;  Albertina  is  the 
wife  of  Jacob  Myer,  who  is  also  a  resident  of  Peru; 
Catherine  became  the  wife  of  Christian  Stroble. 
and  died  at  her  home  in  Peru  in  18.54;  Mary,  who 
wedded  John  Statler,  died  in  Peru  in  1852; 
and  Marv,  wife  of  Carl  Frank,  died  in  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio.  When  the  family  .emigrated  to  this 
country,  they  located  in  Richland  County,  Ohio^ 
where  the  death  of  the  father  occurred,  but  his 
wife  subsequently  removed  to  Peru,  Ind.,  where 
she  departed  this  life. 

In  1835,  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  Peter  Wiek- 
ler was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Barbara  Keller,  and 
seven  years  later,  in  1842,  removed  with  his  family 
to  Indiana,  settling  in  what  was  known  as  the  In- 
dian reserve,  near  Peru,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  lie  passed 
away  in  1872,  his  wife  surviving  until  1888,  when 
she,  too.  was  called  home.  The  following  children 
were  born  of  their  union:  Jacob  ('.,  of  this  sketch, 
is  the  eldest;  William,  who  served  his  country  ns  a 
member  of  Company  E.  "7th  Indiana  regiment, 
was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Cliickamaugua;  Mar}'  be- 
came the  wife  of  Is:iae  Cochran,  and  resides  with 
her  husband  in  Peru,  Ind.;  George,  who  in  180 1, 
enlisted  in  the  100-day  service,  and  later  re  enlisted 
for  three  years  in  an  Indiana  regiment,  now  makes 


his  home  in  Arizona,  where  for  the  past  twenty 
years  he  has  been  engaged  in  mining;  Frederick  is 
a  farmer  of  St.  Clair  County,  111.;  Alexander  died 
in  Peru,  Ind.,  in  1888;  Kliza  is  the  wife  of  Cyrus 
Crider,  a  resident  of  Peru;  Frances  wedded  Frank 
Ilinten.  and  died  at  her  home  near  Peru;  Katie 
died  in  1882,  unmarried. 

Our  subject  was  but  five  years  of  age  when  his  pa- 
rents removed  to  Indiana,  and  on  the  farm  near  Peru 
he  was  reared  to  manhood.  Remaining  under  the 
parental  roof  until  attaining  his  majority,  he  then 
left  home,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  be- 
gan working  at  the  carpenter's  trade.  In  1869,  he 
came  to  Illinois,  and  for  three  years  followed  his 
chosen  occupation  in  St.  Clair  Count}-.  In  the 
meantime  the  South  had  declared  war,  and  had 
taken  up  arms  against  the  Government.  He  could 
no  longer  resist  his  patriotic  impulses  and  on  the 
13th  day  of  August,  1862)  he  enlisted,  and  was  as- 
signed to  Company  B,  lllth  Illinois  Infantry,  in 
which  he  served  three  years.  He  participated  in 
all  the  engagements  with  his  regiments,  including 
the  battles  of  Itesaca,  Dalton,  Lookout  Mountain, 
the  Atlanta  campaign  and  the  battle  at  Jonesville, 
and  thence  marched  with  Sherman  to  the  sea.  Later, 
he  was  placed  on  detached  duty,  and  by  water  went 
from  Alexandria  to  New  York  City,  where  he  took 
the  train  for  Washington,  1).  C.,  where  he  was 
afterwards  mustered  out.  During  his  entire  term 
of  service  he  was  never  wounded,  taken  prisoner, 
nor  did  he  have  to  remain  in  the  hospital  a  single 
day,  but  was  always  found  at  his  post,  faithful  to 
duty. 

On  receiving  his  discharge,  Mr.  Wiekler  returned 
to  his  home  in  St.  Clair  County,  where  he  again 
resumed  work  at  his  trade.  After  eighteen  months 
he  removed  to  Fnyette  County,  111.,  where,  in  1869, 
lie  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Susan  A.  II. 
Kee,  who  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  in  1847, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Willett) 
Kee.  The  young  couple  began  their  domestic  life 
in  Fnyette  County,  where  Mr.  Wiekler  engaged  in 
carpentering  and  building  until  1871,  which  year 
witnessed  his  arrival  in  Minonk.  For  ten  years  he 
worked  at  his  trade,  and  being  an  expert  workman, 
received  a  liberal  patronage.  In  1881,  however, 
he  was  appointed  City  Marshal,  which  office  he 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


365 


still  holds.  'From  1832  till  1886,  lie  also  served  as 
Deputy  Sheriff  of  Wood  ford  County,  for  seven 
years  was  Constable,  and  for  six  years  was  Alder- 
man of  Minonk.  His  long  continued  service  in 
each  office  to  which  his  fellow-citizens  have  called 
him.  testifies  to  his  efficiency  and  the  faithfulness 
nnd  fidelity  displayed  in  the  performance  of  the 
various  duties  devolving  upon  him.  Minonk  could 
not  have  selected  a  more  capable  Marshal,  for  his 
course  has  fully  justified  the  confidence  reused  in 
him  by  his  constituents.  In  politics  he  is  .1  Repub- 
lican, and  a  warm  defender  of  the  parly  principles. 
He  does  all  in  his  [tower  to  promote  its  interests 
and  insure  its  success,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of 
the  leading  followers  of  the  party  in  Wood  ford 
County.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  Robert  Morris 
Lodge,  No.  247,  A.  F.  <t  A.  M.,  in  which  he  holds 
the  office  of  Senior  Warden;  and  also  belongs  to 
L.  G.  Keedy  Post.  No.  160,  G.  A.  R.,  of  which  he 
is  Quartermaster.  His  public  and  private  life  alike 
nre  above  reproach,  having  ever  been  such  as  to 
command  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all.  He  is 
cordial  and  genial  in  manner,  and  has  a  host  of 
warm  friends  throughout  the  community. 

By  the  union  of  Mr.  Wickler  and  his  -estimable 
wife  an  interesting 'family  of  five  children  have 
been  born — Mamie  B..  .John  A.,  Addie  II..  Jacob 
C.,  and  Harry  Raymond.  All  are  bright,  intelli- 
gent children,  and  Miss  Mamie  is  a  talented  young 
lady,  now  engaged  in  teaching.  She  graduated 
from  the  high  school  of  Minonk  in  the  class  of 
1888,  and  IKIS  since  followed  that  profession. 


ENRY  W1LLARD  PIERCE.  Among  the 
••  men  who  have  been  instrumental  in  pro- 
moting the  business  interests  of  Kappa,  is 
the  subject  of  this  notice,  who  is  conducting 
a  thriving  trade  in  agricultural  implements  and 
who  is  also  the  owner  of  a  carefully  cultivated 
f.-irm  not  far  from  the  town  limits.  He  established 
himself  here  in  business  in  1885  and  is  building  up 
a  lucrative  nnd  steadily-growing  patronage.  Prior 
to  this,  from  the  time  he  was  a  child  of  four  years 


he  had  been  a  resident  of  Palestine  Township.  He 
is  a  native  of  Illinois,  having  been  born  in  Gridley 
Township,  McLean  County.  June  21.  1858. 

Our  subject  was  the  offspring  of  a  substantial 
old  family  and  the  sou  of  John  B.  Pierce,  who.  like 
his  parents,  was  a  native  of  New  York  State.  The 
paternal  grandfather.  Willnrd  Pierce,  carried  on 
farming  there  a  number  of  years  during  his  early 
life,  then  emigrated  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Grid- 
ley  Township,  where  he  became  well-to-do.  Later 
in  life,  however,  he  crossed  the  Mississippi  and 
established  himself  in  Missouri,  where  he  lived  a 
number  of  years.  Finally,  returning  to  Illinois,  he 
took  up  his  abode  at  the  home  of  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Manning,  of  McLean  County,  and 
died  in  the  fall  of  1887  after  having  attained  to 
more  than  four-score  years.  The  wife  and  mother 
died  in  McLean  County  early  in  the  sixties. 

John  B.  Pierce  lived  in  Northwestern  New  York, 
until  a  youth  of  sixteen  year*,  then  removed  with 
his  parents  to  Gridley  Township.  McLean  Co..  111., 
where  he  attained  his  majority.  Not  long  after- 
ward he  was  married  in  Wood  ford  County,  to  Miss 
Margaret  .).  Shepherd.  This  lady  was  born  in 
Virginia,  nnd  was  the  daughter  of  Henry  and  Anna 
( Logston)  Shepherd,  who  had  removed  from  the 
Old  Dominion  to  Palestine  Township,  this  county, 
earl}'  in  the  forties.  They  were  thus  among  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  this  region  at  a  time  when  their 
neighbors  were  few  and  far  between,  and  when  the 
country  around  them  was  nothing  but  an  unculti- 
vated waste  for  a  number  of  3' ears.  The}'  strug- 
gled successfully  with  the  difficulties  of  life  in  a 
new  settlement  and  succeeded  in  building  up  a 
comfortable  homestead  where  they  spent  their  last 
years,  dying  at  a  ripe  old  age.  Their  daughter, 
Maiy  J.,  was  a  diild  of  six  years  when  their  family 
settled  in  Palestine  Township,  and  there  she  devel- 
oped into  womanhood. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  after  their  marriage 
established  themselves  upon  a  farm  in  Palestine 
Township,  remaining  there  until  after  the  birth  of 
two  children — Henry  W.  and  Caleb  B.  Soon  after 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  the  husband  and 
father,  in  1861.  enlisted  at  Chicago,  III.,  in  Com- 
pany B,  88th  Illinois  Infantry,  and  participated  in 
many  of  the  important  battles  which  followed.  In 


366 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


September,  1864  he  contracted  a  severe  cold  which 
settled  upon  his  lungs  and  resulted  in  his  death 
within  a  few  days,  and  before  his  wife  and  children 
could  know  of  his  illness.  His  death  took  place  in 
the  hospital  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  while  he  was  still 
a  young  man  of  only  twenty-siK  years.  The  wife 
and  mother  was  subsequently  married  to  Anderson 
.Van  Scyoc  of  Palestine  Township,  and  died  March 
28,  1882,  at  the  age  of  forty -six  years.  Mr.  Van 
Scyoc  is  still  living  there. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  a  good  prac- 
tical education  in  the  common  school  and  worked 
at  farming  until  ready  to  establish  a  home  of  his 
own.  He  was  married  in  Ford  County,  111.,  May 
1st,  1881,  to  Miss  Phebe  M.  Ridgeway.  This  lady 
was  born  in  New  York  State,  May  1,  1863,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  John  H.  and  Lydia  M.  Ridgeway. 
with  whom  she  came  to  Illinois  in  1868.  They 
located  in  Peoria  County,  where  they  lived  for  two 
years,  then  removed  to  Ford  County,  where  the 
father  improved  a  farm  and  remained  until  retiring 
from  active  labor.  They  then  took  up  their  abode 
in  Chutswortb.  Livingston  County,  where  they 
still  live. 

Mrs.  Pierce  received  her  education  in  the  district 
school,  and  under  the  careful  training  of  her  ex- 
cellent mother  became  familiar,  with  those  duties 
which  have  so  much  influence  in  the  happiness  of 
a  household.  Of  her  union  with  our  subject  there 
have  been  born  three  children — John  L.,  Bertha 
V.  and  Lester  E.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pierce  are  promi- 
nently connected  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  our  subject,  politically,  is  a  sound 
Republican. 


OHN  E.  DODDS  has  been  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  for  several  years  on  the  old 
homestead  where  he  was  reared,  in  Cazen- 
ovia  Township.  He  w;is  also  closely  con- 
nected with  the  mercantile  interests  of  Woodford 
County,  fora  period  of  twenty-five  years,  owning 
and  successfully  managing  a  store  at  Low  Point, 
where  he  carried  on  quite  an  extensive  trade.  He 


is  a  son  of  a  former  highly  respected  pioneer  of 
Woodford  County,  and  although  not  a  native,  he 
was  brought  here  when  he  was  a  mere  child,  and 
his  growth  has  been  identical  with  the  growth  of 
the  count}',  and  since  attaining  man's  estate  he  has 
borne  an  honorable  part  in  its  development,  and  is 
considered  one  of  its  most  worthy  citizens. 

Our  subject  was  boru  near  Dayton,  Ohio,  Dee. 
21,  1832.  His  father,  William  Dodds,  was  a  Penn- 
sylvanian  by  birth,  and  was  reared  in  his  native 
State  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He  went  to  Ohio 
when  a  young  man,  and  cast  his  lot  with  the  pio- 
neers. He  married  in  Montgomery  County,  and 
buying  a  tract  of  land  six  miles  south  of  Dayton, 
engaged  141  farming  till  the  fall  of  1836.  Accom- 
panied by  his  wife  and  six  children  he  then  started 
on  a  voyage  to  Illinois,  the  journey  being  made  by 
the  Ohio,  Mississippi  and  Illinois  rivers.  He 
lauded  at  Lacon,  and  buying  a  farm  on  Crow 
Creek,  Marshall  County,  resided  there  two  years. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  came  to  thai 
part  of  Tazewcll  County,  now  included  in  Cax- 
enovia  Township,  Woodford  County.  He  in- 
vested in  250  acres  of  land  on  sections  27  and  28, 
on  which  stood  a  frame  house  in  process  of  erec- 
tion. About  thirty  acres  of  the  land  were  under 
cultivation,  and  the  rest  was  wild  prairie  and  tim- 
ber land.  The  old  stage  road  from  Chicago  to 
Springfield  passed  by  the  house,  and,  although  he 
did  not  advertise  to  keep  a  hotel,  his  dwelling  be- 
came a  favorite  stopping  place  for  travelers,  and 
often  times  as  many  as  could  sleep  on  the  floor 
were  accommodated.  He  was  appointed  Postmaster 
and  was  the  first  one  at  Low  Point,  the  office  be- 
ing in  his  house,  and  he  served  in  that  capacity 
several  years.  We  may  remark  in  this  con- 
nection that  his  son  John,  our  subject,  was  Deputy 
Postmaster  under  his  father,  and  succeeded  him  as 
Postmaster,  and  held  that  office  for  a  period  of 
about  twenty  years,  till  1885.  The  elder  Dodds 
remained  an  honored  resident  of  this  township  till 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  September,  1872.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Priscilla  Ewing,  aud 
she  was.  it  is  thought,  born  in  Ohio,  and  she  died 
on  the  home  farm  in  1876.  There  were  ten  chil- 
dren born  to  that  worthy  couple,  eight  of  wl  om 
grew  up,  namely:  Elizabeth,  wife  of  James  Piper 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


367 


D0w  deceased;  Elmira,  wife  of  David  Frazer; 
Josepl)  L..  Robert.  John  E.;  Mary,  wife  of  William 
Ramsey,  now  dead;  Ella,  wife  of  William  Steven- 
son, of  whom  see  sketch. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  was  in  his  fourth 
year  when  he  came  to  this  county  with  his  parents, 
and  he  still  lemembers  quite  distinctly  some  of  the 
incidents  of  the  journey  and  of  the  pioneer  life 
that  they  led  after  corning  here  in  those  early  days 
When  he  was  young,  deer,  wolves  and  other  wild 
animals  roamed  over  the  prairies  and  through  the 
forests  along  the  streams,  and  the  surrounding 
country  was  in  quite  a  wild,  sparsely  settled  con- 
condition.  There  were  no  railways  and  the  people 
used  to  haul  their  grain  to  Chicago,  more  than  100 
miles  away.  Our  subject  attended  the  pioneer 
school,  that  was  conducted  in  a  log  house,  with  seats 
made  of  slabs,  with  wooden  pegs  for  legs  and  with- 
out backs,  and  wooden  pins  driven  into  the  wall 
and  a  plank  laid  on  these  served  as  a  writing  desk. 
As  soon  as  he  was  large  enough  Mr.  Dodds  began 
to  assist  his  father  in  the  farm  work,  and  continued 
an  inmate  of  the  parental  household  till  1856. 
He  then  went  to  Livingston  County,  and  began 
his  carreer  in  the  mercantile  business  in  the  town  ! 
of  Fairbury.  where  be  remained  four  and  one-half 
years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  returned 
to  the  home  farm,  of  which  he  has  since  been  a 
resident.  He  established  a  store  at  Low  Point,  pre- 
vious to  the  building  of  the  railway,  and  for 
twenty-five  years  conducted  a  profitable  business 
there,  building  up  quite  an  extensive  ft-ade.  He  -' 
also  attended  to  his  farming  interests,  keeping  the 
farm  up  to  the  same  high  standard  of  cnltiva-  i 
lion  that  he  had  attained  under  his  father's  man- 
agement, and  with  its  well-ordered  buildings  and 
other  substantial  improvements  it  is  a  most  desir-  ; 
able  estate. 

Mr.  Dodds  and  Miss  Mary  Patton  were  united  in 
marriage  in  January,  1 85C,  and  to  them  have  been    i 
born  twelve  children — Alma,  Minnie.  Bessie,  Tillie,    | 
Burdell,    Ma}-,   John,   Fanny,   Arthur,    Theodore,   I 
Pearl,  Zillah.     Three  of  their  children  are  married.    • 
Minnie  is  the  wife  of  C.  E.  Boiler,  of  Omaha;  Bur- 
del  I  married   Elmer  Clingman,  of   Cazenovia,  nnd    [ 
they  have  one  child — Grace;  Alma  married  Charles 
Stevenson  of  Partridge  Township,  and  they  have   ! 


four  children — Lorame.  Earl.  May  and  John.  Mrs. 
Dodds  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Caleb  L.  and  Orpha  Patton. 

A  man  of  superior  intelligence  an-]  information, 
and  of  honorable  repute,  our  subject  enjoys  a  high 
standing  in  this  community. where  he  is  well  liked  by 
all.  Possessing  good  business  qualifications,  he  was 
formerly  quite  well  off  in  this  world's  goods,  but  he 
has  met  with  unavoidable  financial  disasters,  and 
has  lost  some  of  his  property,  but  he  has  retained 
that  which  is  of  more  value  to  a  man,  his  good  name 
and  credit.  He  has  been  a  sound  Republican  since 
the  formation  of  that  party,  and  is  an  ardent  ad- 
vocate of  prohibition.  Mrs.  Dodds  is  a  true  Chris- 
tian, and  a  valued  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church. 


lj|)'       GUIS  KURTZ,  a  prosperous  boot  and  shoe 

M  merchant  of  El  Paso,  came  to  this  place 
in  1870,  and.  with  the  exception  of  two 
years  spent  in  Nebraska,  it  has  since  remained  his 
residence.  He  was  formerly  in  business  with  John 
Stock,  whom  he  succeeded  when  establishing  for 
himself  in  1876.  He  learned  his  trade  in  Wurtem- 
burg.  Germany,  where  he  was  born  Jan.  1.  1850. 

Our  subject  was  reared  and  educated  in  Wnr- 
temb'.irg,  spending  his  boyhood  on  his  father's 
farm.  The  latter.  George  Kurtz,  who  was  like- 
wise born  in  Wurtemburg.  spent  his  entire  life 
upon  his  native  soil,  dying  at  about  the  age  of 
fifty-six  years.  The  mother.  Mrs.  Mary  (Bond) 
Kurtz,  was  born  and  reared  near  the  home  of  her 
husband,  and  was  about  his  age  at  the  time  of  her 
decease.  Both  were  active  members  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church.  Their  famil}'  included  seven  children, 
of  whom  our  subject  -was  the  youngest.  He  has 
two  brothers  and  a  sister  in  America,  one  brother, 
Frederick,  being  a  farmer  in  the  vicinity  of  Ga- 
lena, and  his  sister.  Barbara  Koppman,  residing  in 
Clay  ton,  Tazewell  County.  Another  brother,  David, 
resides  in  Iowa,  and  is  a  minister  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church. 

In  August,  1868,  Mr.  Kurtz  set  sail  for  America 
from  the  port  of  Bremen,  and  after  a  safe  voyage 


3C8 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


landed  in  New  York  City.  Thence  he  came  di- 
rectly to  Illinois,  and  after  spending  two  years  in 
different  places,  located  in  El  Paso,  where  he  has 
since  lived,  with  the  exception  of  the  two  years 
before  mentioned.  He  was  married  in  El  Paso,  to 
Miss  Theresa  Valentine,  a  native  of  Lexington, 
this  State,  and  born  Jan.  31,  1858.  The  parents 
of  Mrs.  Kurtz,  Joseph  and  Sophia  (Arnold)  Valen- 
tine, were  natives  of  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany, 
and  came  to  America  prior  to  their  marriage, 
which  took  place  in  New  York  City  soon  after 
landing.  They  at  once  set  out  for  Illinois,  and  lo- 
cated on  a  tract  of  land  in  El  Paso  Township, 
building  up  a  good  home,  where  they  now  live. 
Mrs.  Kurtz  wns  educated  in  McLean  County,  and 
came  to  this  county  with  her  parents.  Three  chil- 
dren have  been  born  of  her  marriage  with  our  sub- 
ject— Willie  J.,  Kddio  F.  and  Annie  Laurie.  Mrs. 
Kurtz  is  a  German  Catholic  in  religion,  and  our 
subject,  politically,  affiliates  with  the  Democratic 
part}-.  He  is  recognized  as  a  liberal-minded  and 
public-spirited  citizen,  who  gives  his  influence  to 
all  worthy  enterprises,  and  is  highly  respected, 
both  in  business  and  social  circles. 


\*  AMES  A.  SIMPSON,  a  dealer  in-  grain  and 
seeds,  is  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of 
]  Minonk,  and  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in 
Vgg/J  its  upbuilding.  Besides  attending  to  his 
mercantile  interests  he  superintends  the  cultivation 
of  two  valuable  farms  of  which  he  is  proprietor. 
He  is  one  of  the  great  army  of  American  citizens, 
who  during  the  late  Civil  War,  sprang  to  the  de- 
fense of  the  stars  and  stripes,  which  but  for  their 
valor  ar.d  patriotism  would  not  now  be  waving 
over  a  free  and  undivided  country.  Only  eighteen 
years  old  when  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  our  sub- 
ject turned  away  from  the  comforts  and  attractions 
of  his  home,  from  dear  friends,  from  the  hopes  and 
ambitions  of  youth,  and,  animated  by  an  undying 
devotion  to  his  country,  and  a  willingness  to  sacri- 
fice even  life  itself  for  the  preservation  of  the 
Union,  he  unflinchingly  faced  the  dangers  and 
hardships  of  life  on  the  battlefield,  and  won  for 


himself  an  honorable  record  for  true  soldierly  bear- 
ing, and  for  duty  well  and  faithfully  performed. 
The  son  of  pioneer  parents,  our  subject  was  brought 
when  a  boy,  to  this  county,  which  had  not  then  in 
any  perceptible  degree  merged  from  its  original 
wildness.  and  he  has  witnessed  the  greater  part  of 
its  development;  since  returning  from  the  South  at 
the  close  of  his  term  of  service,  he  has  aided  in  ex- 
"tending  its  business  interests,  and  in  advancing  its 
financial  prosperity. 

Mr.  Simpson  was  born  in  Pickaway  County, 
Ohio,  March  7,  1843,  and  is  a  son  of  Harrison  and 
Maria  (Combes)  Simpson,  natives,  respectively,  of 
Ohio  and  Virginia.  The  paternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject  came  from  Scotland,  and  located  in 
Ohio  in  tne  early  days  of  its  settlement.  His  wife 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  of  German  par- 
entage. The  father  of  our  subject  grew  to  man- 
hood  in  his  native  State,  married  there,  and  engaged 
in  his  calling  as  a  farmer.  In  1848  he  emigrated 
with  his  family  to  Illinois,  and  became  an  early  set- 
tler of  Fulton  County,  where  he  remained  iinf.il 
1850,  when  he  came  to  Linn  Township,  Wood  ford 
County.  At  the  date  of  his  settlement,  this  part 
of  the  county  was  one  vast  prairie,  with  scarcely  a 
sign  of  cultivation,  or  trace  of  a  habitation,  it 
having  been  considered  by  earlier  comers  to  be 
low,  swampy,  and  altogether  undesirable  for  fann- 
ing purposes.  But  Mr.  Simpson,  with  the  fore- 
sight and  sound  judgment  that  marked  his  course 
throughout  an  active  life,  deemed  it  otherwise, 
plainly  seeing  its  advantages  and  possibilities,  and 
the  valuable  farm  that  he  improved  from  the  once 
despised  land,  proved  his  discrimination.  He  re- 
sided here  man}'  years,  and  put  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation  and  improvement,  his  homestead  of 
160  acres  in  Minonk  Township,  besides  developing 
320  acres  of  choice  farming  land  in  Livingston 
County.  In  1808  he  removed  with  his  family  to 
Minonk,  and  became  the  original  stock-holder  of  the 
coal  shaft  of  this  place,  a  valuable  piece  of  property. 
He  subsequently  became  connected  with  the  mer- 
cantile business  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Whit- 
aker,  Simpson  &  Son,  proprietors  of  a  general 
store.  In  1876  he  sold  out  his  interest  in  the  es- 
tablishment for  the  purpose  of  engaging  in  the 
stock  business  in  Texas,  and  he  became  the  owner 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


371 


of  a  stock  ranch  in  Terrell,  Kaufman  Country,  that 
State,  and  there  his  life  was  brought  to  a  close 
•Ian.  5,  1885.  His  wife  survives  him,  and  still 
makes  her  home  on  the  Texas  ranch.  He  was  a 
man  of  an  active  temperament,  and  decisive  char- 
acter, and  was  full  of  enterprise  and  push.  With 
the  aid  of  a  helpful  wife  and  other  members  of 
his  family,  he  accumulated  a  goodly  amount  of 
property.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  with  which  he  became  connected  in 
1850,  at  Canton,  Fulton  Co..  111.  We  may  remark 
in  this  connection,  that  he  came  to  Fulton  County 
from  Ohio,  in  1848,  and  lived  there  until  his  re- 
moval to  Woodford  County,  in  1850.  The  eight 
children  born  to  him  and  his  wife,  are  still  living: 
William  H.,  residing  on  a  farm  near  Terrell,  Tex., 
is  County  Surveyor,  of  Rockwell  County ;  James 
A.,  our  subject;  Ann  C.,  wife  of  John  Hopwood, 
of  Nebraska  Township,  Livingston  Co.,  111.;  George 
M.,  a  resident  of  Woodford  County;  Wolsey  C.,  a 
lawyer  in  Emporia,  Kan.;  Benjamin  F.,  a  lawyer 
in  Marinette,  Wis. ;  Laura  J.,  wife  of  E.  B.  Kipp, 
of  Elliott,  Iowa;  Charles  T.,  a  resident  of  Terrell, 
Tex. 

Our  subject  was  but  a  small  boy  when  the  fam- 
ily first  settled  in  Woodford  County,  and  here  he 
was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools.  At  the  age  of  eighteen,  in 
1861,  he  enlisted  with  Company  I,  47th  Illinois  In- 
fantry, and  served  as  a  private  three  years  and  two 
months,  taking  an  active  part  in  all  the  engage^ 
ments  in  which  his  regiment  fought,  the  principal 
battles  being  the  siege  of  Island  No.  10,  Farming- 
ton,  Miss.,  New  Madrid,  siege  of  Vicksbnrg,  Jack- 
son, Miss.;  he  and  his  comrades  were  with  Gen. 
Banks,  and  afforded  him  efficient  service  in  his  Red 
River  campaign.  He  was  discharged  with  honor 
in  October,  1864,  in  Springfield,  111.  During  his 
military  experience,  although  he  suffered  many  of  I 
the  hardships  and  trials  of  a  soldier's  life,  he  was 
so  fortunate  as  to  escape  imprisonment  in  rebel 
prisons,  but  was  disabled  on  one  occasion,  and 
obliged  to  be  in  a  hospital  during  his  last  year  of 
service. 

After  his  experience  of  military  life,  Mr.  Simp- 
son returned  to  his  old  home  in  Woodford  County, 
and  commenced  his  career  in  the  mercantile  busi- 


ness as  a  clerk  in  a  general  store,  and  in  1868  was 
taken  into  partnership,  the  firm  name  being  changed 
to  Whitaker,  Simpson  &  Son.  Later  it  was  changed 
to  Simpson,  Kidder  &  Co.,  and  still  later,  to  Simp- 
son <fe  Kidder,  and  so  continued  until  the  death  of 
Mr.  Kidder,  when  the  business  was  sold  out,  and 
in  July,  1887  Mr.  Simpson  established  himself  in 
his  present  business.  He  carries  on  an  extensive  and 
very  profitable  business,  and  besides  owning  three 
elevators  in  Minonk,  that  are  generally  worked  to 
their  full  capacity,  he  has  an  interest  in  two  other 
elevators  at  Woodford  County,  where  he  has  quite 
a  large  trade.  He  also  owns  two  farms  of  290  acres, 
both  well-improved,  and  has  a  charming  home  in 
Minonk,  a  view  of  which  appears  on  another  page, 
and  which  is  supplied  with  all  the  modern  conven- 
iences for  making  life  comfortable. 

Mr.  Simpson  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  was  Mary  E.  Bell,  daughter  of  J.  E.  P.  Bell, 
and  a  native  of  Marshall  County.  She  died  leav- 
ing two  children,  Helena  B.,  and  John  H.  The  lat- 
ter died  in  1871,  aged  eight  years.  The  maiden 
name  of  Mr.  Simpson's  present  wife,  was  Mary  B. 
Hudson.  She  is  a  native  of  Marshall  County,  and 
a  daughter  of  John  Hudson,  of  Fulton,  111.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Simpson  have  three  children  —  Mary  E., 
James  A.,  Jr.,  and  Harrison  H. 

Mr.  Simpson  is  prominently  identified  with  the 
public  interests  of  Minonk,  as  one  of  its  most  in- 
telligent and  trustworthy  civic  officials,  he  being  a 
member  of  the  City  Council,  and  of  the  Board  of 
Education.  He  is  connected  with  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, and  with  the  G.  A.  R.  Religiously,  he  is 
of  the  Presbyterian  faith,  an  influential  member  of 
the  church,  of  which  he  is  Ruling  Elder,  and  is  also 
Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school.  Politically, 
he  is  devotedly  attached  to  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party. 


N.  BERG,  who  is  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising,  resides  on  section  12, 
J1L=S^  El  Paso  Township,  and  is  numbered  among 
the  leading  farmers  of  the  community.  He  is  a 
native  of  the  Keystone  State,  having  been  born  in 


372 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Ebensburg,  Cambria  County,  July  5,  1850.  His 
father,  Peter  Berg,  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany, 
and  in  the  early  days  of  his  manhood  crossed  the 
broad  ocean  to  America,  settling  in  Cambria 
County,  Pa.,  not  far  from  the  ill-fated  city  of 
Johnstown.  In  that  county  he  formed  the  acquain- 
tance of  Miss  Ann  E.  Berg,  also  a  native  of  Hano- 
ver, Germany,  and  they  were  later  united  in  mar- 
riage. Mrs.  Berg  came  with  her  parents  to  America 
in  childhood,  the  family  locating  in  Somerset 
County,  Pa.,  where  the  father  and  mother  both 
passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  They  lived  to 
an  advanced  age  and  were  ranked  among  the  best 
citizens  of  the  community. 

By  occupation,  Peter  Berg  was  a  farmer  and 
followed  that  business  during  the  greater  part  of 
his  life.  After  his  marriage  he  settled  on  a  farm 
near  Ebensburg,  Pa.,  and  in  connection  with  its 
cultivation  owned  and  successfully  operated  a  saw- 
mill. During  the  early  days  of  the  history  of  this 
count}',  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  eight  chil- 
dren, four  sons  and  four  daughters,  all  of  whom 
were  born  in  Cambria  County,  he  followed  the 
course  of  emigration  which  was  steadily  drifting 
westward,  landing  in  AVoodford  County  in  the 
month  of  March,  1868.  Immediately  after  his 
arrival,  he  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  and  be- 
came one  of  the  leading  and  prosperous  farmers  of 
the  community,  but  in  later  life,  he  laid  aside  all 
business  cares,  removing  to  the  city  of  El  Paso, 
where  he  made  his  home  until  the  spring  of  1889. 
His  loved  wife  with  whom  he  had  traveled  life's 
journey  for  so  many  years,  was  then  called  to  her 
final  rest,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years,  and  since 
her  death  he  has  resided  with  his  son  Frank,  a 
farmer  of  Palestine  Township,  a  portion  of  the 
time,  the  balance  with  other  children.  Mr.  Berg  is 
now  seventy-six  years  of  age.  Religiously,  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Association,  to  which 
body  his  wife  also  belonged,  and  in  politics,  he  is 
a  supporter  of  the  Republican  party. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  a  good  com- 
mon school  education  in  his  native  count}',  which 
was  supplemented  by  attendance  at  Northwestern 
College,  Napersville,  111.,  where  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  were  passed.  He  was  married 
in  New  Philadelphia,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Kate  Chapman, 


the  wedding  taking  place  Sept.  12,  1877.  The 
lady  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  R.  C.  Chapman, 
who  for  thirty  years  was  a  prominent  practicing 
physician  of  New  Comerstown,  Ohio,  and  died  at 
his  home  in  that  city,  March  29,  1876,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-six  years.  He  was  born  in  Washington 
Count}',  Pa.,  in  1819,  and  is  a  son  of  Richard 
Chapman,  who  was  also  a  native  of  the  Keystone 
State,  born  of  Irish  parentage.  He  was  married  in 
Hickory,  Pa.,  to  Miss  Kate  Updegraff,  and  resided 
upon  a  .farm  in  his  native  State  until  his  death 
which  occurred  in  1863,  at  the  age  of  sixty -seven 
years.  His  widow  afterwards  became  a  resident  of 
New  Comerstown,  Ohio,  and  died  very  suddenly 
at  her  home  in  that  city  on  Christmas  Day  of  1867, 
in  the  sixty-sixth  year  of  her  age.  Both  Mr. 
Chapman  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Christ- 
ian Church. 

Dr.  Chapman,  son  of  that  worthy  couple,  was 
reared  to  manhood  in  his  native  State,  and  received 
a  thorough  medical  education.  When  his  studies 
were  completed,  he  established  practice  in  Ohio 
and  finally  located  in  Tuscarawas  County.  He 
rapidly  rose  in  his  profession  and  gained  a  position 
of  prominence  excelled  by  no  physician  in  the 
community.  He  was  married  when  but  nineteen 
years  of  age,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss 
Mary  McDonald.  The  wedding  was  celebrated  in 
Belmont  County.  Ohio,  but  the  death  of  Mrs. 
Chapman  occurred  in  Tuscarawas  County  about 
i  856  of  consumption,  when  twenty-nine  years  of 
age.  She  left  a  family  of  three  children  to  mourn 
her  loss,  namely:  Mrs.  Berg,  wife  of  our  subject; 
Mary  E.,  wife  of  Thomas  Brown,  a  resident  farmer 
of  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio;  and  Dr.  A.  L.  Chap- 
man, a  leading  physician  of  Bloomington,  111.,  who 
was  graduated  from  the  Medical  School  of  Cincin- 
nati. The  second  union  of  Dr.  Chapman  was  with 
Mary  Watson,  who  was  born  in  Washington  County, 
Pa.,  and  removed  with  her  parents  to  the  Buckeye 
State.  She  yet  survives  her  husband  and  resides 
with  her  son  John  in  Ohio.  The  other  child  born 
of  her  marriage  is  Mrs.  Agnes  Shannon. 

Mrs.  Berg  was  educated  in  New  Comerstown, 
Ohio,  and  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until 
her  marriage.  She  is  a  lady  of  high  social  attain- 
ments and  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


373 


with  which  denomination  she  united  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  years.  No  children  have  been  born  to 
this  worthy  couple,  but  they  have  one  adopted 
daughter,  Fannie. 

Mr.  Berg  is  numbered  among  the  successful  and 
enterprising  farmers  of  El  Paso  Township.  He 
first  came  to  the  county  in  1868,  and  settled  in 
Palestine  Township,  where  he  made  his  home  until 
his  removal  to  McLean  County.  For  two  years 
he  engaged  in  farming  in  Gridley  Township,  that 
county,  returning  to  Woodford  County  in  1883, 
since  which  time  he  has  resided  upon  his  present 
farm.  He  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  on  section 
12,  El  Paso  Township,  and  now  has  the  entire 
amount  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  The 
many  improvements  are  all  that  are  necessary  to  a 
model  farm  and  his  pleas'ant  home  with  its  entire 
surroundings  indicates  thrift  and  refinement.  As 
a  citizen,  Mr.  Berg  is  public  spirited  and  progres- 
sive, and  as  a  friend  and  neighbor  is  greatly  re- 
spected by  all  who  know  him.  He  is  well  worthy 
of  representation  in  this  volume,  and  it  is  with 
pleasure  that  we  record  his  sketch.  Politically, 
he  is  a  Democrat. 


i"OHN  EGE.  Too  much  praise  cannot  be 
given  to  the  self-made  man,  to  him  who  by 
his  own  energetic  efforts  carves  out  the  path 
)}  of  life  for  his  feet  to  tread,  and  then  by 
force  of  will  compels  circumstances  to  blend  with 
his  desires.  Many  such  people  reside  in  this 
county,  and  to  none  is  more  credit  due  than  to 
John  Ege,  the  subject  of  this  biographical  review. 
He  was  born,  seemingly,  to  be  one  of  the  strug- 
gling masses,  who  toil  for  a  life  time,  and  then  have 
scarcely  enough  to  protect  their  old  age  from  want. 
But  although  a  child  of  poverty,  nobly  has  he 
risen  out  of  his  lowly  surroundings,  and  has  placed 
himself  and  his  family  in  the  midst  of  affluence 
and  luxury. 

John  Ege  was  a  native  of  Wurtemberg,  Ger- 
many, born  April  12.  182(!.  His  early  education 
was  a  very  limited  one,  and  that  was  soon  brought 


to  a  close.  He  was  bound  out  to  a  cabinetmaker, 
where  he  learned  his  trade.  One  advantage  of 
many  foreign  countries  over  our  own  is  that  they 
compel  their  young  men  to  learn  a  trade,  and  thus 
provide  them  for  the  future,  and  prohibit  indo- 
lence. Our  subject  followed  his  trade  for  many 
years.  But  all  the  time  stories  of  the  wonderful 
land  across  the  wide  Atlantic  were  brought  to  his 
ears,  and  friends  wrote  descriptions  of  the  rapidity 
with  which  great  fortunes  were  made,  and  the  lib- 
erties of  the  people.  John  Ege  was  penniless  when 
he  crossed  the  ocean,  but  he  did  not  long  remain 
so.  He  proved  the  truth  of  the  saying,  "There  is 
always  room  at  the  top."  In  1846  he  came  to  this 
country,  and  began  almost  immediately  to  work  at 
his  trade  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  where  he 
remained  until  1849,  then  came  to  Peoria,  and  in 
1851  he  came  to  Spring  Bay. 

Our  subject  was  very  fortunate  in  the  selection 
of  a  helpmate,  his  wife  being  in  her  youth  Miss 
Margaret  Stauter,  with  whom  he  was  united  in 
marriage  Jan.  6,  1850.  Her  parents  had  emigrated 
to  America  from  their  ancestral  home  in  Bavaria, 
but  they  are  both  now  deceased.  Out  of  a  large 
family  of  seven  children,  only  three  remain  to  the 
present  time.  They  are  Hannah,  Carrie  and  Emily. 
Hannah  united  her  fortunes  with  those  of  Joseph 
Belsle}',  formerly  of  this  county,  but  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Peoria,  where  he  is  in  business  as  an  ice- 
dealer.  There  have  been  born  to  them  two  children. 
Carrie  became  the  wife  of  August  Ohlman,  a  resi- 
dent farmer  of  this  county,  and  they  have  four 
children.  Emily  remains  at  home. 

Between  the  years  1860  and  1876  Mr.  E<je  engaged 
in  the  lumber  business,  and  was  owner  of  a  large 
lumber  yard.  In  1870  he  purchased  a  farm  of  175 
acres  of  well-improved  land,  and  upon  this  he 
made  many  improvements,  so  that  it  has  been  a 
source  of  considerable  revenue  to  him. 

Mr.  Ege  and  his  family  now  reside  in  Spring 
Bay,  where  they  are  a  considerable  addition  to  the 
social  circles  of  that  city.  They  are  members  in 
good  standing  of  the  Reformed  Lutheran  Church. 
Mr.  Ege  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge,  No. 
335,  Peoria,  111.,  and  also  of  the  United  Order  of 
Druids  of  Illinois,  No.  6.  In  politics  he  is  a  strong 
Democrat,  and  has  the  confidence  of  the  people, 


374 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


who  have  shown  the  trust  they  repose  in  him  by 
electing  him  to  the  office  of  Supervisor  for  the 
long  period  of  fourteen  years,  and  they  have  also 
retained  him  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  twenty-two 
years.  He  has  filled  the  offices  of  Assessor  and 
Town  Clerk.  Thus  in  a  small  way  the  residents  of 
the  county  display  their  respect  and  interest  in  one 
of  its  ablest  and  most  influential  citizens. 


UDOLPH  HARSEIM,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock-raising  on  section  6» 
Palestine  Township,  is  of  German  birth. 
He  was  born  in  the  province  of  Saxony, 
Prussia,  on  the  8th  day  of  May,  1830,  and  is  de- 
scended from  a  respected  family  of  that  kingdom. 
His  father,  August  Harsei,m  was  also  born  in  Sax- 
ony, and  in  early  life  learned  the  carpenter's  trade, 
which  he  followed  for  many  years.  He  served  his 
country  as  a  soldier  for  a  number  of  years,  and  was 
married  in  his  native  province  to  Ann  Kline,  who 
proved  a  true  helpmate  to  him.  They  became  the  pa- 
rents of  three  children,  sons,  who  lived  to  maturity 
— Andrew,  who  is  now  engaged  in  farming  near 
Spring  Valley,  Putnam  Co.,  111.;  Rudolph,  of  this 
sketch;  and  Gotfried,  a  furniture  dealer  of  Secor, 
and  one  of  its  prominent  business  men.  Accom- 
panied by  his  family,  Mr.  Harseim  crossed  the 
broad  Atlantic  to  America,  landing  in  New  Orleans, 
whence  he  came  up  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio  rivers 
to  New  Albany,  Ind.,  where  he  located.  He  died 
in  that  city  about  five  days  later,  when  forty-eight 
years  of  age.  His  wife,  who  survived  him  many 
years,  afterwards  became  a  resident  of  Mendota, 
La  Salle  County,  where  her  death  occurred  in  1874, 
at  the  ripe  old  age  of  seventy-four  years.  Both 
parents  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  in  his  native  land,  and  received 
his  education  in  its  schools.  For  three  years,  from 
1848  to  1851,  he  served  in  the  great  rebellion 
which  occurred  in  Germany.  In  his  youth  he  also 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  business  he  fol- 
lowed for  a  number  of  years.  On  the  emigration 


of  the  family  to  America,  he  accompanied  his  pa- 
rents and  remained  with  them  one  year  after  his  ar- 
rival. Having  attained  his  majority,  he  left  home 
and  engaged  in  business  as  a  carpenter  in  La  Salle 
County,  111.  Some  time  later,  he  made  a  trip  to 
Minnesota,  where  heentered  land, and  then  returned 
to  La  Salle  County,  where  he  made  his  home  until 
becoming  a  resident  of  Secor.  In  that  county 
Mr.  Harseim  formed  the  acquaintance  of  Miss  Kate 
Kirchner,  and  their  friendship  ripening  into  love, 
they  were  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony. 
The  lady  was  born  in  Hessen,  Germany,  in  1836, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  George  and  Helena  Kirchner, 
who  were  also  natives  of  the  same  province.  On 
the  emigration  of  the  family  to  America,  they  lo- 
cated in  La  Salle  County,  where  the  death  of  the 
mother  occurred  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 
Mr.  Kirchner  is  still  living  at  the  advanced  age  of 
four-score  years,  making  his  home  with  his  son, 
George  L.,  in  McLean  County.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Omish  Mennonite  Church,  and  his  wife  was 
also  a  follower  of  that  faith. 

Mrs.  Harseim  preceded  her  parents  to  America, 
coming  with  her  brother  Peter  five  years  previous. 
She  resided  with  her  people  in  La  Salle  Count}', 
until  uniting  her  destiny  with  that  of  Mr.  Harseim. 
Fourteen  children  have  been  born  unto  them,  twelve 
of  whom  are  yet  living — Robert,  who  married  Jane 
Schafer,  is  the  owner  of  an  extensive  overalls  manu- 
factory in  Indianapolis,  Ind.;  Lena  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  Schmidt,  an  employe  in  the  watch  factory  of 
Pcoria;  Emil  J.  succeeded  his  father  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  in  Secor;  Carrie  is  the  wife  of 
Robert  Kirschke,  who  is  engaged  in  general  mer- 
chandising in  Cayuga,  III.;  Emma,  who  was  a 
student  in  the  Business  College  of  Peoria,  is  at 
hoine;  Sarah  wedded  Earl  F.  French,  and  resides 
in  Peoria  with  her  husband,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
watch  factory  at  that  city;  Isabella  and  Bertha  are 
still  with  their  parents;  Adolph  is  pursuing  a  course 
of  study  in  the  Peoria  Business  College;  Gustus, 
Amelia  and  Clara  are  at  home. 

Mr.  Harseim  has  been  a  resident  of  Woodford 
County  since  1861,  and  is  one  of  its  leading  citi- 
zens. For  a  number  of  years  he  was  a  prominent 
business  man  of  Secor,  where  he  made  his  home 
until  1885.  On  his  arrival,  lie  opened  a  small  mer- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


375 


chandise  store  in  that  town,  and  from  the  beginning 
his  trade  constantly  increased.  He  was  soon  com- 
pelled to  enlarge  his  stock,  and  in  1872,  finding 
that  he  had  insufficient  room  for  his  goods,  erected 
a  large  store  building,  22x75  feet.  It  was  liuilt  of 
brick,  and  on  its  completion  he  at  once  began  busi-  j 


ness  at  his  new  stand.  His  trade  rapidly  increased 
and  he  became  one  of  the  leading  merchants  of  the 
town.  He  possesses  the  necessary  energy  and  abil- 
ity essential  to  success,  is  fair  and  honest  in  all  his 
dealings,  and  well  deserved  the  liberal  patronage 
which  he  received.  At  length,  in  1 885,  he  resolved 
to  engage  in  some  less  arduous  business  and  sold 
his  store  and  stock  to  his  son  He  then  purchased 
100  acres  of  valuable  land  on  section  6,  Palestine 
Township,  and  has  since  followed  farming.  He 
also  owns  160  acres  in  Roanoke  Township,  Wood- 
ford  County.  His  home  is  pleasantly  and  conve- 
niently situated  near  the  corporation  limits  of 
Secor,  and  is  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the  county. 
Since  his  purchase  he  has  greatly  improved  and 
beautified  it,  and  the  entire  surroundings  indicate 
thrift  and  refinement.  Aside  from  his  business, 
Mr.  Harseim  has  found  time  to  devote  to  public 
interests,  and  at  this  writing  holds  the  office  of 
President  of  the  Town  Board.  In  politics,  he 
usually  supports  the  Democratic  party,  but  is  not 
strictly  partisan.  Himself  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  are  held  in  the  high- 
est regard  by  all  who  know  them.  Mr.  Harseim  is 
a  representative  and  valued  citizen,  and  it  is  with 
pleasure  we  record  this  sketch. 


RS.  ELIZABETH  (RICHARDS)  PARKIN 
has  a  beautiful  home  on  the  old  homestead 
that  her  father,  a  prosperous  pioneer  of 
Wood  ford  County,  reclaimed  from  the 
wild  prairies  of  Linn  Township  in  the  early  days 
of  its  settlement,  whereon  she  was  reared,  and 
which,  since  the  death  of  her  husband,  she  has 
managed  with  great  skill,  displaying  sound  judg- 
ment and  good  business  capacity.  Mrs.  Parkin  is 
a  native  of  this  county,  born  in  Cazenovia  Town- 


ship in  the  month  of  December,  1849.  Her  father, 
Thomas  Richards,  was  born  in  Devonshire,  Eng- 
land, Feb.  14,  1814,  and  passed  the  early  years  of 
his  life  in  his  native  land  until  1842.  In  that  year, 
a  strong  and  vigorous  young  man,  his  only  capital 
his  bodily  and  mental  endowments,  he  set  forth  for 
the  new  world,  accompanied  by  his  young  wife  and 
their  little  child,  to  see  what  life  held  for  him  in 
America.  When  he  landed  a  few  cents  comprised 
his  wealth,  and  settling  first  in  Canada,  he  resided 
there  a  year,  and  in  the  meantime  earned  money 
enough  to  pay  his  way  to  the  "  States."  After 
coming  here  he  worked  about  for  a  time,  and  care- 
fully saving  his  earnings,  was  finally  enabled  to 
enter  a  tract  of  Government  land  in  Linn  Township, 
and  in  1852  located  on  it,  and  thus  became  one  of 
the  first  settlers  here.  But  few  had  preceded  him 
to  this  region,  and  the  county  itself  was  but  thinly 
inhabited.  Deer  and  other  wild  animals  roamed 
at  will  over  the  prairies,  and  through  the  timber, 
and  there  were  not  many  signs  of  the  wealth  and 
prosperity  that  obtains  to-day  in  this  section  of  the 
country.  After  the  railways  penetrated  the  State 
there  were  none  nearer  than  Minonk,  for  some 
years,  and  Mr.  Richards  was  obliged  to  do  his 
marketing  in  the  distant  town  of  Lacon.  He  con- 
tributed his  quota  toward  the  upbuilding  of  Linn 
Township,  of  which  he  was  a  resident  until  his  re- 
moval by  death,  in  February,  1888.  He  was  a 
practical,  experienced  farmer,  who  managed  his 
affairs  judicious!}7,  and  accumulated  a  goodly  prop- 
erty. The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Elizabeth 
Peard,  and  she  like  himself  was  a  native  of  Devon- 
shire, and  closed  her  life  in  this  country,  dying  in 
1852.  Two  of  their  children  are  now  living: 
Meloria,  wife  of  William  Beal,  of  Minonk  Town- 
ship; and  Mrs.  Parkin. 

The  latter,  of  whom  we  write,  received  her  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  Linn  Township,  and 
continued  to  live  with  her  father  until  her  mar- 
riage, in  March,  1875,  to  Robert  Parkin. 

Mr.  Parkin  was  of  English  birth  and  parentage, 
and  was  a  son  of  James  and  Susan  (Rich)  Parkin, 
who  emigrated  to  America  with  their  family.  They 
first  settled  in  Tazewell  County,  but  a  few  years 
later  they  came  to  Woodford  County,  and  bought 
a  farm  near  Benson,  and  there  the  mother  died  in 


376 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  year  1878.  The  father  then  went  to  live  with 
his  son,  surviving  his  wife  only  ten  years,  and  at 
the  expiration  of  that  time  he  too  passed  away. 
The  husband  of  our  subject  was  but  seven  years 
old  when  his  parents  brought  him  to  the  United 
States,  and  he  was  reared  and  educated  mostly  in 
this  county.  When  he  arrived  at  years  of  discre- 
tion, he  chose  the  calling  of  a  farmer  as  the  one 
best  adapted  to  his  tastes,  and  for  which  he  had  a 
natural  aptitude,  and  at  the  time  of  his  marriage 
he  settled  on  the  Richards  homestead,  where  his 
wife  had  been  bred,  and  which  she  owns  and  occu- 
pies at  the  present  time.  In  this  pleasant  home  his 
happy  wedded  life  with  our  subject  was  blessed  to 
them  by  the  birth  of  two  children,  Myrtle  and 
Thomas  Oilman.  And  here  his  earthly  career  was 
cut  short  by  the  hand  of  death  Feb.  5.  1888.  The 
loss  of  such  a  man,  at  once  tender,  upright  and 
true,  considerate  in  his  dealings  with  others,  a  kind, 
devoted  husband  and  father,  a  wise,  practical 
member  of  the  farming  community,  a  uselul  citi- 
zen, was  a  severe  blow  to  the  interests,  social  and 
material  of  the  township.  But  he  whose  memory 
is  cherished,  as  is  his,  in  the  hearts  of  those  who 
loved  him,  needs  no  further  eulogy. 


RTHUR  R.  WARREN,  proprietor  and 
editor  of  the  Minonk  News,  one  of  the 
best  journals  published  in  this  part  of  the 
State,  is  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
members  of  the  editorial  profession  in  Woodford 
County.  He  was  born  in  County  Cavan,  Ireland, 
Sept.  15,  1839,  a  son  of  John  and  Harriet  Warren. 
His  father  was  a  watch  and  clock  maker,  and  died 
in  his  native  Ireland  in  1842,  ere  he  had  reached 
life's  prime.  The  mother  of  our  subject  first  came 
to  America  with  her  family  in  1846.  and  spent  the 
ensuing  twelve  years  in  Canada.  In  1858  she  re- 
turned to  Ireland  to  look  after  some  property,  and 
remained  there  until  1866,.  when  she  returned  to 
this  country  and  took  up  her  residence  in  New 
York  City,  where  she  died  in  1872.  Our  subject 
is  the  youngest  of  the  family  and  the  only  survivor. 


He  had  one  brother,  who  was  in  the  English  army 
and  served  in  India.  Another  brother  was  a  far- 
mer in  Canada.  Our  subject  was  but  a  young  boy 
when  he  accompanied  his  mother  across  the  ocean 
the  first  time,  leaving  his  early  home  just  previous 
to  the  famine  that  devastated  the  beautiful  island 
of  his  birth.  When  he  was  old  enough,  he  served 
an  apprenticeship  of  four  years  in  Pictou,  in  the 
province  of  Ontario,  to  learn  the  printer's  trade. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  time,  having  gained  a 
thorough  mastery  of  the  "  art  preservative,"  he 
worked  as  a  journeyman  in  Kingston  and  Toronto. 
In  1858  he  returned  to  his  native  land  with  his 
mother,  and  the  money  that  he  had  prudently 
saved  he  spent  during  his  stay  in  Ireland.  He  fol- 
lowed his  trade  in  Dublin,  working  in  the  printing 
office  of  Trinity  College,  which  is  one  of  the  most 
noted  printing  establishments  in  the  world,  and 
while  there  he  became  familiar  with  no  less  than 
six  languages.  In  1866  he  and  his  mother  returned 
to  this  country  and  made  their  home  in  New  York 
City.  He  worked  in  various  printing-offices  in 
that  metropolis  until  1872,  when  he  and  others 
went  into  business  on  their  own  account  on  Broad- 
way, and  so  continued  about  two  years.  After 
that  our  subject  was  connected  with  various  pub- 
lishing houses  as  a  printer,  and  for  five  years  had 
full  charge  of  one  of  the  largest  book  and  job 
printing-offices  in  the  city,  that  of  D.  H.  Gilder- 
sleeve.  In  1882  he  was  obliged  to  abandon  a  lu- 
crative position,  as  on  account  of  his  wife's  ill- 
health  he  was  anxious  to  try  a  change  of  climate 
for  her  benefit,  so  he  came  here  and  purchased  the 
Minonk  News,  of  which  he  has  since  been  the  editor 
and  publisher.  The  News  was  founded  in  1878 
by  S.  C.  Bruce.  It  is  an  eight-page,  six-column 
shoet,  independent  in  politics,  and  exerts  a  benefi- 
cial influence  wherever  it  circulates. 

In  1876  our  subject  was  muted  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Isabella  Grogan,  and  in  their  attractive  home 
seven  children  complete  the  household  circle — 
John,  Arthur,  Maud,  Ida.  Ethel,  Edna  II..  Lucy. 
Mrs.  Warren  is  a  native  of  New  York  City,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Robert  and  Eliza  Grogan,  hoUi  now  living, 
with  several  of  their  daughters,  in  Bloomington. 
111. 

Mr.  Warren  is  a  gentleman  of  culture,  of    wide 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


377 


and  varied  experience,  and  as  a  keen  observer  of 
men  and  events,  well-versed  in  the  art  of  journal- 
ism, he  makes  his  paper  the  medium  of  much  valu- 
able information,  and  through  its  columns  supports 
all  public  measures  that  are  in  any  way  beneficial 
to  the  town  or  county.  He  is  Republican  in  his 
political  views,  yet  moderate  in  their  expression, 
and  avoids  using  his  paper  for  a  party  machine, 
opening  its  columns  to  free  discussion  by  all  par- 
ties, and  giving  each  one  a  fair  showing,  of  what- 
ever party  or  political  belief.  He  cast  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  Horace  Greely  in  1872.  Re- 
ligiously, he  and  his  wife  are  members  in  good 
standing  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


ff^  ROSPER  H.  DAVISON,  County  Treasurer 
of  Woodford  County,  111.,  now  residing  in 
Metamora,  is  numbered  among  its  most 
prominent  citizens.  He  is  eminently  a 
man  of  affairs,  combining  sagacity  and  foresight 
with  exceptional  financial  talent,  true  tact,  fine 
courtesy,  and  an  honest,  upright  manliness,  which 
traits  of  character  have  preserved  his  reputation 
unsullied  through  an  honorable  public  career. 
Our  subject  is  an  extensive,  land-owner,  having  a 
large  tract  of  580  acres  of  fine,  well-improved  farm 
and  pasture  land  in  Clayton  Township,  where  he 
was  formerly  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 

Mr.  Davison  was  born  in  Grafton,  Rensselaer 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  25,  1833.  His  father,  John  M. 
Davison,  was  a  native  of  the  same  town,  a  son  of 
Kzra  Davison,  who  was  born  in  Connecticut,  of 
Scotch  ancestry.  He  moved  from  that  New  Eng- 
land State  to  Rensselaer  County  in  pioneer  days, 
and  was  an  early  settler  of  Grafton,  where  he 
bought  a  tract  of  timbered  land,  which  he  im- 
proved into  a  farm,  continuing  to  make  his  home 
there  till  death.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was 
Diadama  Smith,  and  she  was  a  native  of  Vermont. 
Our  subject's  father  was  reared  in  his  native  town 
to  the  calling  of  a  farmer,  and  always  followed  that 
pursuit,  continuing  a  resident  of  Grafton  till  1855, 
when  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  family.  He  pur- 


chased a  quarter  section  of  wild  land  in  Clayton 
Township,  ami  became  one  of  its  earliest  settlers, 
there  being  but  three  families  located  there  at  the 
time.  Ho  erected  suitable  buildings  and  was 
successfully  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil  on  his 
homestead  many  years;  but  he  is  now  living  in 
honorable  retirement,  making  his  home  with  our 
subject.  The  wife,  who  for  more  than  fifty  years 
had  walked  by  his  side,  faithfully  and  cheerfully 
sharing  with  him  the  heat  nnd  burden  of  the  day, 
was  taken  from  this  life  May  27,  18H5.  and  is  now 
a  blessed  memory  to  him  and  their  children  and 
grandchildren.  Her  maiden  name  was  Sally  Parks, 
and  she  was  born  in  Grafton,  N.Y.,  a  daughter  of 
Jonas  Parks,  a  native  of  Connecticut.  Her  f,ither, 
Rul  us  Parks,  great-grand  father  of  our  subject,  was 
a  soldier  in  the  Revolution,  having  entered  the 
army  as  a  fifer,  when  sixteen  years  of  age.  He 
was  present  at  the  battle  of  Bunker's  Hill  and 
afterward  served  under  Gen.  Washington  till  the 
close  of  the  war,  when  he  was  mustered  out  of  ser- 
vice as  fife-rnajor.  He  spent  his  last  years  in 
Grafton.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  that  town  and  improved 
a  farm  there,  on  which  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Elsie 
Scriven. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  two  children  born  to  his 
parents.  His  sister  Elsie  L.  married  Jacob  Mc- 
Chesney,  and  resides  in  Clayton  Township.  He  of 
whom  we  write  was  reared  in  his  native  county, 
receiving  a  substantial  education  in  the  public 
schools,  and  being  an  only  son  remained  at  home 
with  his  parents,  accompanying  them  to  Illinois 
and  living  with  them  here  a  few  years.  He  as- 
sisted his  father  in  building  a  cabin  for  a  tempo- 
rary shelter,  and  in  1856  the}'  erected  a  more 
commodious  dwelling.  Our  subject  continued  to 
reside  in  Clayton  Township  till  1887,  and  during 
that  time  had  been  so  prospered  in  his  agricultural 
pursuits  as  to  have  accumulated  a  handsome  prop- 
erty, including  the  580  acres  of  fine  farming  land 
before  mentioned.  In  1887  he  removed  to  Eu- 
reka, where  he  lived  till  1889,  when  on  account  of 
his  official  duties  he  took  up  his  residence  at  Meta- 
mora. 

Sept.   2,  1854,    Mr.  Davison  and   Miss  Jane   C. 


378 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


File  were  united  in  marriage,  and  to  them  have 
come  six  children:  Franc  D.,  now  the  wife  of  Har- 
rison Kerrick,  who  resides  near  Shirley,  McLean 
County;  William  S.,  J.  Morgan,  Paul  H.,  Elsie  J. 
and  Bertha.  Mrs.  Davison  is,  like  her  husband,  a 
native  of  Rensselaer  County,  N.Y.,  the  town  of 
Brunswick  her  birthplace,  and  she  is  a  daughter  of 
John  M.  and  Rebecca  (Lohnez)  File. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davison  are  people  who  command 
the  respect  of  all  with  whom  they  are  associated, 
and  they  have  a  large  circle  of  warm  friends  both 
in  this  city  and  their  old  home.  They  are  among 
the  leading  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and 
cordially  sympathize  with  all  movements  looking 
toward  the  social  and  moral  elevation  of  the  com- 
munity besides  giving  more  substantial  aid.  As 
a  patriotic  citizen  should  be,  Mr.  Davison  is  ear- 
nestly interested  in  the  welfare  of  his  country,  and 
as  he  firmly  believes  the  Democratic  policy  the 
best  one  to  be  pursued  in  the  guidance  of  national 
affairs,  he  gives  his  allegiance  to  that  party,  hav- 
ing cast  his  first  vote  for  James  Buchanan  for  Pres- 
ident. His  fellow-citizens  long  ago  recognized  his 
superior  fitness  for  public  office,  and  he  has  faith- 
fully served  Clayton  Township  as  Treasurer  for 
more  than  twenty  years  and  has  also  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  he 
was  elected  to  his  present  responsible  office  as 
County  Treasurer  in  1886.  Fraternally  he  is  a 
member  of  Minonk  Lodge,  No.  927,  I.O.O.F., 
and  Eureka  Lodge. 


OW.  RUSSELL,  who  is  engaged  in  general 
fanning  on  section  7,  Palestine  Township, 
is  numbered  among  the  leading  and  re- 
spected citizens  of  the  community  in  which  he  re- 
sides. He  is  one  of  the  earl}-  settlers  of  the  county, 
dating  his  residence  from  1855.  He  is  a  native  of 
Indiana,  his  birth  having  occurred  near  New  Al- 
bany, Floyd  County,  on  the  27th  day  of  July, 
1825.  His  parents,  Charles  and  Margaret  (Will- 
iams) Russell,  were  natives  of  North  Carolina.  In 
that  State  they  were  reared  and  married,  and  for 


some  years  there  made  their  home,  Mr.  Russell 
engaging  in  farming.  Desiring  to  better  their  con- 
dition, they  later  removed  to  Indiana,  settling  in 
Floyd  County,  where  the  death  of  the  mother  oc- 
curred Jan.  12,  1852,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years, 
her  birth  having  occurred  Oct.  7,  1782.  She  was 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
was  greatly  beloved  for  her  many  excellencies  of 
character.  After  the  death  of  his  beloved  wife, 
Mr.  Russell  came  with  his  son  to  Wood  ford  County, 
111.,  spending  his  declining  years  in  Palestine 
Township,  where  he  died  in  1860.  He  was  born 
Jan.  26,  1782,  and  was  also  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  His  life  was  one  of  in- 
dustry and  toil,  and  honest}'  and  fair  dealing 
marked  his  intercourse  with  his  fellow-men,  he 
thus  securing  the  confidence  and  high  regard  of 
all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  to  man- 
hood upon  his  father's  farm,  and  in  the  schools  of 
his  native  county  received  his  education.  His  ad- 
vantages in  that  direction,  however,  were  some- 
what limited,  as  he  was  only  permitted  to  attend 
school  during  the  winter,  having  to  assist  his 
father  in  the  cultivation  of  his  land  in  the  summer 
season.  He  remained  under  the  parental  roof 
until  1849,  when  he  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss 
Isabella  Hancock,  the  .ceremony  being  performed 
on  the  3d  day  of  May  of  that  year.  Mrs.  Russell 
was  born  in  Floyd  County,  on  the  bank  of  the 
Ohio  River,  Nov.  14,  1830,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
James  and  Nancy  M.  (Nance)  Hancock.  Her  par- 
ents were  natives  of  the  sunny  South,  but  during 
the  early  days  of  the  history  of  Flo3'd  County  set- 
tled in  Indiana.  The  death  of  the  mother  occurred 
in  that  county,  and  Mr.  Hancock  died  near  Peters- 
burg, when  quite  advanced  in  years.  He  was  a 
man  of  sterling  worth  and  strict  integrity,  and 
though  he  never  united  with  any  church,  both  his 
public  and  private  life  were  above  reproach. 

Mrs.  Russell  was  but  a  child  of  two  years  when 
the  death  of  her  mother  occurred.  Her  girlhood 
days  were  spent  in  Indiana,  and  in  that  State  she 
became  the  wife  of  our  subject.  A  family  of  ten 
children  have  been  born  unto  them,  eight  of  whom 
are  3"et  living — La  Fayette  A.,  James  H.,  William 
H.,  Maria  A.,  Nancy  M.,  Holly,  Charles  L.  and 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


379 


Isabel.  John  M.  and  Lucinda  are  both  deceased. 
Several  of  the  family  have  been  married,  and  left 
the  parental  roof  for  homes  of  their  own. 

In  1855,  when  Wood  ford  County  was  but 
sparsely  settled,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Russell  carne  to  Illi- 
nois. One  year  after  their  arrival  they  purchased 
a  farm  on  section  7,  Palestine  Township,  where 
they  have  since  made  their  home.  Their  landed 
possessions  aggregate  110  acres,  seventy  of  which 
is  comprised  in  the  home  farm,  the  remaining 
forty,  which  is  also  situated  in  Palestine  Town- 
ship, being  timber  land.  Throughout  his  entire 
life  Mr.  Russell  has  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  his  land  is  highly  cultivated  and  im- 
proved. He  is  industrious  and  energetic,  and  by 
his  own  efforts  has  acquired  a  comfortable  com- 
petency. He  feels  a  deep  interest  in  public  affairs, 
is  a  representative  citizen,  and  in  politics  affiliates 
with  the  Democratic  party.  His  wife  is  a  member 
of  the  Christian  Church.  They  are  highly  re- 
spected people,  and  have  many  warm  friends  in 
the  community  where  they  have  so  long  made  their 
home,  and  of  whose  growth  and  progress  they  have 
been  witnesses  for  more  than  a  third  of  a  centurv. 


MICHAEL  ZIMMERMANN,  one  of 
the  most  prosperous  and  best  known  Ger- 
man farmers  of  Montgomery  Township, 
.  has  been  a  citizen  of  this  county  since  Jan- 
uary, 1849.  His  present  estate  consists  of  490 
acres  of  land,  which  is  divided  into  three  different 
farms,  each  one  being  well  supplied  with  water,  a 
good  residence  and  other  farm  buildings,  and  nearly 
all  of  the  land  is  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation. 
His  first  purchase  consisted  of  100  acres,  which  was 
only  slightly  improved,  and  its  present  fine  condi- 
tion is  owing  to  his  industry,  energy,  and  business 
management.  Besides  abundance  of  good  water 
and  grass  land,  fitted  to  support  fine  stock,  he  has 
also  an  abundance  of  timber,  which  supplies  shade 
and  lumber  for  all  necessary  buildings.  Mr.  Zirn- 
inermann  came  to  Illinois  in  February,  1848,  and 
rented  a  small  place  south  of  Washington,  in  Taze- 


well  County,  for  one  year.  But  in  the  succeeding 
autumn  of  the  same  year  he  gave  it  up,  and  re- 
moved to  Montgomery  Township,  this  county,  to 
the  place  where  he  now  resides.  Before  coming  to 
this  State,  lie  had  resided  in  Ohio,  spending  nine 
years  of  his  life  in  Butler  County,  that  State. 

Our  subject  "was  born  in  Germany,  Sept.  27, 
1820,  in  the  State  of  Baden.  His  father,  Andrew 
Zimmermanu,  was  also  a  native  of  Baden,  where  he 
was  born  in  1793.  and  two  years  after  coming  to 
America,  he  departed  this  life  at  his  home  in  But- 
ler County,  Ohio,  Jan.  13,  1841.  Andrew  Zimmer- 
mann  was  left  an  orphan  in  his  early  youth,  but 
friends  took  care  of  the  child,  and  reared  him  care- 
fulty,  teaching  him  scientific  farming,  as  followed 
by  the  Germans  of  those  days.  AVhen  able  to  pro- 
vide for  a  family  he  married  Miss  Fannie  Miller,  a 
native  of  Baden,  and  member  of  a  good  German 
family.  The  fruit  of  this  union  was  five  children, 
four  sons  and  one  daughter.  Being  constantly  in 
receipt  of  news  from  America,  and  learning  from 
friends  how  much  more  profitably  farming  could  be 
carried  on  in  the  United  States  than  in  their  native 
country,  they  made  up  their  minds  to  emigrate. 
So  with  their  five  children  they  set  out  on  their 
journey  to  the  New  World.  At  Havre  they  em- 
barked in  a  sailing-vessel  bound  for  New  York 
City,  where  they  landed  after  a  fairly  prosperous 
voyage  of  thirty-one  days  on  the  good  ship  '-Ronly." 
In  order  to  secure  means  to  pay  their  passage  and 
incidental  expenses,  they  were  obliged  to  borrow 
money,  which  amounted  to  some  $365,  and  to  pay 
this  debt,  it  was  necessary  for  them  all  to  work,  as 
soon  as  located  where  work  became  possible  and 
profitable.  Being  honest,  industrious  and  economi- 
cal, and  providentially  blessed  with  health  and 
strength,  although  the  times  were  very  hard,  they 
succeeded  to  their  great  gratification,  in  paying  off 
every  cent  of  this,  to  them,  large  debt.  The  death 
of  Mr.  Zimrucrmann  two  years  after  locating  in 
Butler  County,  Ohio,  left  the  mother  and  five  chil- 
dren still  poor,  but  out  of  debt  and  with  some 
comforts  and  conveniences  gathered  around  them, 
and  able  to  face  the  world  with  cheerful  courage. 

Our  subject,  who  was  the  eldest  of  the  family, 
was  at  the  time  of  his  father's  decease,  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  and,  being  well  seconded  by  the 


380 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


younger  children,  was  of  great  help  to  his  mother, 
who  was  a  woman  fully  capable  of  managing  the 
business  affairs  connected  with  the  farm.  Between 
them  they  secured  enough  money  to  emigrate  to 
the  land  of  promise,  which  was  in  those  days  syn- 
onymous with  the  State  of  Illinois.  Our  subject 
also  took  with  him  to  the  new  home  a  wife,  who  was 
a  lady  well-fitted  for  the  duties  and  trials  of  pio- 
neer days.  Their  journey  was  not  made  in  the 
usual  style  of  wagons  and  horses,  but  was  per- 
formed by  taking  the  longer  but  more  comfortable 
water  route,  which  embraced  a  trip  to  Cincinnati, 
thence  on  the  Ohio  to  St.  Louis,  then  up  the  Illi- 
nois River  to  Peoria,  where  they  left  the  water,  and 
made  the  rest  of  the  journey  with  teams. 

Mr.  Zimmermann  with  true  filial  regard  took 
especial  care  of  his  mother  from  the  time  of  his 
marriage,  and  when  he  had  secured  a  home  of  his 
own  in  Illinois,  he  and  his  excellent  wife  appor- 
tioned ihe  most  comfortable  place  for  her  use,  which 
she  retained  until  called  upon  to  leave  the  scene  of 
life's  changes,  and  meet  her  husband  in  tlie  other 
world.  Her  death  in  1850,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five 
years,  left  a  chair  vacant  in  Michael  Zimmermann's 
home,  but  the  memory  of  grandma  will  ever  be 
cherished  by  her  loving  children  and  their  little 
ones.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrew  Zimmermann  were 
both  carefully  educated  in  the  Mennonite  Church, 
and  were  faithful  to  their  early  training  in  life  and 
death.  Mr.  Andrew  Zimmermann  had  occupied 
the  place  of  pastor  in  that  church,  and  was  widely 
known  among  the  members  of  that  denomination  as 
an  intelligent,  upright  man,  and  a  kind,  affectionate 
husband  and  father. 

Our  subject  was  well  educated  in  Germany,  be- 
ing especially  fluent  in  his  native  language,  and  the 
mental  discipline  he  acquired  in  his  thorough, 
severe  course  of  studies  during  his  attendance  in 
the  German  schools,  made  him  an  apt  scholar,  when 
it  became  necessary  for  him  to  acquire  knowledge 
of  the  English  language.  Mrs.  Zimmermann,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Catherine  Naffzinger.  opened  her 
infant  eyes  on  board  a  vessel  bound  for  America. 
The  parents,  Peter  and  Barbara  (Beck)  Naffzinger, 
had  left  their  home  in  the  Rhine  Province  of  By- 
ron, and  embarked  in  182(5  on  a  sailing-vessel,  and 
after  escaping  all  the  dangers  of  the  mighty  deep, 


were  safely  landed  at  their  destination,  Philadel- 
phia, Pa.  Although  the  original  intention  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Naffzinger  had  been  to  go  to  Canada, 
they  were  so  much  pleased  with  the  city  of  Phila- 
delphia, that  they  concluded  to  remain  there,  but 
after  residing  there  sometime,  they  were  induced,  to 
go  to  Butler  County,  Ohio,  in  which  place  they  lo- 
cated and  remained  several  years,  prospering  fairly 
well.  But  in  1844,  hearing  glowing  accounts  of 
the  fortunes  to  be  made  in  Illinois,  they  concluded 

i  to  sell  out,  and  remove  to  the  newer  country.  They 
first  located  at  Spring  Bay,  this  county,  making 
their  home  with  an  elder  son  who  hud  preceded 
them.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Zimmermann  bade  fare- 
well to  the  scenes  of  life,  at  the  home  of  a  younger 
son  in  Tazewell  County,  III.,  having  lived  five 
years  over  the  allotted  three-score  years  and  ten. 
Mr.  Naffzinger  survived  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  at  length  departed  from  his  earthly  tenement, 
at  the  home  of  his  son,  Peter,  in  Montgomery  Town- 
ship, being  nearly  ninety-seven  years  old.  They 

i  were  worthy  members  of  the  Mennonite  Church 
during  life,  Mr.  Naffzinger  holding  the  office  of  an 
Elder. 

Mrs.  Catherine  Ziromermann  came  to  Butler 
County,  Ohio,  when  a  mere  child,  and  was  reared 
and  educated  in  that  place,  learning  not  only  what 
books  could  teach,  but  also  receiving  a  good  prac- 
tical training  in  domestic  life  and  farm  work.  She 
has  been  of  great  assistance  to  her  husband  in  mak- 
ing and  improving  their  home,  and  has  become  the 
mother  of  twelve  children,  three  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased, namely :  Catherine,  who  died  when  three 
years  old;  Elizabeth  died  when  about  two  years 
old;  and  Jacob,  who  lived  to  be  a  fine  lad  of  thir- 
teen years.  Those  surviving  are:  Anna,  wife  of 
John  Witzig,  a  farmer  residing  on  the  line  between 
Livingston  and  McLean  counties;  Barbara  is  the 
wife  of  John  Ramseyer,  a  farmer  living  in  Mont- 
gomery Township;  John  married  a  lady  named 
Miss  Catherine  Schrock,  and  makes  his  home  on  a 
farm  in  Kansas  Township;  Lydia  is  the  wife  of 
Abraham  Ringerberger.  and  lives  on  a  farm  in 
Montgomery  Township;  Christian  married  Miss 
Martha  Minkosiwitz,  .and  lives  on  a  farm  in  Mont- 
gomery Township;  Hannah,  Joshua,  Caleb,  and 
Lillie,  are  still  under  the  parental  ruof.  All  the 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


381 


family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zimmermann  are.  intelli- 
gent, energetic  and  self-supporting;  idleness  being 
considered  a  vice,  and  industry  a  virtue.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Zimniermann  are  among  the  most  prominent 
members  and  liberal  supporters  of  the  new  Menno- 
nite  Church,  to  the  spiritual  needs  of  which  Mr. 
Zimmerman  ministers,  holding  the  office  of  an  Elder, 
and  being  well  qualified  for  the  position  by  his  gen- 
eral intelligence  and  scriptural  knowledge. 


J~  OHN  B.  VARBLE,  general  farmer  and  stock- 
i  raiser,  resides  on  section  20,  Palestine  Town- 
I  ship.  He  was  born  on  the  16th  of  March, 
'  1830,  in  Hardin  County,  Ky..  also  the  na- 
tive county  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  was  the 
eighth  in  a  family  of  nine  children  born  to  Philip 
and  Eda  (Spillman)  Varble.  On  the  paternal  side 
the  familv  is  of  German  descent,  and  on  the  mater- 
nal side  is  of  Scottish  origin.  The  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  Philip  Varble,  Sr.,  was  a  resident 
farmer  of  Marj'land  in  early  life,  but  accompanied 
the  famous  Daniel  Boone  on  his  trip  of  exploration 
to  Kentucky,  "the  dark  and  bloody  ground."  In 
that  wild  and  unsettled  region  he  determined  to 
make  his  home,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life 
as  a  hunter. 

Philip  Varble,  Jr.,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  and  reared  to  manhood  in  his 
native  State.  From  his  father  he  inherited  a  tasle 
for  hunting  and  pioneer  life,  and  as,  during  his 
early  manhood,  the  country  was  wild  and  unsettled, 
he  had  ample  opportunity  to  exercise  his  powers 
with  the  rifle.  On  reaching  man's  estate  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eda  Spillman,  who 
was  born  and  reared  in  Kentucky,  where  their  mar- 
riage was  celebrated.  They  also  began  their  do- 
mestic life  in  that  State,  where  a  family  of  eight 
children  was  born  unto  them.  In  1831  they  left 
the  South,  removing  to  Tazewell  County,  III.,  and 
settled  on  a  farm  near  Washington.  Mr.  Varble 
entered  160  acres  of  land  from  the  Government  and 
at  once  began  the  development  of  a  farm,  continu- 
ing its  cultivation  until  his  death,  which  occurred 


in  1863,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years.  He  be- 
longed to  that  noble  class  of  pioneers  who  labor  for 
the  interests  of  the  county  in  which  they  make  their 
homes,  and  was  a  highly  respected  citizen,  whom 
all  delighted  to  honor.  After  his  death  Mrs.  Varble 
came  to  Woodforcl  County,  where  she  passed  the 
remainder  of  her  life.  She  died  at  the  home  of  her 
son  Joseph  II.,  in  Palestine  Township,  at  the  ex- 
treme old  age  of  ninety-five  years.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Varble  were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  their  lives  were  in  harmony  with  their  profes- 
sions. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  an  infant  at  the 
time  of  the  removal  of  the  family  to  Illinois,  where 
he  has  since  passed  his  entire  life.  The  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  were  spent  in  Ta/ewell  County, 
and  in  the  schools  of  the  neighborhood  he  received 
his  education.  When  the  late  war  broke  out  and  the 
President  issued  his  call  for  troops  he  offered  his 
services  to  the  country,  becoming  a  member  of  the 
86th  Illinois  Infantry  commanded  by  Col.  Lyons. 
He  was  mustered  in  in  1862  as  a  member  of  Com- 
pany A,  under  Capt.  Joe  Majors,  and  with  his  regi- 
ment started  for  the  South.  Soon  after  reaching 
Kentuckj-  he  was  assigned  to  special  duty  as  fora- 
ger, and  serving  in  that  capacity  he  accompanied 
( it n.  Sherman  on  his  celebrated  march  from  Atlanta 
to  the  sea.  He  served  three  years  and  at  the  close 
of  hostilities  was  mustered  out  on  the  27th  day  of 
June,  1865. 

When  the  war  was  over  and  peace  was  again  re- 
stored, Mr.  Varble  returned  to  his  home,  and  on  the 
27  of  September  following  led  to  the  marriage  altar 
Miss  Sarah  A.  Shelton,  the  wedding  taking  place  in 
Bloomington,  111.  The  Iad3'  is  a  native  of  George- 
town, Brown  Co.,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  James 
and  Clara  Shelton,  who  were  also  born  in  the  Buck- 
eye State.  In  1858  they  removed  to  Eureka, 
Woodford  County,  where  they  made  their  home 
for  some  time,  and  subsequently  became  residents 
of  Bloomington.  but  at  length  they  went  to  live 
with  their  daughter,  Mrs.  Helen  Pike,  of  Chenoa, 
with  whom  they  still  reside. 

Mrs.  Varble  received  a  liberal  education  in  the 
schools  of  Eureka,  111.,  and  is  a  lady  of  culture  and 
refinement.  She  remained  with  her  parents  until 
her  marriage.  An  interesting  family  of  three  chil- 


382 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


dren  have  been  born  of  the  union  of  this  worthy 
couple — Clara  B.,  Eda  J.  and  Charles  E.,  all  yet  at 
home. 

In  1868  Mr.  Varble  came  with  his  family  to 
Wood  ford  County,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He 
lias  followed  the  occupation  of  farming  throughout 
his  entire  life,  and  for  the  past  fifteen  years  lias 
operated  a  farm  of  240  acres  owned  by  his  brother, 
who  is  living  in  El  Paso.  Everything  about  tbe 
place  denotes  the  thrift  and  industry  of  the  mana- 
ger, who  is  one  of  the  leading  and  representative 
farmers  of  the  community.  In  politics  Mr.  Varble 
is  a  stanch  Republican  and  a  warm  defender  of  the 
party  principles.  He  takes  a  deep  interest  in  po- 
litical affairs,  and  is  well  informed  on  all  the  lead- 
ing issues  of  the  day,  both  State  and  National.  He 
has  traveled  quite  extensively  over  this  coqntry, 
especially  the  South  and  West.  In  1863  he  trav- 
eled across  the  plains  to  the  Pacific  Slope,  spending 
three  years  in  California  and  Oregon  engaged  in 
mining.  He  encountered  some  thrilling  experiences 
while  in  that  Western  land,  and  those  years  proved 
an  interesting  period  of  his  life.  The  return  trip 
was  made  by  water,  as  he  did  not  again  care  to 
undergo  the  hardships  and  dangers  of  the  plains. 


WILLIAM  W.  HARPER,  now  deceased,  was 


for  many  years  a  leading  citizen  of  this 
county.  He  died  at  his  home  in  El  Paso, 
Sept.  27,  1887,  and  his  loss  was  mourned  through- 
out the  entire  community.  It  becomes  both  the 
duty  and  pleasure  of  the  historian  to  record  the 
lives,  and  thus  perpetuate  the  memory  of  those  who 
have  been  prominently  identified  with  the  history 
of  the  county,  and  have  aided  largely  in  its  up- 
building, and  as  such  an  one,  we  gladly  insert  the 
sketch  of  Mr.  Harper.  He  was  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, his  birth  having  occurred  in  Rockbridge 
County,  on  the  16th  of  March,  1815.  His  parents 
were  also  born  in  the  Old  Dominion,  and  in  that 
State  their  marriage  was  celebrated.  Unto  Samuel 
and  Anna  (Dryden)  Harper,  were  born  several  chil- 
dren. About  the  year  1830,  they  left  their  native 


State,  and  removed  with  their  family  to  Indiana, 
settling  in  Clinton  County,  within  twelve  miles  of 
the  city  of  La  Fayette.  They  were  numbered 
among  its  early  settlers,  and  the  husband  and  father 
became  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  the  commun- 
ity. He  died  at  his  home  in  that  county,  when 
about  sixty  years  of  age,  after  which  his  wife  re- 
moved with  her  sou  William  to  Illinois,  and  made 
her  home  near  Oneida.  Iroquois  County,  until  her 
death. 

Tlie  subject  of  this  sketch  was  about  sixteen 
years  of  age  when  the  familyr  became  residents  of 
Indiana,  and  from  that  time  he  was  dependent  Upon 
his  own  resources  for  a  livelihood.  He  was  truly 
a  self-made  man,  and  though  he  was  eminently  suc- 
cessful in  life,  his  prosperity  was  due  entirely  to 
his  own  efforts  of  industry,  perseverance,  economy, 
and  good  management.  In  his  youth  he  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  .followed  for  a  num- 
ber of  j'ears,  becoming  an  expert  workman.  He 
resided  in  Indiana  until  after  attaining  his  major- 
ity, and  on  arriving  at  man's  estate,  was  joined  in 
1  wedlock  with  Miss  Eliza  J.  Ramsey,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  who  came  to  Indiana  in  the  days  of  her  mnid- 
enhood,  and  subsequently  to  this  State.  She  died  in 
Iroquois  County,  111.,  in  the  prime  of  life,  leaving 
the  following  children,  two  of  whom  have  since 
followed  the  mother  to  the  land  beyond  the  grave, 
namely: -Alfred  E.,  who  died  in  childhood;  and 
John  T.,  who  was  married,  and  lefta  wife  and  three 
children  to  mourn  his  loss.  His  widow,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Maria  Casswell,  is  now  living  in 
California.  The  other  members  of  the  family  are: 
James  M.,  a  grain  commissioner,  who  married  Nel- 
lie Lewis,  and  resides  with  his  family  in  Peoria, 
111.;  William  Henry,  who  wedded  Mollie  Perry, 
now  deceased,  resides  in  Chicago,  where  he  operates 
a  grain  elevator;  Chalmers  married  Clara  Arnold, 
also  deceased,  and  is  now  Deputy  Sheriff,  of  Cook 
County,  111.,  residing  in  Chicago;  Harry  B.  is  the 
husband  of  Emma  Campbell,  and  resides  in  lantha, 
Mo.,  where  he  is  engaged  as  a  grain  and  hay  mer- 
chant. 

After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Mr.  Harper, 
with  his  famity  of  children,  came  to  Woodford 
County,  and  located  at  what  is  now  Harper's  Grove, 
Panola  Township,  which  was  named  in  his  honor, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


383 


He  there  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  of  about 
600  acres,  only  a  small  portion  of  which  had  been 
improved,  and  at  once  began  its  cultivation.  Hav- 
ing previously  engaged  in  carpentering  in  Indiana, 
he  now  found  his  knowledge  of  that  trade  very 
beneficial.  He  built  his  own  house,  hauling  the 
lumber  from  Kappa,  then  the  nearest  market,  and 
then  began  life  in  earnest.  He  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  stock-raising,  and  was  very  successful  in 
that  line,  owning  at  one  time  one  of  the  best  stock 
farms  in  the  county,  which  lie  sold  prior  to  mov- 
ing to  El  Paso.  He  possessed  good  business  abil- 
ity, was  energetic,  labored  with  untiring  zeal,  and 
in  that  way  became  one  of  the  wealthy  farmers  of 
the  community.  He  was  a  man  of  practical  and 
progressive  ideas,  and  raised  only  the  best  breeds 
of  stock.  He  devoted  his  entire  attention  to  his 
business,  was  careful  and  painstaking,  and  from  the 
first,  prosperity  attended  his  efforts. 

Some  years  after  he  had  settled  in  this  county, 
Mr.  Harper  was  again  married,  his  second  union, 
celebrated  in  Panola  Township,  being  with  Mrs. 
Sarah  ,1.  (Doughtey)  Horton.  This  lady  was  born 
in  Virginia,  about  twelve  miles  from  Wheeling,  in 
1826,  and  in  infancy  was  left  an  orphan  by  the 
death  of  her  parents.  She  unfortunately  has  but 
little  knowledge  of  her  family,  as  she  was  reared 
by  her  foster-parents,  John  and  Margaret  (Shep- 
herd1) Vancyoc,  who  removed  from  Virginia  to  In- 
diana, when  Mrs.  Harper  was  a  child.  In  1836, 
they  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Palestine  Town- 
ship, this  county,  where  Air.  Vancyoc  purchased  a 
farm,  successfully  operating  it  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  at  an  advanced  age.  His  wife  also 
died  on  the  old  homestead,  when  quite  advanced  in 
years. 

Mrs.  Harper  was  tenderly  reared  by  her  adopted 
parents,  with  whom  she  remained  until  her  mar- 
riage with  James  L.  Horton,  of  New  York  City, 
who  was  born  and  reared  in  the  Eastern  metropolis, 
and  was  afterward  owner  of  a  wholesale  dry-goods 
house  in  that  city.  He  subsequently  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock-raising  in  Illinois.  By  their 
union  two  children  were  born:  Nina,  who  is  now 
deceased;  and  Emma,  wife  of  A.  Altman,  a  farmer, 
of  Dakota.  The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harper 
took  place  Jan.  6,  1856,  and  four  children  blessed 


their  union:  Jesse  F.,  who  is  now  in  Missouri; 
Alice  M.,  and  Hattie  E.,  are  at  home;  and  Lincoln 
A.,  also  a  resident  of  Missouri. 

As  before  stated,  the  death  of  Mr.  Harper  oc- 
curred on  the  27th  of  September,  1887,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-two  years.  His  was  a  long  and  well- 
spent  life.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and 
strict  integrity,  and  his  honorable  and  upright 
careerfwon  him  many  friends.  He  had  served  his 
fellow-citizens  as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  held 
other  township  offices,  in  all  of  which  he  discharged 
his  duties  with  promptness  and  fidelity.  In  politics, 
he  was  a  Republican,  and  religiously,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  was  a  true 
and  loyal  citizen,  a  kind  and  affectionate  husband 
and  father,  and  a  faithful  Christian. 

Mrs.  Harper  still  makes  her  home  in  El  Paso. 
She  is  a  most  estimable  lady,  a  member  of  i  he  Chris- 
tian Church,  and  is  held  in  high  regard  by  her 
many  friends. 


OBERT  HITCH.  Among  the  representa- 
tive farmers  of  Woodford  County,  few  are 
more  prominent  and  none  more  worthy  of 
£,  representation  in  a  volume  aiming  to  per- 
petuate the  names  and  lives  of  the  foremost  and 
most  valued  citizens  of  the  county,  than  this  gen- 
tleman. He  has,  during  a  life  of  industry  and  per- 
severance accumulated  a  nice  property  and  at  the 
same  time  has  not  neglected  those  virtues  which 
are  more  valuable  to  every  person  than  mere 
wealth.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  this  county  ever 
since  the  year  1863,  his  farm  being  pleasantly  lo- 
cated on  section  18  in  El  Paso  Township,  and 
comprising  162£  acres  of  finely  improved  land. 
When  Mr.  Ilitt'h  first  came  here  in  the  fall  of  the 
above-mentioned  year  he  was  compelled  to  work 
very  hard  indeed,  and  hired  out  as  a  laborer  for 
some  time.  But,  by  economically  saving  all  his 
money,  and  industriously  taking  advantage  of  all 
possible  means  of  increasing  his  income,  he  at  last 
reaped  the  reward  of  his  toil,  and  became  finan- 
cially well-to-do  But  such  good  results  have  not 


384 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


been  obtained  except  by  the  most  strenuous  exer- 
tion on  his  part,  and  his  ability  and  business  man- 
agement have  been  of  great  assistance  to  him  in 
his  struggles  to  become  independent.  He  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  his  own  in  1871,  and  since  that 
time,  with  the  help  of  his  good  wife  and  his  own 
persevering  toil,  has  attained  his  position  by  grad- 
ual steps. 

Mr.  Hitch  is  a  native  of  the  County  of  Norfolk, 
England,  and  was  born  Feb.  5,  1840.  He  is  an 
Englishman  of  pure  blood,  his  father,  Robert  Hitch, 
Sr.,  lieing  also  a  native  of  Norfolk,  and  a  farmer 
by  occupation.  He  was  at  an  early  age  left  an 
orphan,  and  compelled  to  earn  his  own  support. 
He  grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm,  and  there  in  his 
native  county  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Sharp, 
daughter  of  Stephen  Sharp,  a  very  successful  brick- 
maker  of  Norfolk  County.  Mr.  Sharp  came  of  a 
very  long-lived  family,  and  himself  attained  the 
great  age  of  over  one  hundred  years,  having  died 
only  a  few  years  ago. 

After  Robert  Hitch,  Sr.,  was  married,  he  com. 
menced  to  gain  a  support  for  his  family  as  an  over- 
seer of  a  farm  in  England.  In  the  autumn  of 
1863,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  most  of  his 
children,  he  came  to  America,  setting  sail  from 
Liverpool  on  the  uCity  of  Washington."  They 
encountered  dreadful  storms  on  the  voyage,  but 
were  enabled  after  a  passage  of  seventeen  days  to 
land  safely  in  New  York  City.  This  was  not  their 
final  destination,  however,  and  they  journeyed 
toward  the  West,  where,  in  Wood  ford  County, 
they  found  a  home.  Several  of  the  older  sons  had 
come  to  this  county  a  few  years  before  their  par- 
ents emigrated  there,  and  it  was  through  their  rep- 
resentations that  the  father  and  mother  came  to 
the  United  States.  Here  the  father  passed  the  re- 
maining time  allotted  to  him  on  earth,  and  here  he 
died  April  7,  1877,  when  lie  was  seventy-three 
years  of  age.  He  was  a  hard-working  man.  one 
whose  word  was  as  good  as  his  bond,  and  possessed 
of  sterling  qualities.  His  wife,  the  mother  of  our 
subject,  is  yet  living,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven 
years.  She  is  as  active  and  quick  in  her  move- 
ments as  an  ordinary  woman  at  the  age  of  forty, 
being  able  to  work  for  hours  without  fatigue,  and 
can  walk  as  far  as  in  her  girlhood  days,  and  with- 


out apparent  exhaustion.  She  is  a  faithful  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church,  which  was  also  the  re- 
ligion of  her  husband.  Mr.  Hitch,  Sr.,  was  in  po- 
litical matters  a  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party. 

Robert  Hitch,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
reared  and  educated  in  the  land  of  his  birth,  which 
he  left  to  accompany  his  parents  to  America.  After 
he  had  been  a  resident  in  this  county  for  some 
time,  he  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Mrs. 
Mary  (Ellis)  Bowman,  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  Eng- 
land. She  is  a  daughter  of  John  Ellis,  a  sketch  of 
whose  life  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work,  and 
came  to  the  United  States  with  her  parents.  Her 
first  husband  was  Thomas  Bowman,  a  man  of 
American  birth,  but  of  German  ancestry.  He  died 
while  yet  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  left,  besides  his 
wife,  two  daughters,  Laura  A.  and  May  B.,  who 
live  at  home,  and  are  well-educated  and  refined 
young  ladies,  ornaments  to  their  home  and  to  what- 
ever society  they  mingle  with. 

There  have  come  to  bless  the  home  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hitch  five  children,  who  are  named  as  fol- 
lows: Harry  T.,  Grace  A.,  John  Roy,  Robert  E. 
and  Joseph  G.  These  are  all  yet  under  the  par- 
ental roof,  and  are  receiving  educations  which  will 
fit  them  to  make  their  own  way  in  the  world, 
whatever  positions  they  may  be  called  upon  to  fill. 
They  attend  the  Methodist  Church  and  Sunday- 
school,  of  which  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hitch  are  members, 
and  in  which  they  are  earnest  workers,  contribut- 
ing liberally  of  their  means  for  the  promotion  of 
the  Gospel  and  the  spread  of  the  kingdom  here  on 
earth.  Mr.  Hitch,  like  his  father,  is  an  advocate 
of  Republican  principles,  but  has  always  avoided 
the  cares  and  responsibilities  of  public  office. 


J~  KSSE    PLACKETT.  Among  the  many  good 
people    of    English    birth    who  have    come 
to  enjoy  our  Republican  Government,  none 
'    have  achieved  greater  results   in  the  way  of 
accumulating  a   comfortable  property  and  becom- 
ing   esteemed    citizens    than    the   subject   of    this 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


385 


sketch,  who  resides  on  section  22  in  Panola  Town- 
ship. He  is  a  native  of  Warwickshire,  England, 
and  was  born  in  the  spring  of  1828.  He  is  the 
son  of  Thomas  and  Anne  (Meads)  Plackett,  both 
also  born  and  reared  in  England.  Jesse  Plackett 
was  the  youngest  son  in  the  family,  and  lived  to 
man's  estate  in  his  native  county.  As  a  child,  and 
when  he  grew  larger,  he  was  made  useful  in  many 
ways,  assisting  his  mother,  and  learned  to  turn  his 
hand  to  anything  that  ought  to  be  done.  In  those 
days  very  few  of  the  boys  and  girls  received  good 
educations,  and  the}7  were  compelled  to  work  during 
the  summer  at  their  homes.  Our  subject  did  not 
fare  better  than  the  majority  of  those  who  lived  at 
that  time,  and  had  to  be  content  with  a  very  lim- 
ited education.  But  he  gained  that  best  of  all 
educations,  the  one  which  we  may  all  obtain  if  we 
studiously  apply  ourselves  to  a  carefully  selected 
course  of  study,  and  that  is  self -education.  By  far 
the  most  of  the  world-renowned  men  are  those  who 
in  youth  endured  privations  and  hardships,  but 
rose  above  them  all.  In  the  spring  of  1853  he  emi- 
grated to  this  country,  taking  passage  from  Liver- 
pool in  a  sailing-vessel  called  the  ''Screamer,"  an 
old  trading-vessel.  He  was  five  weeks  on  the  voy- 
age between  that  port  and  the  city  of  New  York^ 
and  upon  that  same  vessel  was  the  maiden  who  was 
afterward  to  become  his  wife,  but  then  a  mere 
child,  accompanying  her  parents  to  the  new  home 
beyond  the  waters.  Upon  reaching  New  York, 
our  subject  came  directly  to  Woodford  County, 
111.,  where  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  for  $12  a 
month  and  board.  Although  his  days  were  full  of 
labor,  yet  he  did  not  allow  himself  to  become  in- 
different to  good  reading,  and  kept  himself  well- 
posted  on  all  topics  of  importance. 

A  very  important  event  in  the  life  of  Mr. 
Plackett  was  his  marriage,  which  occurred  March 
4.  1861,  the  bride  on  that  occasion  being  Miss 
Mary  Walden,  a  native  of  the  same  county  as 
himself,  and  born  March  10,  1844.  Her  parents 
were  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Hirons)  Walden,  who.  as 
above-mentioned,  came  to  the  United  vStates  in  the 
year  1853.  They  also  came  to  Woodford  Count}' 
to  find  a  home,  and  at  first  resided  in  Metamora, 
afterward  in  Panola  Township.  In  this  latter 
place  the  remaining  part  of  the  lives  of  these  old 


people  was  passed,  and  there  both  died.  They  had 
endured  all  the  hardships  incident  to  pioneer  life, 
and  were  universally  respected  and  beloved  by  all 
who  had  the  pleasure  of  their  acquaintance.  They 
were  poor,  as  were  all  pioneers,  in  money,  and  Mr. 
Walden  worked  as  a  blacksmith  after  coming  to 
Metamora,  and  also  followed  the  trade  upon  his 
farm.  The  date  of  his  death  was  June  13,  1873, 
and  it  was  felt  that  by  this  event  Woodford 
County  was  deprived  of  one  of  its  best  citizens. 
The  mother  had  passed  away  previous  to  the 
death  of  her  husband,  her  death  taking  place  Oct. 
8,  1871.  Four  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Walden,  namely:  Annie,  who  married  Oliver  Shaw, 
and  makes  her  home  in  Panola  Township,  where 
her  husband  was  a  fanner;  Mrs.  Plackett,  the  wife 
of  our  subject;  Joseph,  in  Kansas:  and  Sarah  E., 
who  became  the  wife  of  Lewis  Schafer,  a  resident  of 
Tazewell  County,  111.,  and  died  March  6,  1888,  in 
that  county. 

Our  subject  and  wife  became  the  parents  of  four 
children,  and  he  is  the  owner  of  a  residence  and 
two  lots  in 'the  city  of  El  Paso.  Of  the  four  chil- 
dren born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Plackett,  none  remain 
to  bless  the  home  circle  with  their  presence,  two 
having  been  removed  by  death,  and  the  two  re- 
maining having  formed  other  ties.  Their  daughter, 
Sarah  E.,  was  united  in  marriage  with  Albert 
Grundy,  a  resident  of  this  county.  The  younger 
daughter,  Annie  8.,  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Strick- 
land, also  a  resident  of  this  county. 

Mr.  Plackett  after  coming  here  had  to  rent  a 
farm,  as  he  did  not  have  the  means  to  purchase 
one,  but  constant  toil  and  persistent  economy  at 
last  reaped  their  reward,  and  in  the  spring  of  1865 
he  settled  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  and 
which  has  been  his  home  ever  since.  He  first  pur- 
chased forty  acres,  all  being  raw  prairie  land,  prac- 
tically destitute  of  all  improvements,  and  has  added 
to  this  by  subsequent  purchase  until  he  now  owns 
120  acres  of  good  land,  all  well-cultivated.  When 
he  bought  the  land  it  was  virtually  as  the  Indians 
had  left  it,  but  by  dint  of  perseverance  and  indus- 
try, he  has  accumulated  a  property  of  which  he 
may  well  be  proud.  In  this  work  he  has  the 
assistance  of  his  wife,  who  has  ever  been  a  faithful 
helpmate  and  wise  counselor.  They  have  seen  the 


386 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


land  change  in  appearance  from  a  desert  waste, 
wild  and  swampy,  to  fields  blooming  with  the 
products  of  man's  industry  and  energy.  When 
they  came  to  make  this  their  home  wild  deer 
abounded,  as  well  as  other  game. 

Mrs.  Plackett  is  an  active,  energetic  member  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  she  and  her  hus- 
band move  in  the  best  circles  of  society.  They  are 
among  the  representative  pioneers  of  Wood  ford 
County,  and  are  now  in  the  prime  of  life  enjoying 
the  fruits  of  a  lifetime  of  labor. 


,ETER  CAREER,  a  native-born  citizen  of 
Illinois,  is  now  a  prosperous  member  of 
its  farming  community,  bringing  a  well- 
balanced  mind  and  cool  common-sense  to 
his  work,  so  that  his  farm  on  section  25,  Cazenovia 
Township,  is  in  every  respect  well-ordered  and 
under  the  best  of  management.  Our  subject  was 
born  in  Tazewell  County,  Aug.  8,  1849.  His  father, 
Joseph  Garber,  was  born  in  the  German  province 
of  Alsace,  while  it  was  under  the  dominion  of 
France,  and  his  father  was  also  a  native  of  that 
part  of  the  country,  and  was  there  reared  and  mar- 
rietl.  In  1840  he  started  with  his  family  for 
America,  and  landing  at  New  Orleans,  came  at 
once  to  Illinois  by  way  of  a  steamer  up  the  Mississ- 
ippi River.  The  steamer  sprang  a  leak,  and  all  the 
passengers  were  landed  on  the  Tennessee  shore, 
and  while  they  were  waiting  for  another  boat  to 
take  them  to  their  destination,  the  great-grand- 
father of  our  subject,  who  was  of  the  party,  was 
taken  sick  and  died,  and  his  remains  were  laid 
away  in  this  strange  land  so  far  away  from  his  new 
home  of  which  he  had  but  caught  a  glimpse.  As 
soon  as  possible  the  family  proceeded  on  their 
journey  up  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  rivers  to 
Peoria,  and  from  there  came  to  Wood  ford  County, 
and  became  early  settlers  of  Worth  Township. 
There  the  grandfather'purch.-ised  a  tract  of  timber 
land,  and  after  erecting  a  log  house  for  a  dwelling 
entered  upon  the  improvement  of  his  land.  At 
that  early  day  deer,  wild  turkeys,  wolves,  and  other 


wild  animals  were  plenty,  and  the  country  round- 
about gave  but  few  indications  of  the  advancing 
civilization.  There  were  no  railways  here  for 
many  years  after  that,  and  Spring  Bay,  one  of  the 
most  flourishing  towns  in  this  section  of  the  coun- 
try, was  the  resort  of  the  people  for  miles  around, 
who  went  there  to  market  their  grain  and  buy  their 
supplies.  The  grandparents  of  our  subject  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  Worth  Township  until  their 
death. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  young  man 
when  he  came  to  this  country  with  his  parents,  and 
he  continued  to  live  with  them  until  his  marriage, 
when  he  established  a  home  of  his  own.  Being  in 
very  limited  circumstances  when  he  commenced 
life  for  himself,  he  rented  land  until  he  could 
afford  to  buy.  This  he  was  soon  enabled  to  do,  as 
he  worked  hard  and  was  economical  and  thrifty, 
and  he  invested  his  savings  in  sixty  acres  of  land 
in  Worth  Township.  He  occupied  that  a  few  years 
and  then  sold  it  advantageously  and  bought  a 
larger  tract,  containing  100  acres,  in  the  same 
township,  which  he  still  owns  and  occupies.  He 
has  accumulated  other  valuable  property  besides, 
having  always  been  industrious,  and  investing  his 
money  very  judiciously.  He  has  a  farm  of  160 
acres  near  Colfax.  McLean  County,  a  240  acre 
farm  in  Tazewell  County,  and  forty  acres  of  fine 
timber  land  in  the  latter  county.  The  maiden 
name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject  was  Anna 
Sweitzer,  and  she  was  also  born  in  Alsace.  Her 
union  was  blessed  by  the  birth  of  eight  children, 
of  whom  seven  are  now  living — Peter,  Marv,  Jo- 
seph, Christian,  Valentine,  Magdalena  and  Jacob. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  is  the 
eldest  of  the  family.  He  was  reared  in  Worth 
Township,  and  gleaned  a  sound  education  in  the 
public  schools.  As  soon  as  old  enough  he  began 
to  aid  his  father  in  the  farm  work,  and  under  his 
careful  training  gained  much  useful  knowledge 
concerning  the  best  methods  of  conducting  agri- 
culture. He  remained  under  the  parental  roof 
until  his  twenty -third  year,  and  then,  as  his  father 
had  done  before  him,  he  commenced  life  for  him- 
self on  rented  land,  leasing  a  neighbor's  farm  for 
two  years,  and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  mov- 
ing onto  one  of  his  father's  farms,  which  he  man- 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


389 


aged  profitably  until  1883.  In  that  year  he  set- 
tled on  his  present  estate,  which  he  had  purchased 
in  1882.  This  farm  comprises  160  acres  of  choice, 
well-improved  land,  furnished  with  a  neat  and 
commodious  set  of  frame  buildings,  and  the  place 
is  adorned  with  beautiful  shade,  ornamental  and 
fruit  trees. 

Mr.  Garber  is  blessed  with  a  good  wife,  who  is 
of  real  assistance  to  him,  and  makes  his  home  com- 
fortable and  cheerful.  She  was  born  in  Worth 
Township.  Woodford  County,  and  her  maiden 
name  was  Lena  Dellenbach,  she  being  a  daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Lena  Dellcnbach,  the  former  a  native 
of  France  and  the  latter  of  America.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Garber  have  three  children — Annie,  Nora 
and  Laura.  The  family  are  esteemed  members  of 
the  old  Omish  or  Mennonite  Church. 

Mr.  Garber  is  a  self-reliant,  straightforward 
young  man,  of  good,  practical  views  of  life  and  of 
his  work,  and  he  is  honest  and  truthful  in  his 
habits.  He  usually  votes  with  the  Democretic 
party  on  National  questions,  but  in  regard  to  local 
issues  he  acts  independently,  supporting  whom  he 
considers  to  be  the  best  man  for  the  office  without 
regard  to  his  political  views. 


ffi 


ARL  JOHANN.  A.M.,  LL.D.,  President  of 
Eureka  College,  is  a  gentleman  of  fine 
abilities  and  high  intellectual  attainments, 
which  have  amply  qualified  him  for  the  duties  of 
his  present  responsible  position.  He  is  a  native  of 
Switzerland,  and  was  born  March  2,  1849,  being 
thus  in  the  very  prime  of  manhood.  His  early 
life  was  spent  in  his  native  canton,  where  he  lived 
until  he  was  twenty  years  old. 

In  accordance  with  the  laws  and  customs  of  his 
native  country,  young  Johann  was  placed  in  school 
when  a  lad  of  six  years,  and  was  occupied  with  his 
studies  eleven  months  in  the  year  from  that  time 
until  a  youth  of  fourteen.  He  first  attended  the 
public  school  at  Chaux-de-Fonds,  and  later  entered 
the  college  at  Lausanne  and  was  there  prepared  for 
the  University  at  Geneva.  Next  he  entered  the 


Polytechnic  School  al  Zurich,  and  upon  leaving 
this  became  a  student  in  the  University  of  Paris, 
where  his  education  was  completed. 

Our  subject  within  three  months  after  leaving 
the  above  named  institution  set  out  for  America, 
and  landed  in  New  York  City,  May  1,  1869.  He 
was  then  almost  wholly  unfamiliar  with  the  Eng- 
lish language,  and  being  without  means,  his  first 
business  was  to  secure  employment.  He  emigrated 
to  Collinsville,  Conn.,  and  for  four  months  after- 
ward worked  on  a  farm.  In  the  meantime  he  im- 
proved his  leisure  hours  in  studying  the  English 
language,  and  with  the  assistance  given  by  those 
around  him  was  soon  enabled  to  talk  intelligently 
with  the  people  of  his  adopted  country.  Being 
naturally  studious  and  fond  of  his  books,  he  made 
admirable  headway  and  in  due  time  was  employed 
as  a  private  tutor  by  the  man  for  whom  he  had 
worked  on  the  farm. 

Concluding,  however,  to  see  something  more  of 
the  United  States,  Mr.  Johann  finally  started  for  the 
West,  visiting  Chicago,  St.  Louis  and  New  Orleans. 
During  the  winter  of  1870-71  he  assisted  in  the 
survey  of  the  western  branch  of  the  Texas  Central 
Railroad.  Before  leaving  Switzerland  he  had  stud- 
ied civil  engineering,  the  knowledge  of  which 
served  him  well  upon  coming  to  this  country. 
Upon  leaving  tne  Lone-Star  State  he  emigrated 
north  to  Illinois,  baiting  first  in  Tallula,  Menard 
County,  where  he  was  employed  on  a  farm  nearly 
one  year.  In  the  interval  he  made  some  pleasant 
acquaintances,  through  whose  influence  he  was  se- 
lected as  teacher  in  one  of  the  public  schools  at  a 
salary  of  $30  per  month.  He  pursued  teaching  in 
Menard  County  for  four  years,  and  in  due  time 
commanded  the  highest  salary  ever  paid  a  teacher 
in  that  county. 

In  the  fall  of  1876  Mi.  Johann,  who  during  all 
this  time  had  devoted  his  leisure  hours  to  study, 
was  selected  professor  of  modern  languages  in 
Eureka  College  and  hns  occupied  this  position 
since  that  time.  In  1886  his  faithful  and  efficient 
services  received  their  just  recognition  by  his  selec- 
tion as  President  of  the  College  to  succeed  Dr.  J. 
M.  Allen.  He  is  master  of  several  languages  — 
English,  German,  French,  Spanish  and  Italian  — 
and  also  reads  readily  Norwegian  and  Swedish. 


390 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


He  possesses  the  gift  of  language  in  a  noble  de- 
gree, having  a  peculiar  adaptability  both  in  ac- 
quiring and  in  giving  instruction.  In  his  career 
has  been  illustrated  in  a  marked  degree  the  results 
of  perseverance  and  industry.  Landing  in  Amer- 
ica, a  stranger  in  a  strange  land,  without  other  re- 
sources than  the  result  of  his  well  spent  time  at 
school  and  his  natural  courage,  the  position  which 
he  now  occupies  reflects  in  an  admirable  manner 
upon  the  persistence  and  energy  with  which  he  has 
followed  one  steady  purpose,  and  proves  a  bright 
example  to  any  young  man  who  feels  that  his  lot 
in  life  has  been  cast  in  hard  places. 

The  residence  of  Dr.  Johann  and  his  little  family 
is  pleasantly  located  on  Darst  Street,  and  is  the 
frequent  resort  of  the  refined  and  cultured  people 
of  the  city.  The  amiable  and  estimable  lady  who 
presides  over  it  and  to  whom  he  was  married  Oct. 
8,  1879,  was  Miss  Georgina  Callender,  daughter  of 
George  Callender,  A.M..  one  of  the  former  presi- 
dents of  Eureka  College.  Mrs.  Johann  was  born 
in  Eureka,  Nov.  12,  1853  and  completed  her  stud- 
ies in  Eureka  College.  This  union  has  resulted  in 
the  birth  of  four  children,  namely,  Helen,  Agnes, 
George  and  Albert. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Albert  and 
Matilda  (Russ)  Johann,  both  natives  of  Switzer- 
land. The  father  was  a  watchmaker  by  occupation 
and  spent  his  entire  life  in  disown  beautiful  land, 
dying  in  1882.  The  parental  family  included  six 
children,  five  sons  and  one  daughter,  of  whom  Carl 
was  the  second  in  order  of  birth.  Only  three  are 
now  living.  One  brother  is  a  wholesale  hardware 
merchant  in  Naples,  Italy,  and  the  sister  is  the 
wife  of  Max  Mewes,  a  German  merchant  living  in 
Constantinople,  Turkey. 

The  excellence  of  Eureka  College,  as  a  medium 
of  instruction,  is  thoroughly  recognized  throughout 
Illinois  and  not  a  little  of  its  prestige  is  due  to  its 
present  president.  He  loves  learning  for  its  own 
sake  and  takes  a  warm  interest  in  the  success  and 
reputation  of  his  college,  which  graduates  annu- 
ally a  generous  number  of  students  fitted  to  take 
their  places  in  the  world  and  in  society  and  to  be- 
come useful  and  worthy  members  of  their  commu- 
nities. No  institutions  in  the  world  are  conducted 
in  a  more  thorough  manner  than  those  of  the  Old 


Country,  and  the  careful  training  received  by  Dr. 
Johann  during  his  youth  has  been  of  inestimable 
value,  not  only  to  himself  but  to  those  under  his 
charge,  from  whom  he  exacts  as  far  as  possible  the 
same  application  and  attention  to  details,  which  has 
made  of  his  intellectual  career  a  fine  success. 

Our  many  patrons  in  Woodford  County,  and  also 
the  students  of  Eureka  College,  who  cherish  a  ten- 
der affection  for  their  college,  as  well  as  the  gradu- 
ates who  hold  in  dear  remembrance  their  loved 
nlma  mater,  will  welcome  the  fine  portrait  of  Dr. 
Johann,  which  gives  added  interest  and  value  to 
this  work. 


f~OHN  M.  MURRAY,  dealer  in  grain  and  live 
stock,  and  proprietor  of  the  Eureka  Eleva- 
,  tor,  was  born  in  Perthshire,  Scotland.  March 
'jjjl})  8.  1835.  When  eighteen  years  old  he  came 
with  his  parents  to  America  and  lived  in  New 
York  city  about  three  years.  In  1857  he  came  to 
Tazewell  County,  this  State,  and  lived  three'years 
in  Washington,  operating  as  clerk  in  the  lumber 
business  and  also  teaching  school.  Later  he  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business  in  Metamora,  whence, 
in  1861,  he  removed  to  Eureka,  and  established 
himself  in  the  lumber  and  grain  business  which  he 
conducted  several  years.  Then  selling  his  interest 
in  the  lumber  he  gave  -his  attention  exclusively  to 
grain  and  live  stock. 

In  1881  Mr.  Murray  admitted  his  son  as  a  part- 
ner in  the  business.  His  elevator  has  a  capacity  of 
50,000  bushels,  and  can  easily  accommodate  25,000 
bushels  more.  It  is  operated  by  steam  power  sup- 
plied by  'the  tile  factory.  In  1883  Mr.  Murray 
formed  a  business  partnership  which  was  dissolved 
after  two  and  one-half  years,  and  then  Mr.  Murray 
sold  his  interest  to  his  son  and  has  since  given  his 
attention  to  grain  and  live  stock.  He  was  one  of 
the  originators  of  the  tile  plant,  and  has  been 
identified  with  other  business  interest  at  Eureka. 
He  represented  Olio  Township  in  the  County  Board 
of  Supervisors  five  years,  being  Chairman  of  the 
Board  one  year.  He  has  been  a  School  Director 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


391 


and  Township  Trustee,  and  takes  quite  an  interest 
in  political  affairs,  acting  as  President  of  tlie  Re- 
pultlican  Club  during  several  campaigns.  He  is 
also  warmly  interested  in  church  work,  and  with 
his  family  is  an  adherent  of  the  Presbyterian  faith. 
Mr.  Murray  was  married  at  Washington,  111.,  in 
1857,  to  Miss  Ellen  Smith,  daughter  of  the  late 
James  Smith,  who  was  prominent  as  a  contractor 
and  builder  of  that  locality.  Mrs.  Murray  was 
born  in  Washington,  111.,  and  is  now  the  mother  of 
two  children — William  and  Annie.  Our  subject 
has  erected  a  fine  house  in  Eureka  where  he  resides, 
and  he  owns  180  acres  of  land  in  Olio  Township. 
Socially  he  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity. 


AMES  M.  FORT,  one  of  the  foremost  citi- 
zens of  Minonk,  his  place  of  residence  and 
business,  and  of  Wood  ford  County  in  gen- 
eral, is  distinguished  not  only  as  a  Iaw3'erof 
no  mean  ability,  but  also  as  an  editor  and  publisher 
of  more  than  ordinary  enterprise.  He  is  editor  and 
proprietor  of  the  Minonk  Blade,  and  publishes 
besides  the  following  papers : — The  Rutland  Post, 
the  Dana  Herald,  the  Flanigan  Sun,  the  Roanoke 
JVews,  and  the  Benson  Argus. 

Our  subject  comes  of  a  renowned  ancestry,  and 
•In  the  long  line  of  descent  the  names  of  many  dis- 
tinguished soldiers,  scholars,  statesmen,  and  pro- 
fessional men  appear.  The  Fort  family  originated 
in  France.  The  family  came  to  America  in  early 
Colonial  times,  in  the  year  1660,  and  first  located 
in  New  Jersey,  and  later  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
since  that  time  the  Forts  have  been  represented  in 
everv  war  that  has  taken  place  in  this  country. 
From  generation  to  generation  they  proudly  held 
to  the  French  language  until  the  present  century, 
and  the  males  were  generally  lawyers  or  soldiers. 
The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Benjamin  F.  Fort, 
bore  an  honorable  part  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  is 
noted  as  having  been  a  pioneer  of  two  of  our  great 
Western  States.  He  subsequently  left  his  birth- 
place, the  Quaker  City,  and  settled  near  what  is 
now  Ironton.  on  the  French  Grant  in  Ohio,  and 


was  a  pioneer  of  that  section  of  the  country.  He 
became  a  prominent  citizen,  and  took  an  active 
part  in  public  affairs.  He  held  the  office  of  Justice 
of  the  Peace  many  years,  and  was  noted  for  his 
impartial  decisions  and  the  sound  judgment  that 
called  them  forth,  and  it  is  a  remarkable  fact  that 
none  of  his  decisions  were  ever  reversed  by  a 
higher  court.  In  1833  he  again  took  up  the  west- 
ward march  and  penetrated  to  the  wilds  of  the 
sparsely  settled  State  of  Illinois,  accompanied  by 
two  sons  and  some  of  his  daughters  with  their  fam- 
ilies. He  became  one  of  the  first  settlers  on  Round 
Prairie,  Marshall  County,  and  was  engaged  in 
farming  there  a  few  years  before  his  removal  to 
Lacon,  where  he  died,  having  rounded  out  a  long 
life  of  over  eighty  years. 

His  son,  Washington  D.  Fort,  was  born  in  the 
French  Grant  of  Ohio,  Sept.  17,  1820,  and  the 
early  years  of  his  life  were  passed  amid  the  scenes 
of  that  part  of  the  State.  He  was  a  boy  of  thirteen 
when  he  came  with  his  father  to  Illinois,  and  in  the 
new  pioneer  home  grew  to  manhood,  being  bred  to 
the  life  of  a  farmer,  and  adopted  that  calling  as  his 
life-work.  He  was  married  April  22,  1841,  to  Miss 
S.  S.  Foster,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  who  came  to 
Illinois  with  her  parents  when  a  child.  Her  father 
was  the  Rev.  John  C.  Foster,  a  farmer,  and  a  local 
minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  After 
marriage  Mr.  Fort  settled  on  a  farm  in  Round 
Prairie.  Being  an  astute,  clear-headed  man,  capa- 
ble and  of  wise  judgment,  and  an  intelligent  worker, 
his  pioneer  labors  were  crowned  with  extraordinary 
success,  and  he  became  the  owner  of  no  less  than 
1,000  seres  of  valuable  land.  He  was  well- 
known  in  the  State,  and  was  always  a  leading  citi- 
zen, and  was  frequently  a  delegate  to  conventions, 
though  he  had  no  aspirations  for  office,  but  unsel- 
fishly used  his  influence  in  favor  of  his  brother, 
Greenberry  L.,  who  was  a  member  of  Congress 
several  terms,  representing  the  8th  Illinois  Dis- 
trict. He  (the  father  of  our  subject)  was  a  Whig, 
and  later  became  a  stalwart  advocate  of  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Republican  party.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  always  active 
in  its  work,  and  one  of  its  most  liberal  supporters. 
His  death  occurred  Sept.  7,  1873,  and  was  a  severe 
blow  to  the  material  and  religious  interests  of  his 


392 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


community.  His  wife  preceded  him  in  death  only 
a  few  months,  dying  February  6th,  in  the  same 
year.  Of  their  thirteen  children  eight  grew  to 
maturity,  as  follows:  William  J.  is  a  farmer  in 
Marshall  County,  where  he  has  served  as  County 
Judge;  James  M.  is  our  subject;  Josephine  is  the 
widow  of  John  Sweet,  a  resident  of  Hiawatha, 
Kan.;  Mary  A.,  a  resident  of  Marshall  County; 
John  F.  is  a  lawyer  in  Bismarck,  Dak. ;  Greenberry 
L.  is  an  attorney  at  Minneapolis,  Minn.;  MedoraE., 
now  Mrs.  Harry  Jones,  resides  on  the  homestead  in 
Marshall  County;  Charles  T.  also  lives  on  the  old 
Fort  homestead. 

James  M.  Fort,  of  this  biographical  review,  was 
born  in  Marshall  County  July  1,  1846,  received  the 
foundations  of  a  solid  education  in  the  public 
schools,  and  then  entered  Wesleyan  University. 
After  leaving  college  he  pursued  the  teacher's  pro- 
fession for  some  time,  and  when  not  attending  to 
his  school  duties  studied  law,  and  Oct.  18,  1869, 
successfully  passed  the  necessary  examination,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  before  the  Supreme  Court 
of  Illinois  at  Ottawa.  He  then  became  a  partner 
in  the  law  firm  of  Garratt  &  Fort  at  Metamora. 
July  13,  1870,  he  came  to  Minonk,  and  has  prac- 
ticed his  profession  here  ever  since,  attending  to 
all  classes  of  business  that  come  before  the  courts 
of  the  State,  and  having  as  much  as  he  can  possibly 
attend  to,  in  connection  with  his  other  business. 
In  July,  1877,  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  jour- 
nalistic profession,  purchasing  at  that  time  the 
Minonk  Times,  three  months  later  changing  the 
nnme  to  the  Minonk  Blade,  and  still  continues  its 
publication.  In  this  venture  he  has  been  very 
much  prospered,  and  has  made  of  it  both  a  finan- 
cial and  literary  success.  The  Blade  is  edited  in  a 
scholarly  manner,  and  is  deservedly  popular,  and 
has  a  large  circulation.  Its  editorials  are  clear, 
thoughtful  expositions  of  the  situation  of  public 
and  National  affairs,  or  of  whatsoever  interests  the 
populace  in  general.  Mr.  Fort  has  other  sources 
of  income  besides  his  law  practice  and  publishing 
business,  as,  aside  from  his  property  in  Minonk 
and  investments  in  the  West,  he  has  160  acres  of 
choice,  valuable,  well-improved  land. 

Mr.  Fort  has  been  twice  married.  He  was  first 
wedded  June  16,  1870,  to  Miss  Carrie  Clark,  daugh- 


ter of  L.  D.  Clark,  a  farmer  of  Marshall  County. 
She  was  born  in  Carlisle,  lud.,  and  died  in  the 
pleasant  home  that  she  and  her  husband  had  estab- 
lished in  Minonk,  her  death  occurring  in  1880. 
She  was  the  mother  of  four  children,  two  of  whom 
survive  her,  Arthur  C.  and  Clara  E.  Our  subject 
was  married  the  second  time  March  24.  1881,  to 
Mrs.  Margaret  E.  Egbert,  nee  Ellwood.  She  has 
one  son  by  her  previous  marriage,  Jerome  W. 

Mr.  Fort  is  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Republican 
party  in  this  vicinity.  As  a  man  of  education,  far- 
reaching  enterprise  and  talents  of  a  high  order,  he 
wields  a  great  influence  in  the  management  of  pub- 
lic affairs,  and  his  fellow-citizens  have  often  wisely 
sought  his  counsel  and  aid  in  the  advancement  of 
the  highest  interests  of  the  city,  and  have  called 
him  to  its  highest  civic  offices,  and  he  has  been 
City  Attorney  and  City  Clerk,  and  has  represented 
Minonk  on  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors.  It 
is  not  as  an  office-holder,  that  he  is  best  known  or 
will  be  longest  remembered,  but  as  the  conscientious 
and  safe  counselor,  the  accurate  and  pure  writer,  the 
unostentatious  and  upright  citizen. 


R.  JOHN  A.    SCHOFIELD,    one   of  the 

most  practical  and  successful  dentists  of 
El  Paso,  occupies  a  pleasant  suite  of 
rooms  on  Front  street  in  the  Shaffer 
block,  and  in  his  professional  capacity  is  visited  by 
the  best  people  of  the  city.  He  has  been  established 
in  business  here  since  1879  and  is  assisted  in  his 
labors  by  Dr.  C.  A.  Eisenhart's  electric  battery  for 
the  extraction  of  teeth,  doing  the  woik  thoroughly 
and  speedily.  As  a  student  of  the  Cincinnati  Den- 
tal College,  (in  March,  1873)  the  Doctor  is 
thoroughly  conversant  with  the  duties  of  his  call- 
ing, in  which  he  is  making  a  decided  success.  At  the 
time  of  the  meeting  of  the  Central  State  Dental 
Association,  held  in  El  Paso,  his  work  received  fav- 
orable notice  and  was  pronounced  without  fault. 
For  four  years  the  Doctor  had  been  under  the  in- 
struction of  Dr.  S.  W.  Wood,  one  of  the  prominent 
dentists  of  Wilmington,  Ohio.  He  has  done  some 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


393 


fine  crown  work,  and  keeps  himself  well  posted  in 
regard  to  the  improvements  being  constantly  made 
in  dentistry. 

After  practicing  in  Wilmington,  Ohio,  Dr.  Scho- 
field  changed  the  scene  of  his  operations  to  Cin- 
cinnati, from  which  place  he  emigrated  westward. 
He  was  born  in  Germantown,  Pa,  Oct.  17,  1854,  and 
is  the  son  of  William  Sehofield,  a  native  of  England, 
who  came  to  America  late  in  the  '30s  and  located 
in  Philadelphia.  He  was  there  married  to  Miss 
Anna  Routh,  a  native  of  his  own  country,  and, 
who  came  with  relatives  to  America  when  fourteen 
years  old — her  parents  having  died  in  England. 
William  Sehofield  began  life  in  this  country  without 
means  and  for  a  number  of  years  labored  early  and 
late  in  order  to  get  a  start.  He  saved  up  his  money 
and  in  1862  emigrated  to  Wilmington,  Ohio, 
where  he  began  work  as  a  manufacturer  of  woolen 
cloth.  During  the  war  there  was  great  demand 
for  the  product  of  his  looms,  and  he  made  a  snug 
fortune.  He  is  now  operating  three  large  mills.  Al- 
though nearly  seventy  years  of  age,  he  possesses  all 
his  faculties  to  a  remarkable  degree,  being  hale  and 
hearty,  and  active  iu  mind  and  body.  He  makes 
his  home  in  Wilmington,  Ohio.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  is  also  living  and  is  a  bright  old  lad}', 
less  than  sixty  years  of  age. 

There  were  born  to  the  parents  of  our  subject 
two  sous  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  John  A.,  was 
the  youngest  but  one.  He  worked  with  his  father  in 
the  woolen  factory  during  his  younger  years,  becom- 
ing master  of  the  trade  and  for  several  years  was 
manager  of  the  factory.  After  leaving  the  pri- 
mary school  he  attended  Wilmington  College,  and 
later  became  a  student  of  the  Bi'3'ant  <fe  Stratton 
Business  College  of  Cincinnati.  He  thus  acquired 
a  practical  knowledge  of  the  methods  by  which 
men  succeed  in  business  matters,  but  chose  dent- 
istry for  his  profession. 

In  Wilmington,  Ohio,  Dr.  Sehofield  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Minnie  Haynes,  who  was 
born  in  Knoxville,  111.,  Aug.  24,  1857.  Mrs.  Sclio- 
field  was  reared  and  educated  in  her  native  town, 
attending  college  there.  Her  father  died  in  Cali- 
fornia during  the  earl\-  mining  days  of  the  Golden 
State,  whither  he  had  gone  in  the  hopes  of  making 
a  fortune,  The  mother  is  still  living,  having  her 


home  in  El  Paso,  and  is  now  about  sixty  years  old. 
The  Doctor  and  his  amiable  wife  are  the  parents  of 
two  children — Maude  I.  and  Anna.  They  are 
members  in  good  standing  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  our  subject,  socially,  belongs 
to  the  Blue  Lodge,  Chapter  and  Council  of  the 
Associated  Branch  of  the  Eastern  Star.  Politically, 
he  is  a  straight  Republican,  and  although  meddling 
very  little  with  public  affairs,  keeps  himself  well 
posted  and  has  his  own  views  upon  political  and 
religious  topics.  The  Doctor  is  an  officer  on  the 
Board  of  Health  of  the  city  of  El  Paso. 


ARSHALL    W.    MONTGOMERY.      The 

life  and  labors  of  this  gentleman  furnish  a 
good  illustration  of  what  can  be  accom- 
plished by  thrift  and  industry.  He  has 
by  unremitting  perseverance  and  attention  to  the 
details  of  business  built  up  a  comfortable  home, 
one  beautiful  on  the  exterior  and  handsomely  fur- 
nished within.  His  homestead  comprises  240  acres 
on  section  19,  in  El  Paso  Township,  and  is  well- 
improved  and  supplied  with  substantial  farm  build- 
ings. Mr.  Montgomery  has  made  his  home  on  this 
farm  ever  since  he  became  a  resident  of  Wood  ford 
County,  in  the  year  1850. 

Mr.  Montgomery  was  born  near  Terre  Haute, 
Ind.,  on  the  14th  day  of  February,  1838,  and  from 
that  vicinity  came  to  make  his  home  on  his  present 
farm.  The  Montgomery  family  came  to  Indiana 
from  Kentucky,  of  which  State  they  were  early  set- 
tlers. The  original  ancestor  of  the  Montgomery 
family  in  America,  was  one  .Samuel  Montgomery, 
who  came  from  the  North  of  Ireland  when  he  was 
in  the  prime  of  life.  He  settled  in  the  Keystone 
State,  when  the  red  man's  warwhoop  was  heard  ever 
and  anon  resounding  through  the  valleys  and 
across  the  mountains.  White  settlers  were  few 
and  separated  by  many  intervening  miles;  their 
lives  were  in  constant  danger,  and  the  safety  of 
their  homes  threatened  by  the  savages.  Samuel 
Montgomery  was  by  occupation  a  farmer,  and  fol- 
lowed his  business  in  his  new  home  in  America 


394 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Here  lie  lived  and  died,  at  the  time  of  bis  death 
being  quite  an  old  man.  He  is  thought  to  have 
married  an  American  woman  of  Pennsylvania 
birth,  who  with  her  husband  remained  in  that  State 
until  their  decease.  He  and  his  wife  affiliated  with 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  religious  sentiments, 
and  were  universally  respected  among  the  best  peo- 
ple of  their  native  State.  They  reared  a  large 
family  of  children,  among  them  one  who  was  chris- 
tened George,  and  who  became  the  father  of  our 
subject.  This  son,  George,  was  born  and  reared 
in  his  native  State,  Pennsylvania,  and  worked  as  a 
farm  boy,  making  himself  useful  in  every  way  nec- 
essary for  the  promotion  of  the  industries  of  the 
farm.  While  yet  a  young  man  he  set  out  for  the 
new  State  of  Kentucky,  in  the  early  part  of  the 
present  century,  and  sought  a  home  near  Lexing- 
ton. This  place  was  then  the  "  happy  hunting- 
grounds"  of  the  Indians,  who  were  at  war  with  the 
white  settlers,  and  were  fierce  and  cruel  in  the  ex- 
treme. Surrounded  on  all  sides  by  the  dreaded 
tomahawk,  George  Montgomery  was  forced  to 
spend  seven  years  of  his  early  life  in  a  fort  as  a 
means  of  protection  against  assault.  By-and-by 
the  Indians  were  driven  away  from  their  old  ren- 
dezvous to  the  far-away  West,  and  thus  their  old 
haunts  were  opened  to  the  American  settlers. 

After  a  few  years  spent  in  Keutuck3r,  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Anna 
Willoby,  a  native  of  the  famous  Blue  Grass  region, 
thougli  born  of  Virginia  parents.  After  the  birth  of 
three  children  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Montgomery  came 
North  to  Vigo  County,  Ind.,  which  was  then  very 
sparsely  settled.  Again  Mr.  Montgomery  was  called 
upon  to  battle  with  the  primitive  soil,  and  reduce 
it  to  a  state  of  cultivation,  and  as  before  he  was 
prospered  in  his  undei  takings.  However,  he 
met  with  an  irreparable  loss  in  the  death  of  his 
wife,  this  sad  event  occurring  in  1842,  when  she 
was  yet  in  the  prime  of  life,  having  attained  the 
age  of  forty-five  years.  Once  more  Mr.  Montgom- 
ery changed  the  scene  of  his  labors,  and  removed 
yet  a  little  farther  towards  the  setting  sun,  the  re- 
mainder of  his  long  and  active  life  being  passed 
in  El  Paso  Township.  There  his  death  occur- 
red in  1863.  when  he  was  seventy-eight  years  of 
age.  Thus  after  a  life  of  hardships  and  changes 


be  at  last  rested  from  his  labors,  with  the  knowledge 
that  he  had  passed  a  life  in  the  doing  of  good  deeds, 
and  in  acts  of  charity  and  kindness  to  those  who 
needed  his  assistance.  He  and  his  wife  were  de- 
voted members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  were 
held  in  high  esteem  wherever  they  lived. 

Mr.  Marshall  W.  Montgomery,  the  subject  of 
this  notice,  passed  his  early  years  on  the  homestead 
in  Vigo  County,  Ind.,  and  there  received  a  prac- 
tical education  under  the  immediate  instruction  of 
kind,  devoted  Christian  parents,  who  sought  to 
prepare  him  for  the  arduous  duties  of  life.  He 
was  taught  the  necessary  lessons  of  industry  and 
economy,  and  never  was  a  shirker  in  the  work  that 
accumulated  at  his  father's  home.  When  the  war- 
cloud  burst  upon  the  country,  Mr.  Montgomery 
was  among  the  first  to  respond  to  the  call  for  men, 
and  enlisted  from  Woodford  County,  which  was 
then  his  home,  in  Company  G,  4th  Illinois  Cavalry. 
This  company  had  as  captain  H.  D.  Cook, 
while  Col.  T.  Lyle  Dickey,  was  the  commanding 
officer.  The  date  of  Mr.  Montgomery's  enlistment 
was  April  26,  1861.  lie  was  with  his  regiment  in 
many  active  battles,  participating  in  the  engage- 
ments at  Fort  Donelson,  Fort  Henry,  Corinth, 
Vicksburg  and  Shiloh.  His  conspicuous  bravery 
at  the  latter  place  won  for  him  the  position  of  Ser- 
geant of  his  regiment.  lie  escaped  unhurt  through 
all  these  battles,  but  saw  a  great  deal  of  active 
fighting.  He  was  a  brave  soldier,  and  on  duty  al- 
most every  day. 

After  peace  had  returned  to  the  country,  Mr. 
Montgomery  was  united  in  marriage  on  Feb.  9, 
1865,  to  Miss  Martha,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Elizabeth  (Fair)  Campbell.  This  lady  was  born  in 
Indiana  County,  Pa.,  on  Aug.  7,  1859.  Thomas 
Campbell  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania;  his  par- 
ents were  natives  of  Scotland.  The  Campbell 
family  found  their  way  to  the  United  States  at  a 
very  early  period  of  our  nation's  history,  and  lo- 
cated in  Indiana  County,  Pa.,  when  there  were  only 
a  few  settlers.  They  crossed  the  ocean  and  located 
in  Pennsylvania  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  War. 
The  father  and  mother  of  Thomas  Campbell  lived 
and  died  in  this  State,  and  were  respected  by  all 
who  knew  them,  being  industrious  and  successful 
people  of  good,  old  Presbyterian  stock.  Charles 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


395 


Campbell — the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Montgomery, 
was  a  general  in  the  Colonial  armies  during  the 
War  of  the  Revolution.  He  and  his  brother  were 
both  taken  prisoners  with  nine  others,  and  kept  as 
such  about  nine  months.  The  Indians  bound  them 
to  logs — and  (Jen.  Montgomery  who  was  bound 
.  witli  his  brother  to  a  log — saw  his  brother  and  nine 
others  scalped  by  the  Indians.  The  Indians  put 
copper  kettles  over  the  heads  of  those  whom  they 
did  not  intend  to  scalp.  Prior  to  the  Revolution- 
ary War.  the  Campbells  had  frequently  to  resort  to 
Fort  Duquesne  (now  Pittsburg)  for  safety  from  the 
Indians.  After  the  Revolutionary  War,  Gen.  Camp- 
bell built  a  mill  and  large  distillery  of  stone,  on 
Blacklick  Creek,  in  Indiana  County,  Pa.,  which  is 
still  standing,  though  over  a  hundred  years  old. 
He  accumulated  considerable  property,  and  lived 
there  till  his  death.  His  principal  market  was  Pitts- 
burg.  Thomas  Campbell  came  up  under  proper 
training,  and  for  years  assisted  in  operating  his  fath- 
er's mill,  and  on  coming  to  Illinois  became  a  farmer. 
He  chose  as  the  partner  of  his  life.  Miss  Elizabeth 
Fair,  who  was  born  in  the  Keystone  State,  of  Ger- 
man parentage.  Her  parents  emigrated  from  the 
Fatherland  to  Indiana  County,  Pa.,  where  they 
passed  the  rest  of  their  lives. 

After  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Campbell  were  married  they 
commenced  life  in  the  usual  way  of  Pennsylvania 
farmers,  and  by  unremitting  toil  gained  many  of 
the  comforts  of  life.  Several  years  after  they  were 
married  they:  removed  to  this  State,  making  their 
home  in  Farmington,  Fulton  County.  Later  they 
removed  to  El  Paso,  and  here  the  father  passed  the 
remaining  time  allotted  to  him  upon  earth,  dying 
when  past  three-score  years,  a  highly  respected  cit- 
izen. His  wife  yet  survives  him,  and  makes  her 
home  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Billinger,  in  Wich- 
ita, Kan.  She  is  at  present  (1889)  seventy-eight 
years  of  age,  and  is  a  good  woman,  possessed  of 
many  womanly  virtues. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Montgomery  set  themselves  about 
gaining  a  good  home,  and  have  been  so  far  success- 
ful that  they  now  have  a  pleasant,  comfortable 
home,  of  which  they  may  justly  be  proud.  But 
of  far  more  value  than  this,  they  have  reared  a 
family  of  thoughtful,  intelligent  children.  Of 
their  children  they  have  lost  George,  who  was 


eleven  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death.  The 
living  are:  Lottie,  who  married  Mr.  Van  Fry,  a 
farmer  and  teacher,  of  El  Paso  Township;  Charles, 
Archie  and  Frank,  who  are  yet  at  home.  In  re- 
religious  matters,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Montgomery  and 
Lottie,  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  in  politics,  Mr.  Montgomery  is  a  supporter  of 
the  Republican  party. 


OHN  L.  McGUIRE,  a  veteran  of  the  late 
war  in  which  he  devoted  some  of  the  best 
,  years  of  his  youth  and  opening  manhood  to 
fj  the  service  of  his  adopted  country,  is  now  a 
prominent  agriculturist  of  Woodford  County,  and 
a  leading  citizen  of  Metamora,  with  whose  public 
life  he  is  closely  connected  as  one  of  its  most  intel- 
ligent and  progressive  civic  officials.  He  and  his 
wife  have  a  fine  residence  in  town,  making,  with  its 
surroundings,  one  of  the  most  attractive  homes  in 
this  vicinity,  and  they  own  300  acres  of  fine  farm- 
ing land  adjoining  the  town,  besides  other  valuable 
property. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  County  Tipperary, 
Ireland,  Aug.  27,  1844.  His  father,  John  Mc- 
Guire,  is  supposed  to  have  been  born  in  the  same 
count}',  and  he  was  there  reared  and  married,  Brid- 
get Quinn,  a  native  of  the  same  county,  becoming 
his  wife.  Her  entire  wedded  life  was  passed  there, 
and  in  1844  was  brought  to  a  premature  close  by 
her  death,  when  her  family  wore  deprived  of  a 
good  wife  and  a  tender  mother.  In  1853  the 
father  left  his  native  land  with  his  six  children, 
and  setting  sail  from  Liverpool  on  an  American- 
bound  vessel  landed  in  New  York  eight  weeks 
and  two  days  later.  He  proceeded  from  there  to 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  his  death  occurred  in  1856. 
His  daughter,  Johanna,  died  in  this  country  after 
attaining  womanhood;  his  son,  William,  died  in 
Cincinnati;  Mary  married  John  Costigan,  and  they 
live  in  Louisville,  Ky.;  Catherine  married  John 
Murray,  and  they  also  live  in  Louisville;  Richard 
died  in  that  city. 

John  L.,  of  whom  we  write,  was  in   his  ninth 


396 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


year  when  he  came  to  America  with  his  father, 
and  in  his  twelfth,  when,  by  the  sad  death  of 
that  parent  he  was  thrown  on  his  own  resources 
for  a  living.  Previous  to  that  time  he  attended 
school,  and,  considering  his  youthfulness,  had 
obtained  a  very  good  education,  and  he  then 
went  to  Brown  County,  Ohio,  and  found  employ- 
ment on  a  farm,  receiving  his  board  and  clothes 
in  return  for  his  work.  He  stayed  in  that  place  till 
the  spring  of  1858,  and  then  came  to  Wood  ford 
County  and  worked  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month, 
continuing  in  the  employ  of  the  man  with  whom 
he  came  to  the  county  till  the  month  of  September, 
1858,  at  which  time  he  engaged  with  W.W.Eg- 
bert, continuing  with  him  till  Jan.  30,  1862.  On 
that  date,  he,  a  strong,  manly,  self-reliant  youth, 
imbued  with  the  patriotic  desire  to  serve  the  coun- 
try where  he  had  found  a  home,  enlisted  in  Company 
D,  51st  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  in  the  ari.iy  till 
1865.  He  took  part  in  the  battles  of  New  Madrid, 
Mo.,  Island  No.  10,  Corinth,  Stone  River,  Chicka- 
mauga,  etc.  September  20,  1863,  he  was  wounded 
and  the  same  evening  was  captured  by  the  Con- 
federates. He  remained  on  the  battle-field  ten 
days,  and  was  then  taken  to  Richmond,  Va.  where 
he  was  confined  till  the  16th  day  of  April,  1864, 
suffering  all  the  horrors  of  life  in  the  cruel  rebel 
prisons.  He  was  then  paroled,  and  later  was  ex- 
changed and  joined  his  regiment  at  Kenesaw 
Mountain.  Our  subject  accompanied  Sherman  to 
Atlanta;  and  from  there  went  with  Generals  Thomas 
and  Schofield  in  pursuit  of  Hood,  and  did  gallant 
service  at  the  battle  of  Spring  Hill,  which  occurred 
Nov.  29,  1864,  and  on  the  following  day  was  with 
his  regiment  at  Franklin,  Tenn.,  and  on  the  15th 
and  16th  of  December,  fought  in  the  battle  of 
Nashville.  After  that  he  and  his  comrades  pur- 
sued Gen.  Hood  to  Decatur,  Ala.,  and  from  there 
Mr.  McGuire  went  to  Huntsville,  where  he  was 
honorably  discharged  Feb.  28,  1865,  having  faith- 
fully served  with  great  credit  to  himself  and  for 
the  good  of  the  cause  which  he  earnestly  champ- 
ioned. 

On  his  return  home  from  the  exciting  scenes  of 
military  life  in  the  South,  our  subject  quietly  re- 
sumed his  work  as  a  farm  laborer,  and  was  thus 
engaged  two  years,  when  he  began  operations  on 


bis  own  account,  and  with  the  aid  of  a  good  wife, 
now  owns  with  her,  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  this 
locality.  It  is  well  cultivated,  is  amply  provided 
with  a  fine  set  of  buildings  for  every  necessary  pur- 
pose and  all  kinds  of  machinery  for  conducting 
farming  to  the  best  advantage,  and  is  under  most 
excellent  management. 

November  24,  1870,  was  the  date  of  a  most  aus- 
picious occurrence  in  the  life  of  our  subject,  his 
marriage  with  Miss  Delia  Page.  She  comes  of 
good  New  England  blood  and  of  pioneer  stock, 
her  paternal  grandparents  being  among  the  early 
settlers  of  Wood  ford  County.  She  was  born  in 
Gilmanton,  N.  II.,  and  of  her  marriage  with  our 
subject  three  children  have  come — May.  Myra, 
and  John  Ailino.  Adino  Page,  Mrs.  McGuire' s 
father,  was  born  in  Gilmanton,  N.  H.,  May  3,  1822, 
a  son  of  John  and  Betsey  Page.  [For  his  parental 
history  see  sketch  of  John  W.  Page.]  He  was 
fourteen  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  to  this  county,  which  was  then  in  a  wild, 
sparsely  settled  condition.  After  attaining  man- 
hood he  returned  to  the  East,  and  lived  in  Somer- 
ville,  Mass.,  for  a  time.  He  subsequently  went 
back  to  his  native  Gilmanton,  where  he  was  ap- 
pointed Superintendent  of  the  alms  house.  From 
there  he  went  to  South  Danvers,  (now  Peabody) 
Mass.,  and  was  Superintendent  of  the  alms  house  in 
that  town  till  1859,  when  he  came  once  again  to 
Metaraora,  and  was  made  the  first  Superintendent 
of  the  Wood  ford  County  alms  house,  a  responsible 
position  for  which  his  past  experience  amply  quali- 
fied him.  At  the  expiration  of  ten  years  he  re- 
signed his  office  as  the  head  of  that  institution, 
having  some  time  previously  become  interested 
with  his  brother,  John  W.  in  the  banking  and  mer- 
cantile business.  He  continued  to  devote  his  entire 
time  to  that  till  his  demise  Feb.  24,  1885.  In  his 
death  Metamora  lost  one  of  its  most  valuable  citi- 
zens, one  who  was  an  important  factor  in  its  finan- 
cial prosperity.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was 
Arvilla  Page,  and  she  was  likewise  a  native  of  Gil- 
manton, N.  H.  She  resides  with  our  subject. 

Mr.  McGuire  is  endowed  with  fine  mental  capac- 
ity, and  is  a  man  of  more  than  ordinar}'  energy, 
tact,  and  business  talent,  as  is  shown  by  the  fact 
that  though  he  has  scarcely  attained  the  meri- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


397 


dian  of  life,  he  occupies  a  conspicuous  place  among 
the  representative,  well-to-do  citizens  of  Metainora. 
It  is  to  such  men  as  our  subject  that  this  town  owes 
its  present  high  standing,  as  he  always  warmly 
favors  all  plans  for  its  advancement,  giving  substan- 
tial aid  to  carry  them  out.  His  fellow-townsmen 
have  not  failed  to  recognize  his  superior  merits  and 
qualifications  and  have  called  him  to  some  of  the 
most  responsible  offices  within  their  gift.  Thus  he 
is  now  serving  with  honor  his  fifth  term  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  his 
second  term  as  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  is  also 
President  of  the  Metainora  Town  Board,  and  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education.  He  cast  his 
first  Presidential  vote  for  Gen.  Grant,  but  since 
1876  he  has  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party. 
He  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Dan  Miles  Post,  No. 
270,  G.  A.  R.  He  was  formerly  prominently  con- 
nected with  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  belonging  to  Met- 
amora  Lodge,  No.  82,  Woodford  Chapter,  No. 
1 10;  Metamora  Council,  No.  38,  till  they  threw  up 
their  charters.  He  served  as  Master  of  the  Blue 
Lodge,  and  was  Secretary  of  the  other  lodges  at 
the  time  of  their  disbandment.  He  is  now  a  mem- 
ber of  W.  C.  Hobbs  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  No.  380 
at  Eureka,  this  county.  •  .  ; .':• 


HllARTLETT  W.  UPHOFF.  Among  the  en- 
terprising and  persevering  Germans  who 
crossed  the  Atlantic  to  make  a  home  and  a 
fortune  in  the  land  beyond  the  seas,  none 
are  held  in  greater  esteem  for  many  sterling  quali- 
ties, than  the  gentleman  whose  name  is  at  the  head 
of  this  sketch.  Surely  too  much  cannot  be  said  in 
praise  of  the  foreigner,  who  leaves  his  friends  to 
go  among  strangers,  alone  and  often  penniless,  and 
by  continued  honesty  and  energy  gains  a  foothold 
among  the  struggling  masses.  Such  an  one  is  Mr. 
I'phoff,  and  it  is  a  matter  of  pride  to  himself  and 
his  family,  that  his  present  position  has  been  ob- 
tained by  his  own  persistent  and  well-directed  ef- 
forts. 

Mr.  Uphoff  is  the    owner  and   operator  of   120 


acres  of  land  in  this  county,  all  of  which  has  been 
improved  until  it  is  now  in  fine  condition.  Here 
he  has  a  comfortable  residence,  which  he  makes 
his  home.  His  aged  mother  also  lives  with  him, 
but  his  father  passed  away  many  years  ago.  His 
home  is  made  a  happy  one  by  the  presence  in  it  of 
a  wife,  a  most  estimable  woman,  and  a  group  of 
childish  faces.  He  takes  a  prominent  part  in  affairs, 
both  social  and  political,  of  the  county,  and  usually 
votes  the  Republican  ticket,  being  in  full  sympa- 
thy with  the  principles  of  that  party.  He  has  held 
various  offices  of  local  importance,  among  them 
that  of  Township  Collector.  Religiously,  he  and 
his  family  attend  the  Lutheran  Church,  of  which 
they  are  members  in  full  standing. 

Mr.  Uphoff  was  born  in  Germany,  Nov.  9.  1848, 
and  is  the  son  of  Weet  B.  and  Foelke  Uphoff.  The 
father  and  mother  accompanied  by  their  family  of 
children,  came  to  America  in  1855,  and  settled  in 
Woodford  Conn ty,this  State, in  1857.  They  had  pre- 
viously made  their  home  for  a  short  time  in  Peoria, 
but  thence  removed  to  section  15,  Clayton  Town- 
ship, where  the  father  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  and  where  our  subject  now  lives.  Upon  com- 
ing here,  the  father  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land, 
which  was  then  in  a  wild,  uncultivated  state,  but 
which  he  improved  very  much  during  his  residence 
thereon.  He  was  a  man  of  business  tact  and  man- 
agement, and  at  the  time  of  his  death  had  increased 
his  real  estate  holdings  to  hundreds  of  acres.  His 
death  occurred  in  1874.when  he  had  attained  the  age 
of  seventy-three.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weet  Uphoff  were 
the  parents  of  five  children,  namely:  Bernhard  W., 
Foelka  W.,  Anna,  who  is  the  wife  of  William  Giles, 
a  resident  of  Peoria  County;  John  and  Bartlett 
W.,  the  subject  of  this  notice. 

Bartlett  W.  Uphoff  was  a  lad  of  only  seven 
years  when  he  came  to  America.  He  lived  at  the 
parental  homestead  until  he  went  to  a  home  of  his 
own  in  1869.  In  that  year  he  became  the  husband 
of  Miss  Catherine  Clodius,  a  native  of  the  same 
country  as  himself,  and  who  has  five  brothers  and 
one  sister  in  the  United  States,  residing  in  Nebraska 
and  Washington.  Mrs.  Uphoff  and  her  sister  were 
respectively  the  youngest  and  the  oldest  in  their 
parents'  family,  while  their  brothers  were:  Chris- 
topher, Hans,  Henry,  William  and  Joachim. 


398 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Uphoff  have  a  family  of  seven 
children  living,  while  one  child  was  taken  from  the 
home  circle  at  the  age  of  two  .years.  Their  family 
record  is  as  follows:  Weet,  Christine,  Dena,  Anna, 
Rosa,  Glaus  and  Willie;  Matilda  is  deceased.  Mr. 
Uphoff  is  natural!}1  anxious  that  his  children  should 
have  all  the  advantages  of  the  splendid  school  sys- 
tem that  is  an  American  institution,  and  therefore 
is  giving  them  good  educational  opportunities. 


QUIRE  W.  MYERS,  Supervisor  of  Olio 
Township,  was  elected  to  this  office  in  the 
spring  of  1889.  He  belongs  to  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  has  been  quite  prominent 
in  political  affairs.  He  is  a  native  of  this  county, 
having  been  born  in  Cruger  Township,  July  26, 
1856.  His  parents  were  Lewis  H.  and  Christina 
(Helvernj  Myers,  who  were  natives  respectively  of 
Pennsylvania  and  Pickaway  County,  Ohio.  They 
were  married  in  the  latter  county,  whence  they 
came  to  Illinois  in  Ib55,  settling  in  Cruger  Town- 
ship, of  which  they  have  since  been  residents. 

To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there  were  born 
four  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom  lie  was 
next  to  the  youngest.  lie  acquired  his  education 
in  the  common  school  mostly,  although  attending 
Westfield  College  in  Clark  County,  for  two  years. 
In  due  time  lie  engaged  in  farming  for  two 
years  in  Panola  Township,  and  then  received  the 
appointment  of  Deputy  Sheriff,  under  Sheriff  Hor- 
ner,  during  which  term  of  two  years  he  was  a  res- 
ident of  Metamora.  When  withrawing  from  this 
office  he  returned  to  Panola  Township  and  prose- 
cuted farming  there  three  years.  In  the  spring  of 
1884  he  established  himself  at  Eureka,  of  which 
he  has  since  been  a  resident,  and  is  engaged  in  the 
breeding  of  fine  horses,  making  a  specialty  of  both 
•draft  and  trotting  animals.  He  has  a  tasteful  resi- 
dence in  this  city  with  pleasant  home  surround- 
ings. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Montgomery  Town- 
ship, this  county,  Feb.  7,  1878,  to  Miss  Isabella 
Stuinbangh,  who  was  born  in  this  township,  in  May, 


1858.  They  are  now  the  parents  of  four  children 
— Gay,  Clark  S..  Lewis  D.  and  Mossie.  Mr.  My- 
ers formerly  represented  Panola  Township  on  the 
County  Board  of  Supervisors,  serving  one  term. 


EWIS  WINETEER,  an  old  and  highly  re- 
spected citizen  of  Woodford  County,  has 
been  operating  a  farm  in  Linn  Township 
since  the  pioneer  days  of  1850,  and  now  has  it  so 
cultivated  and  improved  that  it  is  classed  among 
the  most  productive  and  most  to  be  desired  farms 
in  this  locality. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Orange  County,  Ind., 
Nov.  30.  1821.  His  father,  Thomas  S.  Wineteer, 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  who  at  some  period  of 
his  life  moved  from  there  to  Kentucky,  and  from 
thence  to  Orange  County,  Ind.,  of  which  he  was 
an  early  pioneer.  He  bought  a  tract  of  heavily 
timbered  land,  which  he  was  actively  engaged  in 
clearing  and  cultivating  till  his  earthly  labors  were 
brought  to  a  close  by  his  death.  The  maiden  name 
of  his  wife  was  Nancy  Elliott.  She  was  likewise  a 
native  of  Virginia,  and  she,  too,  spent  her  last 
years  in  Orange  County.  There  were  nine  chil- 
dren born  to  her  and  her  husband,  eight  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity. 

The  subject  of  this  brief  biography  grew  to 
man's  estate  in  the  home  of  his  birth,  reared  amid 
pioneer  scenes  under  the  primitive  conditions  of 
domestic  life  in  those  early  days  of  the  settlement 
of  Indiana.  The  food  that  he  ate  his  mother 
cooked  before  the  fire  in  a  huge  old-fashioned 
fireplace,  and  the  clothes  that  he  wore  were  horne- 
spun,  the  product  of  his  mother's  skill  at  the  spin- 
ning wheel  and  loom.  He  remained  an  inmate  of 
the  parental  household  till  he  had  attained  man- 
hood. In  1848  he  came  to  Illinois  to  join  a  brother 
in  Belle  Plain  Township,  Marshall  County,  and 
was  employed  by  him  on  a  farm,  and  while  living 
with  him,  he  bought  a  tract  of  wild  prairie  land  in 
1850,  located  on  section  3,  Linn  Township,which  he 
has  since  developed  into  his  present  farm.  He  was 
a  single  man  at  the  time  so  he  did  not  settle  on  it, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


399 


although  he  at  once  entered  on  its  improvement, 
and  in  1852  brought  his  bride  here  to  dwell,  and 
aid  him  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  comfortable,  cozy 
home  that  they  are  now  enjoying  together  in  life's 
declining  years.  His  farm  comprises  1 60  acres  of 
excellent  farming  land,  under  the  best  of  cultiva- 
tion, and  amply  provided  with  all  the  necessary 
buildings,  and  every  convenience  for  carrying  on 
agriculture  to  advantage. 

In  the  month  of  August,  1852  Mr.  Wineteer 
and  Mrs.  Sophia  T.  (Hollenback)  Mann  were  uni- 
ted in  marriage.  Mrs.  Wineteer  was  born  in  Perry 
County,  Ohio,  October  30,  1830,  a  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Martha  (Thalls)  Hollenback,  for  whose 
history  see  sketch  of  Jacob  Hollenback.  Mrs. 
Wineteer  has  been  twice  married.  She  first  wed- 
ded in  1849,  Thomas  Mann,  a  native  of  England, 
and  an  early  settler  of  Marshall  County.  He  died 
in  1850.  Mrs.  Wineteer  had  one  child  by  her  first 
marriage,  Harriet  Ellen,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wineteer  have  six  children  living,  as 
follows:  Thomas  L.,  a  resident  of  Sedgwick  County, 
Kas. ;  Margaret  Ellen,  wife  of  Thomas  Kerrick,  of 
Sedgwick  County,  Kas. ;  Clarissa  Amelia,  wife  of 
Gilbert  Combes,  of  Linn  Township;  James  D.>  a 
resident  of  Sedgwick  County,  Kas.;  Jessie  E.  and 
George  H.  at  home  with  their  parents. 

It  is  the  united  testimony  of  his  neighbors  and 
friends  that  Mr.  Wineteer's  course  in  life  has  always 
been  so  guided  by  principles  of  rectitude  and 
honesty  as  to  win  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  dealings.  He  and  his  wife  are 
devout  Christians,  he  belonging  to  the  Baptist 
Church  and  she  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
In  politics,  he  sympathizes  with  the  Democratic 
party  and  gives  it  his  hearty  support. 


—8- 


RS.  SARAH  (STANLEY)  FISHER,  a  res- 
ident of  Cazenovia  Township,  has  lived 
in  Illinois  since  1835,  and  lias  thus  been  a 
witness  of  almost  the  entire  development 
of  this  section  of  the  country.  She  was  born  in 
Gray  son  County,  Va.,  Sept.  10,  1821.  Her  father, 


Zachariah  Stanley,  was  born  in  the  same  State. 
His  father,  the  giandfather  of  Mrs.  Fisher,  was, 
so  far  as  known,  a  resident  of  the  Old  Dominion 
all  his  life.  Mrs.  Fisher's  father  was  reared  and 
married  in  his  native  State,  and  was  a  resident  there 
till  1830,  when  he  removed  to  Ohio,  and  lived  in 
Clinton  County  till  1835,  when  he  once  more  started 
westward.  He  was  accompanied  by  his  wife  and 
six  children,  and  six  other  families.  The  removal 
was  made  with  teams,  the  emigrants  driving  their 
stock,  and  cooking  and  camping  on  the  way,  and 
they  arrived  in  Tazewell  County  in  the  month  of 
•  September  after  traveling  four  weeks.  The  father 
!  was  taken  sick  en  route  and  died  three  weeks  after 
his  arrival  at  his  destination.  The  oldest  son  took 
charge  of  affairs  then  and  rented  a  cabin,  in  which 
the  family  spent  the  ensuing  winter,  and  in  the 
spring  he  rented  a  farm.  The  mother  resided  with 
her  children  till  her  death,  which  occurred  at  the 
home  of  her  son,  in  Whiteside  County,  many 
years  after  that  of  her  husband.  There  were  nine 
children  born  to  them,  eight  of  whom  grew  up. 

Mrs.  Fisher  was  fourteen  years  old  when  she 
came  to  Illinois  with  her  parents,  and  remembers 
well  all  the  incidents  of  the  long,  overland  journey 
and  the  incidents  of  pioneer  life  that  followed. 
Her  mother  used  to  spin  and  weave  and  she  learned 
that  then  useful  art  from  her,  and  used  to  make  the 
cloth  for  the  family.  After  the  death  of  her  father 
Mrs.  Fisher  lived  with  different  families  till  her 
marriage,  which  occurred  Nov.  5,  1840,  to  Mr. 
Elias  Fisher.  He  was  born  in  Ohio,  in  March, 
1822,  and  was  the  son  of  Theodore  and  Martha 
(Dillon)  Fisher.  He  was  but  seven  years  of  age 
when,  in  1829,  his  parents  settled  in  Tazewell 
County,  being  amongst  the  first  pioneers  to  locate 
there.  He  was  there  reared  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  after  marriage  purchased  a  farm  three 
miles  south  of  Tremont,  lived  on  it  till  1859,  and 
then  sold  out  there  and  bought  320  acres  of  wild 
priarie  land  in  Cazenovia  Township,  and  was  a  res- 
ident here  from  that  time  till  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred July  6,  1866.  He  had  in  the  meantime 
improved  and  fenced  all  of  his  land,  and  erected  a 
good  set  of  frame  buildings,  and  was  living  here, 
like  the  patriarchs  of  old,  surrounded  by  his  chil- 
dren, with  peace  and  plenty  on  every  hand. 


400 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


There  were  six  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fisher,  five  of  whom  arc  now  living,  and  residents 
of  Cazenovia  Township,  as  follows:  Oliver  mar- 
ried Sarah  Carruthers,  and  has  five  children — Ste- 
phen Elias,  Luella,  Mark,  Ora,  Myrtle;  Mary 
married  Samuel  Waggoner,  and  has  three  chil- 
dren— Ross,  Delpha.  Robert;  Ira,  of  whom  see 
sketch;  Louisa  married  John  White,  and  has  two 
children — Mildred  Bernice  and  Elva  Mae;  Jabez, 
the  eldest,  married  Miss  Maria  Harper,  they  have 
four  children — Lola,  Ada,  Ethel  and  May. 

Mr.  Fisher  was  a  valued  citizen  of  this  township, 
in  that  he  was  industrious,  possessed  excellent 
judgment,  and  his  integrity  was  of  a  high  order. 
His  wife  is  held  in  like  estimation,  her  kind  heart, 
never-failing  sympathy,  and  true  Christian  spirit 
having  won  her  a  warm  place  in  the  hearts  of  those 
about  her.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church,  to  which  her  husband  also  belonged. 


i  ICHARD  PARNHAM.  After  many  years 
of  arduous  industry  spent  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  this  gentleman  has  retired  from 
active  labor,  and  is  now  enjoying  the  com- 
forts of  a  pleasant  home  in  El  Paso,  where  he  has 
resided  since  August,  1882.  He  settled  in  Panola 
Township,  this  county  in  1864,  and  became  one  of 
its  most  successful  farmers.  He  improved  a  tract 
of  wild  land,  and  has  now  120  acres  in  a  high  state 
of  cultivation.  This  is  provided  with  good  build- 
ings, and  in  all  respects  presents  the  picture  of  the 
well-regulated  estate,  which  yields  the  proprietor  a 
handsome  income. 

A  native  of  Lincolnshire,  England,our  subject  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Fullbeck.  Marcli  24,  1822.  He 
emigrated  to  America  in  1851,  and  lived  in  Utica, 
N.  Y.,  until  1852.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  came 
to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Farmington,  Fulton 
County.  In  1857  lie  moved  to  Peoria  County,  and 
thence  moved  to  this  county,  with  whose  best  in- 
terests he  has  since  been  closely  identified.  He  is 
of  substantial  English  stock  from  "away  back." 


Thomas  Parnham,the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
by  occupation  a  farmer  and  general  laborer  com- 
bined, and  spent  his  entire  life  in  and  around  Full- 
beck,  England,  where  he  died  at  the  advanced  age  of 
ninety  years.  His  father,  likewise  Thomas  by 
name,  was  one  of  the  yeomen  of  Lincolnshire,  and 
lived  to  be  over  eighty  years  old.  The  family  has 
always  been  noted  for  its  longevity  and  as  people 
generally  of  large  and  robust  frame.  The  maiden 
name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject  was  Ann 
Walker.  She  was  a  native  of  the  same  place  as 
her  husband,  where  she  was  born,  reared,  married 
and  died,  after  having  attained  to  the  ripe  old  age 
of  eighty.  Both  parents  of  our  subject  were  de- 
vout members  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  one  of  a  family 
of  ten  children,  eight  sons  and  two  daughters,  two 
of  whom  died  young.  The  others  lived  to  be  mar- 
ried, and  four  besides  our  subject  came  to  America, 
and  settled  in  Illinois.  Richard  was  reared  to  the 
hardest  kind  of  farm  work,  which  had  the  effect  to 
develop  his  muscles  and  make  of  him  an  unusually 
strong  and  healthful  man.  He  was  married  near  his 
native  town,  at  Broughton,  Lincolnshire,  England, 
Oct.  8,  1850,  to  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Ann  Dike,  who  were  Lincolnshire  people, 
and  spent  their  entire  lives  near  the  place  of  their 
birth.  The  father  died  while  in  his  prime,  when  his 
daughter,  Elizabeth,  was  a  mere  child.  The  mother 
died  when  Mrs.  Parnham  was  little  over  two  years 
old,  and  both  were  members  of  the  Wesleyan 
Methodist  Church.  They  were  the  parents  of  two 
children  only,  both  daughters.  The  sister  of  Mrs. 
Parnham  is  now  dead. 

Soon  after  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parn- 
ham, in  the  spring  of  1851,  embarked  at  Liverpool, 
on  the  sailing  vessel  '•Harmony,"  for  the  United 
States.  After  a  voyage  of  five  weeks  the}'  landed 
in  New  York  City,  and  at  once  located  in  Utica, 
whence  they  subsequently  removed  to  Fulton 
County,  111.  They  began  life  poor  in  purse,  but 
worked  together  with  a  mutual  purpose  in  view, 
and  in  due  time  met  with  their  reward.  Having  no 
children  of  their  own,  they  adopted  a  boy,  George 
Bell,  who,  upon  attaining  manhood,  was  married  to 
Miss  Sarah  Scott,  and  lives  on  the  farm  of  Mr. 
Parnham  in  Panola  Township.  Our  subject,  polit- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


401 


ieally,  on  becoming  a  naturalized  citizen,  identified 
himself  with  the  Republican  party,  and  both  he 
and  his  estimable  wife  are  members  in  good  stand- 
of  the  Methodist  Church. 


AMES  W.  BLACKMORE,  who  is  the  owner 
of  eighty  acres  of  as  fine  farming  land  as 
can  be  found  in  this  county,  is  a  leading 
citizen  of  El  Paso  Township,  residing  on 
section  8.  His  birth  occurred  in  Devonshire,  Eng- 
land, March  29,  1829,  and  for  generations  past  his 
ancestors  were  also  natives  of  that  land.  His  father, 
Richard  Blackmore,  was  born  in  Devonshire,  and 
for  some  years  followed  farming  in  that  commu- 
nity. He  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Mary- 
Evans,  who  was  also  born  in  the  same  county,  and 
was  descended  from  pure  English  ancestry.  They 
remained  residents  of  their  native  land  until  called 
from  the  busy  scenes  of  this  life.  Mr.  Blackmore 
died  May  1,  1876,  in  the  eighty-fourth  year  of  his 
age,  and  his  wife  was  called  home  Dec.  3,  1869,  at 
the  age  of  sixty -six  years.  Both  were  members  of 
the  Church  of  England. 

Our  subject  was  the  eldest  in  a  family  of  five 
children,  and  is  the  only  one  who  is  now  living  in 
this  country.  His  sister,  Mary,  who  emigrated  to 
America  in  1869,  died  at  her  home  in  Braidwood, 
111.,  Sept.  3,  1880,  leaving  a  family  of  four  chil- 
dren. 

James  Blackmore  was  reared  and  educated  in  his 
native  land,  and  on  attaining  to  man's  estate,  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Emma  Parkhouse,  the 
wedding  taking  place  on  the  2d  day  of  April,  1851. 
The  lady  was  born  in  1820.  and  reared  in  the  same 
neighborhood  where  our  subject  passed  his  early 
life.  She  was  also  descended  from  an  old  and  re- 
spected English  family,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
Parkhouse,  who  died  at  his  home  in  Devonshire, 
Nov.  1,  1876.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 
followed  that  business  during  the  greater  part  of 
his  life.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Susan 
Gard,  was  born,  rt_/ed  and  married  in  Devonshire, 
and  her  death  occurred  in  1866.  at  an  advanced 


age.  The  Parkhouse  family  were  all  members  of 
the  Episcopal  Church  in  England.  The  children 
of  this  worthy  couple  were  eight  in  number,  three 
sons  and  five  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to  man- 
hood and  womanhood,  but  only  three  of  that  num- 
ber ever  became  residents  of  America — James  is 
now  engaged  in  farming  in  El  Paso  Township;  and 
Annie,  wife  of  Smith  Stowell,  died  at  the  home  of 
her  sister,  Mrs.  Blackmore,  Sept.  19,  1872,  leaving 
two  children.  The  eldest  son  of  the  family,  Sam- 
uel Parkhouse,  served  for  the  long  period  of 
twenty-one  years  in  the  British  army,  and  won  a 
number  of  nVedals  for  bravery  and  meritorious  con- 
duct on  the  field  of  battle.  He  fought  in  all  climes 
and  participated  in  many  important  engagements. 
He  took  part  in  the  Crimean  War,  and  was  one  of 
the  eleven  of  his  regiment  that  escaped  death  or 
capture  at  the  great  battle  of  Inkerman:  He  yet 
makes  his  home  in  England. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blackmore  was 
celebrated  April  2,  1851,  and  on  the  16th  day  of 
the  same  month  the  young  husband  set  sail  from 
England  for  America,  determined  to  try  his  for- 
tune in  the  new  world.  He  landed  in  Quebec  in 
the  month  of  June,  and  for  one  year  worked  in 
Genesee  County  of  the  Empire  State.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1852,  following  the  course  of  human  emigra- 
tion, which  was  steadily  flowing  westward,  he 
landed  in  Illinois,  making  his  first  settlement  in 
Peoria  County,  where  he  remained  until  the  spring 
of  1859,  which  witnessed  his  arrival  in  Woodford 
County.  Since  becoming  a  resident  of  Illinois,  he 
has  followed  the  occupation  of  farming,  and  on 
his  arrival  in  this  county  purchased  the  farm  on 
which  he  now  resides.  His  hmded  possessions  now 
amount  to  eighty  acres  of  highly  improved  and 
cultivated  land,  part  of  which  is  situated  on  section 
8,  and  the  remainder  on  section  17,  in  El  Paso 
Township,  lie  is  one  of  the  prosperous  and  suc- 
cessful farmers  of  the  county.  At  the  time  of  his 
purchase  the  land  was  unbroken,  but  with  charac- 
teristic energy  he  began  its  development,  and  soon 
well  tilled  fields  yielded  abundant  harvests  as  a  re- 
ward for  his  labor.  His  barns  and  outbuildings 
are  all  that  are  necessary  to  a  model  farm;  the 
stock  which  he  raises  is  of  the  best  grades;  the 
latest  improved  machinery  is  there  found,  and  the 


402 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


farm  is  well  drained  with  over  500  rods  of  tile. 
The  home  place  is  pleasantly  and  conveniently 
situated  near  the  corporation  limits  of  El  Paso, 
and  the  entire  surroundings  indicate  its  owners  to 
be  people  of  taste  and  refinement. 

Three  years  after  Mr.  Blackmore  had  settled  in 
this  country,  his  wife  followed  him  to  the  home 
which  he  had  prepared  for  her,  and  by  their  united 
efforts  since  that  time,  they  have  secured  a  com- 
fortable property.  No  children  have  been  born 
unto  them,  but  they  have  an  adopted  son  and 
daughter — Frank  J.,  who  is  now  assisting  his  father 
in  the  cultivation  of  the  farm ;  and  Emma,  wife  of 
Warren  Kent,  who  resides  in  Fairbury,  111.  Mi. 
and  Mrs.  Blackmore  are  members  of  the  Episcopal 
Church.  Their  home  is  noted  for  its  hospitality, 
and  they  have  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances in  the  community.  In  his  political  senti- 
ments Mr.  Blackmore  is  a  stanch  Democrat,  having 
supported  the  party  since  becoming  an  American 
citizen. 

Thus  have  we  given  a  brief  sketch  of  the  life  of 
one  of  Woodford  County's  leading  farmers,  who 
is  certainly  well  worthy  of  representation  in  this 
volume.  He  manifests  a  deep  interest  in  public 
affairs,  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  promotion 
of  the  general  welfare,  and  has  participated  in  the 
upbuilding  of  town  and  county.  He  is  indeed  a 
self-made  man.  On  landing  in  Quebec,  he  was  $15 
in  debt,  but  he  at  once  began  his  search  for  employ- 
ment, and  his  efforts  were  soon  successful.  He 
found  work,  and  by  industry  and  economy  was 
enabled  to  acquire  enough  capital  to  invest  in  land. 
He  is  now  numbered  among  the  substantial  and 
well-to-do  farmers  of  the  community,  and  has  won 
the  confidence  and  high  regard  of  all  by  his  up- 
right life. 


EINHOLD  F.  PUNKE.  Panola  Township 
numbers  among  its  farmers  and  stock- 
raisers,  no  more  worthy  representative  of 
!  its  best  interests  than  the  subject  of  this 
biography.  We  find  him  pleasantly  located  on 
section  24  where  he  has  improved  a  fine  tract  of 


land  and  erected  substantial  buildings.  He  is  a 
gentleman  in  the  prime  of  life,  having  been  born 
Aug.  14,  1840,  and  is  a  native  of  Prussia,  where  he 
lived  till  a  youth  of  nineteen  years.  He  then  de- 
termined to  seek  his  fortunes  on  the  other  side  of 
the  Atlantic  and  set  sail  for  America.  He  has  be- 
come fully  identified  with  the  institutions  of  his 
adopted  countrj'  and  among  the  people  of  this 
county  is  considered  an  honest  man  and  good 
citizen. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  August  and 
Dorothea  (Gasnick")  Punke,  who  were  of  pure  Ger- 
man stock  and  the  father  spent  his  entire  life  on 
his  native  soil;  the  mother  came  to  this  country 
with  her  family  and  died  here.  Their  family  con- 
sisted of  six  children,  all  of  whom  are  living  and 
residents  of  Illinois  and  Germany.  Reinhold  F. 
Punke  received  a  fair  education  in  the  German 
tongue  and  after  coming  to  the  United  States,  ap- 
plied himself  successfully  to  the  acquisition  of 
English  so  that  he  can  converse  intelligently  and 
transact  his  own  business.  After  leaving  school 
he  served  an  apprenticeship  at  cabinet-making 
which  he  followed  in  Germany  until  leaving  there. 
He  set  out  in  the  spring  of  1859  on  a  sailing 
vessel  from  Hamburg,  and  after  an  ocean  voyage 
of  eighty-four  days,  landed  in  Quebec,  Canada. 
From  there  he  proceeded  to  Detroit  and  Chicago, 
and  thence  to  LaSalle  County,  this  State,  where  he 
was  employed  for  a  time  on  a  farm  near  Mendota. 
Later  he  was  a  resident  for  a  short  time  of  Livino-- 

o 

ston  County,  and  from  there  came  to  Woodford 
Count}-,  and  for  three  years  was  employed  as  a 
cabinet- maker  at  El  Paso. 

In  1865  Mr.  Punke  turned  his  attention  to  fann- 
ing pursuits  and  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land 
comprising  a  part  of  his  present  homestead  and 
upon  which  he  settled  in  1866.  Here  he  has  since 
lived.  He  has  added  to  the  home  farm  so  that  he 
has  now  a  quarter  section  well  tilled  and  yielding 
abundantly.  Besides  this  he  has  other  land  and  in 
all  is  the  owner  of  320  acres.  He  has  done  a  large 
amount  of  pioneer  labor  and  experienced  the  hard- 
ships incident  to  life  in  a  new  settlement.  He  may 
be  most  properly  termed  a  self-made  man  as  he 
had  to  make  his  own  way  from  the  time  he  left 
school  in  his  native  Germany.  His  experience  has 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


403 


been  valuable  in  that  it  has  developed  the  best  ele- 
ments of  his  character,  making  him  self-reliant 
and  enabling  him  to  maintain  his  position  as  a  man 
among  men. 

Upon  becoming  a  naturalized  citizen  Mr.  Punke 
identified  himself  with  the  Democratic  party,  but  in 
local  matters  votes  for  the  men  whom  he  considers 
best  qualified  for  office,  irrespective  of  party.  He 
has  served  as  School  Director  in  his  district  for 
many  years  and  has  been  frequently  solicited  to 
accept  more  important  offices,  but  invariably  de- 
clined. Socially,  he  is  a  member  in  good  standing 
of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  of  El  Paso.  He  is  generally 
esteemed  as  a  liberal  and  public-spirited  man,  one 
in  favor  of  everything  to  improve  the  county  and 
elevate  society.  He  is  not  connected  with  any 
church  organization  but  is  in  sympathy  with 
Lutheran  doctrines. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  1865  to  Miss  Wil- 
helmina  Otto,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  seyen 
children,  six  of  whom  are  living,  viz.:  Gustav 
Adolph,  Henry  Herman  A.,  Emelia,  Wilhelmina  A., 
August  R.  and  Clarence.  Clara  died  when  one 
year  old. 


VERRY  BAKER  is  the  son  of  an  honored 
pioneer  of  Woodford  County,  who,  dur- 
ing  his  life,  aided  in  building  up  Partridge 
Township,  and  interested  himself  in  every 
public  enterprise  that  would  in  any  way  advance 
his  township  or  county.  Our  subject  has  become 
closely  identified  with  the  agricultural  interests  of 
his  native  township,  and  in  him  Partridge  finds  one 
of  its  most  skillful  and  wide-awake  farmers.  He 
is  managing  with  excellent  results  the  old  home- 
stead where  he  was  born,  and  is  keeping  it  up  to 
the  same  high  standard  of  cultivation  and  improve- 
ment that  it  had  attained  while  under  his  father's 
supervision. 

Chauncey  Baker,  the  father  of  our  subject  was 
a  native  of  Luzerne  County,  Pa.,  and  was  there 
reared  and  married,  Julia  A.  Staley,  a  native  of 
the  samo  county,  becoming  his  wife.  In  1836  he 
started  westward  with  his  wife  and  the  two  chil- 


dren that  had  been  born  to  them  in  their  Pennsyl- 
vania home,  and  they  made  their  way  slowly  across 
the  wild  country,  forests,  and  prairies,  cooking  and 
camping  by  the  way  as  night  descended,  and  were 
three  months  making  the  journey  to  Illinois.  On 
his  arrival  in  this  county,  Mr.  Baker  made  a  claim 
on  some  land,  but  never  entered  it,  subsequently 
buying  other  land  on  sections  2  and  3,  Partridge 
Township,  and  in  him  the  few  pioneers  that  had 
preceded  him  to  this  region,  found  a  welcome  ac- 
quisition to  their  numbers,  as  he  was  a  stalwart, 
able  man,  a  good  worker,  capable  of  doing  whatso- 
ever he  put  his  hand  to;  a  kind  and  charitable 
neighbor,  and  full  of  true  public  spirit,  pushing  for- 
ward all  schemes  for  the  improvement  of  the  town- 
ship. When  he  first  came  here,  there  were  no 
settlements  on  the  prairies  at  all,  the  early  pioneers 
having  deemed  the  groves  and  the  forests  along 
the  water  courses  the  only  fit  places  for  habitation, 
not  recognizing  the  value  of  the  rich  prairie  soil, 
and  the  superior  advantage  it  possessed  over  the 
timber  land  in  not  having  to  be  cleared  before  cul- 
tivation. There  were  no  railways  here  for  man}' 
years,  and  Mr.  Baker  used  frequently  to  team  his 
grain  to  Chicago.  Deer  and  wild  turkeys  were 
plenty,  and  the  pioneers  often  feasted  on  them. 
Mr.  Baker  cleared  a  good  farm,  erected  a  substan- 
tial set  of  frame  buildings,  and  made  many  other 
valuable  improvements.  In  the  comfortable  home 
that  he  built  up  during  his  residence  hereof  nearly 
half  a  century,  he  rounded  out  a  long  and  honor- 
able life  in  March,  1883.  His  wife  survived  him 
until  1888,  her  death  occurring  that  year  on  the 
old  homestead.  There  were  ten  children  born  to 
them,  eight  of  whom  are  living — Louisa,  Lavina, 
Juliet,  Mary.  Merritt,  Amanda,  Perry,  and  Sarah  J. 
Lavina  married  John  Snyder,  of  whom  see  sketch; 
Sarah  J.  is  the  wife  of  William  Man,  living  near 
Washburn,  in  Marshall  County.  The  other  sisters 
are  living  on  the  homestead. 

Perry  Baker,  the  only  son  now  living,  was  born 
Nov.  6,  1852,  and  was  reared  on  the  farm  that  he 
now  occupies,  and  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  township.  As  soon  as  large  enough 
he  began  to  assist  his  father,  and  gained  from  him 
sound  practical  instruction  in  the  management  of  a 
farm.  He  always  made  his  home  with  his  parents 


404 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


as  long  as  they  were  spared  to  him,  and  has  had 
full  charge  of  the  homestead  a  number  of  years. 
Everything  is  kept  in  good  order,  and  Mr.  Baker 
so  conducts  his  farming  interests  as  to  secure  a  good 
income. 

He  possesses  a  judicious,  well-balanced  mind 
that  enables  him  to  carry  on  his  work  to  the  best 
advantage,  and  in  the  excellent  harvests  that  he 
reaps,  and  the  well  graded  stock  that  he  breeds,  he 
is  well  repaid  for  the  amount  of  labor,  time  and 
money  that  he  expends  in  the  pursuits  of  his  call- 
ing. He  is  interested  in  politics  National  and  lo- 
cal, and  is  a  downright  Democrat  in  his  views. 


BULLOCK  was  one  of  the  first  white 
III  children  born  in  Olio  Township,  this  event 

occurring  Oct.  24,  1836.  His  father  M. 
R.  Bullock  was  a  native  of  Woodford  County,  Ivy., 
and  married  Sarah  II.  Soltanstall  who  was  born  in 
Christian  County,  that  State.  They  came  to  Wood- 
ford  County,  111.,  in  1834,  settling  in  what  is  now 
Cruger  Township.  In  1875  they  removed  to 
Kingman  County,  Kan.  Their  family  consisted  of 
eight  children  of  whom  our  subject  was  the  fourth 
in  order  of  birth.  The  latter  acquired  his  educa- 
tion iu  the  common  schools  mostly,  although  he 
attended  college  for  a  time.  He  was  reared  to  farm 
pursuits  which  he  chose  for  his  life  v.ocation.  Dur- 
ing the  progress  of  the  Civil  War,  he,  in  August, 
1862,  enlisted  in  Company  E,  108th  Illinois  In- 
fantry in  which  he  served  about  three  years.  Upon 
the  organization  of  the  company  he  was  elected 
Second  Lieutenant  and  at  the  organization  of  the 
regiment  was  elected  Captain  of  Company  E.  which 
he  commanded  during  his  term  of  service.  He 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Spanish  Fort,  on  Mo- 
bile Bay,  March  27,1865  and  was  seriously  wounded 
by  a  gunshot  in  the  left  thigh  in  consequence  of 
which  he  was  rendered  unfit  for  further  service. 
Prior  to  this  he  had  participated  in  the  siege  of 
Vicksburg  and  was  in  other  important  engage- 
ments. He  was  discharged  from  the  hospital  and 
the  service  by  a  special  order  of  the  President.  He 


then  returned  to  this  county  and  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  time  spent  as  Sheriff,  to  which  office  he 
was  elected  in  1866,  serving  two  years,  he  has 
given  his  attention  wholly  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  was  at  one  time  elected  Highway  Commissioner, 
but  did  not  serve. 

Mr.  Bullock  was  married  in  this  county  Aug.  15, 
1872  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  William  and  Deli- 
lah McCullough  who  were  natives  of  Maryland. 
The  latter  were  married  in  Pennsylvania  whence 
they  subsequently  removed  to  Virginia,  and  in  1855 
to  this  county  settling  in  Eureka.  They  are  still 
living.  Mrs.  Bullock  was  the  fifth  in  a  family  of 
ten  children  and  was  born  in  Virginia  Aug.  26, 
1850.  She  likewise  is  the  mother  of  ten  children. 
Mr.  Bullock  has  taken  an  active  part  in  political 
affairs  and  uniformly  votes  the  Democratic  ticket. 
His  home  farm  includes  160  acres  of  land  while  he 
has  other  valuable  farm  property.  His  homestead 
is  improved  with  good  buildings  and  yields  a  com- 
fortable income. 


LFRED  ROGERS  follows  the  occupation 
.of  a  farmer  at  his  residence  on  section  4, 
Minouk  Township.  He  is  an  intelligent, 
industrious  and  wide  awake  gentleman,  and 
has  been  a  citizen  of  this  county  since  March, 
1887.  He  is  a  native  Illinoisian,  having  been  born 
in  Belle  Plain,  Marshall  County,  Dec.  25,  1842, 
and  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Miller)  Rogers, 
who  were  natives  of  Columbiana  County,  Ohio, 
and  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.  Our  subject  was 
a  farmer's  boy  and  spent  his  youth  in  the  familiar 
scenes  of  country  life,  being  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  home  district,  where  he  made 
such  progress  as  the  short  terms  afforded.  He  re- 
mained undertime  pn rental  roof  until  he  had  reached 
his  majority,  when  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits for  himself  on  an  adjoining  farm.  He  then 
removed  toBennington  Township.Marshall  County, 
where  he  resided  for  eight  years;  thence  coming  to 
Minonk,  he  established  himself  in  his  present  loca- 
tion. However,  before  settling  in  Minonk  he  sold 


RESIDENCE  OF  P.  H.  BiGGER,SE:c.21.  EL  PASSO  TOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCE  OF  ALFRED   ROGERS  ,  5  EC  .A  .  MINONK  TOWNSHIP. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


407 


his  farm  of  120  acres,  located  in  Marshall  County, 
and  used  the  proceeds  toward  defraying  the  ex- 
penses attendant  upon  the  purchase  of  his  present 
possessions,  which  consist  of  220  acres  of  land  all 
under  a  good  state  of  cultivation  and  which  he 
devotes  to  the  purposes  of  general  farming  and 
stock  raising. 

Mr.  Rogers  and  Miss  Mary  A.  Gingerich,  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  Gingerich.  were  united  in  the 
bonds  of  matrimony  Aug.  27,  1879.  The  father 
of  Mrs.  Rogers  was  a  farmer  of  LaSalle  County, 
111.,  his  farm  being  located  in  Groveland  Town- 
ship. Mrs.  Rogers  is  a  native  of  Tonica,  111.,  in 
which  place  her  parents  settled,  when  they  arrived 
in  this  country  from  Germany,  many  years  ago. 
Mr.  Gingerich  had  previously  worked  as  a  farm 
hand  in  Pennsylvania  and  saved  enough  money 
out  of  his  earnings  to  pay  for  his  homestead  in 
Illinois.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rogers  are  the  parents  of 
three  interesting  and  loveable  children  —  Nora 
Sarah  and  Cora  Barbara  (twins),  and  Wilfred  Al- 
fred. Our  subject  is  an  unswerving  and  stalwart 
Republican,  and  while  a  resident  of  Marshall 
Count3',  held  the  office  of  School  Director.  Since 
his  removal  to  Minonk  he  has  served  the  educa- 
tional interests  of  the  township  in  the  capacity  of 
a  School  Trustee  and  a  Director,  and  is  also  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  has  a  pleasant,  agreeable 
family  and  a  comfortable  home,  a  view  of  which 
with  the  surroundings  appears  in  the  ALBUM.  All 
of  his  property  has  been  secured  by  his  own  dili- 
gence and  economy,  as  he  had  nothing  when  he 
started  out  in  life  for  himself  but  a  good  constitu- 
tion and  a  stout  heart.  A  sketch  of  Samuel  Rogers 
the  father  of  our  subject,  will  be  seen  in  its  appro- 
priate place. 


K*-^- 


ENRY  N.  GROSS.  Among  the  agricultur- 
m  ists  and  stock-raisers  of  Woodford  Count}-, 
a  chief  position  is  due  the  gentleman  whose 
life-record  is  here  given.  He  has  for  sev- 
eral years  been  a  resident  of  this  county,  having 
come  from  McLean  Count}-,  in  1881,  to  his  present 


home,  on  section  20  of  El  Paso  Township.  Here  he 
lias  a  fine,  well-improved  farm  of  sixty  acres,  which 
although  small  is  yet  of  the  best,  as  regards  fertility 
and  cultivation. 

The  subject  of  this-  sketch  was  born  in  York 
County,  Pa.,  May  8,  1838,  where  his  parents,  John 
and  Elizabeth  (Shafer)  Gross,  lived  for  many  years. 
His  grandfather,  George  Gross,  also  lived  there, 
and  was  by  occupation  a  farmer,  being  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  but  born  of  Holland  parents.  George 
Gross  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Felkr,  a 
lady  of  American  birth,  but  of  Dutch  descent.  They 
lived  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  in  their  adopted 
home,  and  finally  passed  to  their  rest,  when  both  had 
passed  the  boundary  between  youth  and  old  age. 
They  were  good  people,  benevolent  by  disposition, 
and  hospitable,  as  indeed  all  pioneers  were,  and 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Among  the 
children  who  were  born  to  them  was  John,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  and  he  was  the  eldest  in 
the  family  of  three.  He  was  carefully  reared  in  his 
father's  home,  and  did  whatever  was  at  hand  to  do 
in  the  farm  work.  His  early  education  was  limited, 
but  a  careful  course  in  reading  after  he  had  arrived 
at  years  of  maturity,  compensated  for  this  early  de- 
ficiency. 

John  Gross,  while  in  early  manhood,  became  the 
husband  of  Elizabeth  Shafer,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, descended  from  German  parents.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  John  Shafer,  who  lived  the 
greater  portion  of  his  life  in  York  County,  Pa., 
and  died  when  ripe  in  years.  Mr.  Shafer  was  a  suc- 
cessful farmer  in  Pennsylvania,  and  accumulated 
considerable  real  estate.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
John  Gross  continued  to  labor  as  an  agriculturist 
for  many  years  in  his  native  county,  until  he  passed 
to  his  final  rest  in  1876,  at  the  age  of  sixtj'  years. 
The  mother,  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  came 
to  Illinois,  where  she  has  since  resided  with  her 
children  in  Woodford  County.  She  lias  reached 
the  age  of  seventy  years. 

Our  subject  was  the  fourth  child  in  a  family  of 
seven,  and  he  was  reared  in  York  County,  and  at- 
tended the  district  school  when  it  was  possible. 
He  became  of  age  in  his  native  county,  and  in  1866 
was  induced  to  seek  a  home  in  the  far  West,  as 
Illinois  was  then  considered.  From  that  time  un- 


408 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


til  the  year  1877  he  was  a  resident  of  Menard 
County,  III.  Then  he  changed  his  location  to  Mc- 
Lean County,  a  change  which,  however,  was  not 
permanent,  as  in  1881  he  sought  Woodford  County 
which  has  been  his  home  ever  since.  Mr.  Gross 
chose  as  his  life  companion,  Miss  Lizzie  Stotler, 
the  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Sophia  (Sorbet1)  Slot-  ] 
ler,  to  whom  he  was  married  Feb.  8,  1881,  in  El 
Paso.  She  was  born  in  Summerset  County,  Pa., 
Jan.  31,  1850,  and  when  a  young  woman  came  to 
Illinois.  She  is  now  the  mother  of  three  children, 
namely:  Lola  B.,  Myrtie  A.  and  Nora  C.,  aged  re- 
spectively, eight,  six  and  four  years.  Although 
yet  young  in  years  they  are  receiving  good  educa- 
tions, and  bid  fair  to  become  in  future  years  orna- 
ments to  whatever  position  they  are  called  to  fill. 
Mr.  Gross  has  always  been  a  strong  supporter  of 
Republican  principles,  and  uniformly  votes  that 
ticket.  Mrs.  Gross,  while  residing  Pennsylvania, 
became  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church. 


ANIEL  GRAFFT  is  a  son  of  David  and 
Anna  (Grove)  Graf  ft.  The  father  is  a 
native  of  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  and  the 
mother  of  Virginia.  After  marriage  they 
settled  in  Preble  County,  Ohio,  where  they  resided 
until  their  death.  Their  family  consisted  of  ten 
children,  three  of  whom  preceded  their  parents  to 
the  silent  land,  seven  remaining  to  endure  the  sor- 
rows and  enjoy  the  blessings  of  life.  Our  subject 
was  the  sixth  child  in  order  of  birth.  He  was  born 
Aug.  6, 1829,  at  his  parents'  home  in  Preble  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  grew  to  manhood,  making  his  home 
in  the  bosom  of  his  family  until  he  was  twenty -one 
years  of  age. 

In  1850  Daniel  Graf  ft  came  to  Woodford  County, 
remaining  one  year.  His  mother  taking  sick  about 
this  time,  furnished  the  occasion  for  his  return  to 
his  parents'  home  in  Preble  County.  On  his 
mother's  death  he  returned  to  this  county,  in  the 
following  summer,  having  been  absent  some  six  or 
seven  months.  He  then  entered  560  acres  and 
spent  his  summer  breaking  the  prairie.  In  the 


fall  of  1853  he  was  married  to  Miss  Dianah  Grove, 
who  was  born  Nov.  13,  1830,  in  Virginia.  This 
union  resulted  in  seven  children:  Albert  M.,  Will- 
iam H.,  Abraham  J.,  Mary  E.,  John  J.  and  David 
E.  Albert  M.  is  deceased  and  one  child  died  in 
infancy.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Grafft  were  Abra- 
ham and  Sarah  A.  (Griner)  Grove,  both  natives  of 
Virginia.  They  came  to  this  county  about  1835, 
making  the  journey  in  the  usual  stj-le  of  pioneer 
times,  settling  in  what  is  now  Olio  Township, 
where  Mr.  Grove  died  in  November,  1868,  being 
seventy-three  years  old.  Mrs.  Grove  is  also  de- 
ceased. This  couple  had  eleven  children,  of  whom 
Mrs.  Grafft  is  the  third. 

Mr.  Grafft  has  pursued  the  occupation  of  a  far- 
mer during  all  his  life,  with  the  exception  of  three 
years  spent  in  the  service  of  his  country  during 
the  late  war.  He  enlisted  in  Company  A,  129th 
Illinois  Infantry,  in  August,  1862,  bravely  endur- 
ing the  heat  of  the  lowlands  and  making  light  of 
the  hardships  entailed  by  the  frosts  of  the  moun- 
tains, always  endeavoring  to  be  in  the  forefront  of 
the  battle;  undaunted  by  danger  and  fearless 
of  results,  he  upheld  the  starry  flag  throughout  the 
fierce  fighting  of  Chanttanooga,  Resaca,  Big 
Shanty,  and  throughout  the  continual  assaults  on  the 
Confederate  position  before  Atlanta,  sharing  in  the 
wild  enthusiasm  with  which  Sherman's  boys  greeted 
the  downfall  of  this  key  to  the  Southern  Confeder- 
acy. Afterward  at  Peach  Tree,  Ark.,  he  did  yeo- 
man duty,  and  shared  the  honors  showered  upon 
our  returning  soldiers.  Coming  North  to  Chicago, 
they  were  mustered  out  and  honorably  discharged, 
and  our  subject  immediately  returned  to  his  home 
and  family  in  this  county,  where  his  wife  had 
bought  a  farm  during  his  absence.  This  place  he 
has  added  to  his  original  possessions,  owning  at  the 
present  time  220  acres.  By  intelligent  industry  he 
has  carefully  improved  his  place,  putting  up  build- 
ings and  fences,  and  planting  orchards,  etc. 

In  addition  to  growing  the  usual  cereals  and 
other  useful  products  of  a  farm,  Mr.  Grafft  pays 
attention  to  raising  fine  stock,  including  hogs,  cat- 
tle and  horses.  Politically,  he  votes  with  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  is  a  member  of  Dan  Miles 
Post  No.  270,  G.  A.  R.  Having  always  shown  a 
deep  interest  in  educational  matters,  his  neighbors 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


409 


have  considered  him  fitted  to  look  after  school 
affairs,  find  have  kept  him  in  the  office  of  School 
Director  for  a  number  of  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Grafft  attend  the  Methodist  Church,  of  which  body 
Mrs.  Grafft  is  an  active  and  efficient  member. 


B.  CRAWFORD,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  oldest 
practitioners  of  this  county,  and  the  oldest 
resident  physician  of  Eureka,  is  a  native  of 
Illinois,  having  been  born  on  Crawford's  Prairie, 
Franklin  County,  Sept.  1,  1839.  His  father,  John 
Crawford,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  this  county, 
was  born  in  Virginia,  whence  he  emigrated  to  Illi- 
nois as  early  as  1811,  and  occupied  himself  as  a 
farmer  and  teacher  combined.  He  was  the  first 
Sheriff  of  Franklin  County,  and  died  in  1847. 
The  mother,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Randolph)  Crawford, 
was  born  in  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  and  died  in 
Franklin  County,  111.,  in  1844.  They  were  the 
parents  of  five  children,  of  whom  our  subject  was 
next  to  the  youngest. 

The  early  life  of  Dr.  Crawford  was  spent  on  his 
father's  farm  in  Franklin  County.  When  a  lad  of 
seven  years  he  was  caught  in  a  wind  storm,  during 
which  a  tree  fell  upon  him  and  both  his  legs  were 
broken.  He,  however,  recovered  from  this  acci- 
dent and  acquired  a  practical  education,  attending 
the  common  school  until  twenty  years  old.  He 
then  entered  the  Union  Academy  at  Jonesboro, 
where  he  pursued  his  studies  for  a  time,  and  then 
for  two  years  was  engaged  in  teaching.  In  1862 
he  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  the  in- 
struction of  Dr.  M.  M.  Goodman,  of  Jonesboro, 
with  whom  he  remained  one  year.  Later  he  was  a 
student  one  year  in  the  medical  department  of 
Michigan  University,  at  Ann  Arbor,  and  afterward 
he  entered  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the  spring  of 
1865. 

Our  subject  now  returned  to  Illinois  with  the 
intention  of  joining  the  army,  but  changed  his 
mind  and  located  in  Washington,  111.  Shortly 
afterward,  however,  he  changed  his  residence  to 


Eureka  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession,  in 
which  he  has  become  very  successful.  He  is  an 
active  member  of  the  Democratic  party,  and,  so- 
cially, belongs  to  William  C.  Hobbs  Lodge  No. 
306,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  also  identified  with  the 
Chapter  in  Washington  and  the  Commandery  in 
Peoria.  In  religious  matters  he  is  identified  with 
the  Christian  Church.  He  has  for  several  years 
been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Eureka 
College,  and  President  of  Woodford  County  Medi- 
cal Society,  aside  from  being  a  member  of  the  State 
Medical  Society. 

Dr.  Crawford  was  married  in  this  county  Oct. 
22,  1868,  to  Miss  Sarah  J.,  daughter  of  the  late 
Caleb  Davidson,  who  was  one  of  the  pioneer  set- 
tlers of  this  county,  where  Mrs.  Crawford  was  born 
Oct.  22,  1843.  Mr.  Davidson  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky. 


AMUEL  H.  McCLURE,  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative farmers  of  Cruger  Township,  re- 
sides on  section  36,  and  is  Supervisor  of 
the  township.  James  McClure,.  father  of 
our  subject,  and  his  wife  Mary  G.  Campbell,  were 
both  natives  of  Kentucky,  being  of  Scotch  ances- 
try. After  marriage  they  settled  in  Knox  Count}', 
Ind.,  removing  from  there  to  Vermilion  County, 
111.,  in  1827,  and  afterward  changing  their  abode 
to  Knox  County,  this  State.  Not  being  able  to  ob- 
tain a  clear  title  to  their  land,  they  removed  about 
1830  to  the  vicinity  of  Washington,  Tazewell  Co., 
111.  Then  leaving  the  farm,  they  removed  into  the 
village  of  Washington,  residing  there  several  years, 
when  they  again  removed,  making  Peoria  their 
home  for  some  time.  Their  next  removal  was  to 
this  county,  where  they  bought  a  farm  near  Ver- 
sailles, afterward  moving  to  Oskaloosa,  Iowa,  and 
there  lived  about  eight  years.  They  theirreturned 
to  Washington,  111.,  in  which  place  James  McClure 
died  in  1870.  His  wife  laid  aside  her  mortal  body 
in  Cruger  Township,  at  the  home  of  her  son,  our 
subject,  April  23,  1879. 

The  father  of  our  subject  bore  himself  as  a  pa- 
triotic   citizen    of    our   country    should,    battling 


410 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


bravely  during  the  sanguinary  campaign  waged 
against  the  red  men  of  the  forest,  gallantly  charg- 
ing under  the  intrepid  Harrison,  at  the  famous  bat- 
tle of  Tippecanoe.  The  parental  family  consisted 
of  ten  children,  Samuel  H.,  being  the  sixth.  He 
was  born  in  Vermilion  County,  111.,  Nov.  2,  1827, 
going  with  his  parents  to  Tazewell  County,  and 
afterward  to  Oskaloosa,  Iowa.  He  remained  under 
the  parental  roof  until  his  eighteenth  year,  when  he 
entered  the  employ  of  a  mercantile  firm  in  Wash- 
ington, remaining  with  them  about  three  years; 
he  afterward  engaged  in  the  business  of  general 
merchandise,  being  employed  by  his  father,  and  the 
firm  of  which  he  was  a  member,  until  1856. 

On  June  11, 1856,  Samuel  H.  McClure  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Missouri  Meek,  a  daughter 
of  Henry  B.  and  Thena  Meek,  of  Kentucky,  who 
were  among  the  first  settlers  of  this  county.  Mr. 
Meek  departed  this  life  in  Cruger  Township,  leav- 
ing his' wife  to  the  loving  care  of  her  daughter. 

In  March,  1855,  Mr.  McClure  removed  his  fam- 
ily to  Oskaloosa,  Iowa,  and  engaged  in  the  general 
merchandising  business,  carrying  on  a  large  and 
successful  business  for  some  seven  years,  when,  tir- 
ing of  the  place,  he  came  to  this  county,  and  settled 
in  Cruger  Township.  Since  that  time  he  has  been 
one  of  our  most  prominent  men,  employing  him- 
self  in  an  intelligent  oversight  and  operation  of  his 
large  farm,  also  engaging  largely  in  stock-raising. 
He  owns  in  the  county,  something  over  800  acres, 
and  has  erected  a  spacious  and  elegant  home  in  the 
midst  of  fine  grounds,  over  which  his  wife  presides 
with  dignity  and  grace.  Mrs.  McClure  is  a  native 
of  this  county,  where  she  was  born  April  7,  1836. 
Two  children  have  been  given  to  them,  one  of 
whom,  Henry  E.,  was  laid  to  rest  in  his  sixth  year. 
The  other,  Miss  Annie  .1.,  is  a  young  lady  of  great 
amiability,  and  of  a  brilliant  mind,  being  a  gradu- 
ate of  the  Eureka  College. 

Mr.  McClure  has  been  Supervisor  of  Cruger 
Township  five  terms,  and  in  1888-89,  his  fellow- 
members  of  the  Board  testified  to  their  high  appre- 
ciation of  his  merits,  by  electing  him  Chairman. 
He  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  two  terms,  and  has 
held  a  number  of  other  minor  offices  in  the  town- 
ship. He  is  an  ardent  politician,  and  has  always 
taken  an  active  part  in  political  affairs,  supporting 


in  all  proper  ways  the  men  and  measures  approved 
of  (33-  the  Democratic  party.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mc- 
Clure are  intelligent  and  devoted  Christian  people, 
holding  their  membership  in  the  Christian  Church. 
A  lithographic  view  of  Mr.  McClure's  residence, 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume,  and  represents 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  homes  to  be  found  in 
all  Woodford  County. 


J"  j  OSEPH  TI-IEENA  is  a  fine  representative  of 
I    our  self-made  men,  as  by  his  own  efforts  he 
!    has  not  only  acquired   a  handsome  compet- 
'    ence,  but  has  placed  himself  among  the  most 
prominent  citizens  of  Metamora,  whose  interests  he 
has  been   an   important  factor  in  promoting  as  a 
practical,  successful  business  man,  and  as  a  farmer 
and  an  extensive  raiser,  buyer  and  shipper  of  stock. 
lie  has  also  increased  his  exchequer  by  dealing    in 
land.     In  1879  he  bought  the  property  where   he 
now  resides,  and  in  1888  built  a  large  addition  to 
the  house,  making  it  one  of  the  most  commodious 
and    conveniently   arranged  dwellings   in   the  vi- 
cinity. 

Joseph  Theena  was  born  near  the  far-famed  river 
Rhine,  in  Prussia,  Jan.  17,  1840.  His  father,  whose 
given  name  was  Mathias,  was  a  native  of  the  sume 
locality,  and  was  there  reared  and  married,  Anna 
M.  Poffenholz  becoming  his  wife.  He  early  learned 
the  stone-mason's  trade,  which  he  followed  in  the 
Fatherland  until  1 846.  In  that  year  he  determined 
to  avail  himself  of  the  superior  advantages  pos- 
sessed by  America  over  the  mother  country,  for  a 
poor  man  to  rise  in  the  world,  and  crossing  the  At- 
lantic with  his  wife  and  three  children,  he  made  his 
way  directly  to  Chicago,  which  was  then  a  small 
place,  giving  no  indications  that  it  was  destined  in 
less  than  half  a  century  to  be  the  second  city  in 
size  on  this  Continent.  He  stayed  there  but  two 
years,  and  then  removed  with  his  family  to  Peoria, 
the  journey  being  accomplished  by  team,  as  it  was 
before  the  time  of  railways  in  this  State.  The  first 
year  he  was  employed  at  various  kinds  of  work,  and 
then  resumed  his  trade  of  a  stone-mason,  besides 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


411 


working  at  the  brick  and  plaster-mason's  trade. 
From  the  proceeds  of  his  hard  toil  lie  purchased  a 
comfortable  home  there,  and  was  doing  well  finan- 
cially, when  the  terrible  war  broke  out.  He  laid 
aside  all  personal  considerations,  and  cast  in  his 
lot  with  the  other  brave  defenders  of  our  country's 
honor,  becoming  a  member  of  the  108th  Illinois 
Infantry.  He  served  faithfully  with  his  regiment 
two  years,  and  then,  his  health  seriously  impaired 
by  the  hardships  of  a  soldier's  lot,  he  returned 
home  on  a  furlough,  and  died  very  soon  afterward, 
thus  sacrificing  his  life  for  the  country  of  his  adop- 
tion, as  much  as  if  he  had  fallen  in  battle.  His 
widow  survived  him  a  number  of  years,  her  death 
occurring  in  October,  1885.  That  worthy  couple 
had  four  children  who  grew  to  maturity,  as  fol- 
lows: Anna,  who  married  Robert  Creters,  and  lives 
in  Kansas;  Margaret,  who  married  John  Goddard, 
and  lives  in  Chillicothe,  111. ;  Michael,  also  a  resi- 
dent of  that  city;  and  our  subject. 

The  latter  was  the  eldest  of  the  family,  and  be- 
ing but  six  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  this  coun- 
try with  his  parents,  he  has  but  little  recollection 
of  his  native  home.  He  was  reared  and  educated 
in  Peoria,  and  early  commenced  to  learn  the  trade 
of  a  butcher.  He  first  engaged  with  John  C.  Cal- 
houn,  with  whom  he  worked  four  years.  He  then 
was  employed  by  Ralph  Phillips,  remaining  witli 
him  eleven  years.  In  the  meantime  he  was  very 
industrious  and  prudent,  so  that  he  was  finally  en- 
abled to  invest  his  earnings  by  establishing  himself 
in  business,  and  in  1869  he  came  to  Mctamora  for 
that  purpose,  and  has  ever  since  been  a  most  im- 
portant factor  in  the  community,  contributing  his 
quota  to  its  advancement  and  material  prosperity. 
On  his  arrival  here  he  purchased  a  lot  of  land  with 
the  frontage  of  eighty  feet  east  of  the  square,  upon 
which  stood  a  small  building  which  he  utilized  as 
a  meat-market,  and  at  once  commenced  a  success- 
ful career  as  a  business  man.  That  same  fall  Mr. 
Theena  bought  a  residence  three  blocks  north  of  the 
square,  and  in  1870  he  bought  three  acres  in  the 
northeastern  part  of  the  city.  In  1874  he  made 
further  investments,  purchasing  eighty  acres  of 
pasture  land  one  and  one-quarter  miles  ^lorth  of 
the  city,  buying  his  present  place  of  residence  in 
1879.  In  1883  he  bought  fifty -six  acres  of  im- 


proved farm  land  within  the  town  limits,  and  in 
1889  purchased  thirty  acres  adjoining,  and  during 
the  time  he  bought  and  sold  various  other  tracts 
of  land  very  profitably.  In  1889  he  rented  his 
market,  and  at  the  present  time  is  engaged  mostly 
in  farming,  raising,  buying,  and  shipping  stock. 

April  19,  1868,  occurred  a  most  important  event 
in  the  life  of  Mr.  Theena,  namely  his  marriage 
with  Miss  Catherine  Kalista,  in  whom  he  has  found 
.in  admirable  wife  and  helpmate.  She  was  horn  'in 
the  city  of  Vienna,"  Austria,  Nov.  11,  1847,  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Anna  Kalista,  natives  of 
Austria.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Theena  have  ten  children 
living — Joseph  W.,  Celia  M.,  Michael  F.,  Carrie  K., 
Lillie  B.  and  Ella  J.  (twins),  John  Leo,  Emily  M., 
George  S.,  and  Edward  J.  The  family  are  devoted 
members  of  the  St.  Mary's  Reformed  Catholic 
Church. 

Mr.  Theena  is  a  man  of  good  habits  and  sterling 
principles;  prompt  and  systematic  in  his  method  of 
conducting  business,  and  always  dealing  fairly  and 
honestly  by  all.  In  him  Metamora  has  found  an 
invaluable  citizen,  one  who  earnestly  supports  all 
schemes  for  its  improvement,  and  gives  liberally 
towards  all  worthy  objects.  A  man  of  such  fine 
traits  of  character  cannot  fail  to  make  an  honor- 
able and  useful  public  official,  and  his  fellow-citi- 
zens, in  just  recognition  of  that  fact,  have  selected 
him  as  a  most  desirable  member  of  the  Town  Board, 
with  which  he  has  been  connected  for  several 
terms,  and  is  still,  and  is  also  Chairman  of  the  Wa- 
ter Committee.  In  National  politics,  he  is  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Democratic  party,  but  in  local  affairs 
he  acts  independently. 


fif/ACOB  STITMBAUGH,  a  general  farmer  of 
Palestine  Township,  residing  on  section  12, 
!  has  for  the  past  thirty  years  been  a  resident 
(fig//  of  this  county.  He  was  born  in  Franklin 
County,  Pa.,  in  1820,  and  is  a  son  of  Peter  and 
Betsy  (Bowman)  Stumbaugh,  both  of  whom  were 
also  natives  of  the  Keystone  State.  When  he  was 
a  lad  of  fifteen  years,  the  death  of  his  mother  oc- 


412 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


currecl,  after  which  the  father  was  again  married. 
He  later  removed  with  his  family  to  Ohio,  settling 
in  Stark  County,  where  the  death  of  both  himself 
and  wife  occurred. 

Our  subject  remained  under  the  parental  roof 
until  attaining  his  majority,  when  he  started  out  in 
life  for  himself.  Believing  that  the  West  furnished 
better  opportunities  and  advantages  to  young  men 
than  were  afforded  by  the  older  States  of  the  East, 
in  1848  he  bade  good-by  to  home  and  friends,  and 
started  for  Illinois.  He  made  his  first  location  in 
Tazewell  County,  where  he  continued  to  reside  for 
a  number  of  years.  At  that  time  Woodford  County 
was  almost  an  unbroken  wilderness,  there  being  but 
few  settlements,  and  Mr.  Stumbaiigh  then  thought 
that  tliis  part  of  the  State  would  never  become 
populated  by  white  people.  After  some  years 
passed,  however,  and  he  saw  that  the  number  of  its 
inhabitants  was  rapidly  increasing,  he  changed  his 
mind,  and  at  length  came  to  the  conclusion  that  in 
this  once  wild  and  unsettled  region,  he  would  make 
his  future  home.  Acting  upon  that  determination, 
he  located  in  Woodford  County,  in  1859,  and  at 
once  turned  his  attention  to  farming.  He  operated 
various  farms  until  1863,  when  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land  on  section  12,  Palestine  .  Township, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  With  charac- 
teristic energy,  he  at  once  began  the  development 
of  the  land,  and  now  has  the  entire  amount  under 
a  high  state  of  cultivation,  its  well  tilled  fields  pay- 
ing a  golden  tribute  to  his  care  and  labor.  He  has 
also  made  many  useful  and  beautiful  improve- 
ments, and  the  farm  is  considered  one  of  the  best 
in  the  township. 

Mr.  Stumbaugb  was  still  a  single  man  when  he 
emigrated  to  the  West,  but  on  the  28th  of  May, 
1858.  in  Peoria  County,  111.,  he  led  to  the  marriage 
altar  Miss  Eve  Grove,  a  native  of  Indiana,  born 
Dec.  29,  1832.  Her  parents,  Jacob  and  Margaret 
(Housier)  Grove,  were  married  in  that  State,  and 
while  there  residing,  four  children  were  born  unto 
them,  three  .of  whom  lived  to  mature  years.  In 
1836,  accompanied  by  his  family,  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois, and  settled  near  Washington,  Tazewell  County, 
where  his  death  occurred  several  years  later,  about 
1855,  when  in  the  prime  of  life.  He  is  numbered 
among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Tazewell  County,  and 


was  one  who  bore  an  active  part  in  its  upbuilding 
and  advancement.  He  participated  in  its  growth 
and  progress,  and  when  called  upon  to  aid  in  the 
promotion  of  its  public  enterprises,  liberally  re- 
sponded. Mrs.  Grove  was  again  married,  becom- 
ing the  wife  of  Philip  Varble,  both  of  whom  passed 
away  in  Woodford  County. 

No  children  have  been  born  of  the  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Stumbaiigh,  but  they  have  reared  five 
adopted  children,  namely:  Thomas  Lilly,  who  was 
married,  and  has  three  children;  Clarence  E..  Harry 
T.,  and  Lula  A.,  who  have  since  the  death  of  their 
mother,  made  their  home  with  our  subject  and  his 
wife;  Ellen,  who  also  found  a  home  with  this 
worthy  couple,  is  now  the  wife  of  Stephen  Thomp- 
son a  resident  farmer  of  Palestine  Township.  In 
politics,  Mr.  Stumbaugh  is  a  Democrat.  lie  and  his 
wife  attend  the  Christian  Church,  and  hold  a  high 
position  in  the  social  world,  being  greatly  respected 
by  all  who  know  them. 


ENRY  KINGDON.  Among  all  the  pros- 
perous, influential  residents  of  Woodford 
County,  none  are  more  worthy  of  represen- 
tation in  a  volume  of  this  character  than 
the  gentleman  who  is  the  subject  of  this  review. 
Too  much  praise  can  scarcely  be  given  to  those, 
who,  after  years  of  toil,  at  last  rest  in  the  full  frui- 
tion of  their  hopes  of  fortune,  and  secure  from 
want,  remain  in  their  pleasant  homes  surrounded 
by  loving  and  devoted  children.  That  Woodford 
County  is  ranked  among  the  best  counties  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  is  due  in  no  small  measure  to  the 
energy  and  foresight  of  Mr.  Kingdon,  who  has 
given  liberally  of  his  means  and  of  his  time  to  pro- 
mote the  interests  of  the  county,  and  who  has 
always  been  in  favor  of  any  measure  that  tends  to 
elevate  the  condition  of  society.  He  and  his  family 
occupy  one  of  the  finest  country  residences  in  all 
the  county,  and  there  welcome  their  man}-  friends. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kingdon  have  been  eye  witnesses  of 
the  growth  and  development  of  the  country  around 
them,  for  when  they  became  citizens  of  their  pres- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


413 


ent  home,  the  Indians  were  just  retreating  before 
the  advancing  steps  of  the  white  man,  and  the 
light  of  their  camp  fires  could  even  then  be  dis- 
cerned in  the  far  distance.  In  plowing  up  the  field 
so  lately  abandoned  by  the  savages,  Mr.  Kingdon 
often  came  across  the  relics  of  their  presence  in  the 
shape  of  Indian  arrows,  etc. 

Mr.  Kingdon  and  his  wife  are  active  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he  has 
been  a  Trustee  for  a  long  time.  Mrs.  Kingdon  is 
a  very  prominent  member  of  the  Ladies'  Foreign 
Missionary  Society  at  El  Paso,  and  contributes 
liberally  to  the  maintenance  of  missionaries  in  for- 
eign fields,  and  to  the  spread  of  the  Gospel  among 
heathen  nations.  Politically,  Mr.  Kingdon  is  an 
active  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  has  consented  to  hold  at  various 
times  the  oilice  of  School  Director;  but  he  cannot 
be  prevailed  upon  to  leave  the  pleasure  of  his 
happy  home  to  enter  the  political  arena,  even 
though  high  positions  were  offered  him.  He  justly 
considers  that  the  discomforts  and  trials  of  public 
cilice  are  not  compensated  for  by  the  gains,  finan- 
cial and  political,  to  be  derived  therefrom. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  June  7, 
1830,  in  Devonshire,  England,  to  Thomas  and  Ann 
Kingdon,  also  natives  of  England.  He  was  the 
youngest  of  their  children,  and  was  reared  after 
the  usual  manner  of  the  boys  of  that  day,  devoting 
more  time  to  outdoor,  manual  labor,  than  to  culti- 
vating the  mind  and  developing  the  intellect.  He 
did  not  have  the  advantages  offered  young  men 
now,  but  by  a  careful  course  of  reading,  and  b"y 
keeping  himself  posted  on  the  topics  of  the  day,  he 
is  now  one  of  the  well-read  men  of  the  vicinity. 
That  this  is  so  is  due  only  to  his  own  efforts.  lie 
remained  in  the  land  of  his  nativity  until  the 
spring  of  1852,  when  he  was  induced  to  try  his  for- 
tune in  America.  On  the  3d  of  April,  that  year, 
he  took  passage  from  Plymouth,  and  embarking  in 
a  sail-vessel  reached  Quebec,  Canada,  after  a  voy- 
age of  one  month,  landing  in  the  latter  city  on 
May  3d.  He  did  not,  however,  remain  in  this 
British  Province,  but  came  to  Genesee  County, 
N.  Y.,  and  for  a  time  worked  as  a  laborer  on 
a  farm  near  Batavia.  Subsequently,  in  the  fall  of 
J854,  he  came  West  to  Illinois,  and  passed  the  win- 


ter in  Kane  County.  The  spring  of  1855  found 
him  a  resident  of  Peoria  County,  111.,  which  was 
his  home  until  1857,  when  he  removed  to  Black 
Hawk  County,  Iowa,  and  there  farmed  for  one 
year.  In  the  spring  of  1858  he  returned  to  Peoria 
County,  111.,  and  there  remained  for  one  year. 
Again  he  changed  his  abode,  but  this  time  he  was 
so  pleased  with  the  aspect  of  the  landscape,  and  the 
fertility  of  the  soil,  that  it  has  been  his  last  re 
moval,  and  it  is  the  hope  of  his  many  friends  that 
no  other  will  take  place.  When  he  first  came  here 
he  rented  his  present  farm,  which  subsequent  in- 
dustry and  business  ability  enabled  him  to  pur- 
chase. 

Perhaps  the  life  of  Mr.  Kingdon  would  not  have 
been  so  successful  had  it  not  been  for  the  material 
assistance  of  his  wife.  Certainly  it  is  true  that  it 
would  have  been  a  less  happy  one.  With  her  he 
was  united  in  marriage,  Jan.  11,  1855,  in  Kendall 
County,  111.,  and  she  has  been  a  devoted,  sympa- 
thizing helpmate  ever  since  that  time.  Her  maiden 
name  was  Mary  A.  Hodge,  born  Nov.  6,  1835,  to 
Richard  and  Mary  Hodge.  Mrs.  Kingdon,  as  also 
were  her  parents,  is  a  native  of  Devonshire,  En- 
gland. She  was  early  deprived  of  a  mother's  care, 
her  mother  dying  when  she  was  only  eleven  years 
old.  She  remained  with  her  father  in  England 
until  she  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  she  came 
with  her  father  and  stepmother  to  America,  and 
located  for  a  time  in  Batavia,  N.  Y.  In  the  fall  of 
1853  they  sought  the  Far  W^est,  and  made  a  home 
in  Kane  County,  111.  The  latter  part  of  the  life  of 
Mr.  Hodge  was  passed  in  Woodford  County,  where 
he  made  many  friends,  and  was  universally  es- 
teemed and  respected  as  one  of  the  best  citizens  of 
the  county.  He  was  an  early  settler  of  thi  v»arl  of 
Illinois,  and  passed  to  his  final  rest  in  18ji' 
death  it  was  felt  that  one  of  the  best  cit/ 
county  was  taken  away. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kingdon  became  the 
children,  eight  of  whom  survive,  r 
who  became  the  wife  of  George  J 
William     H.,    Lewis    C.,    Percy 
George,  Ella  and  Lillic;  the  two 

Mr.  Hodge,  the  father  of  M 
marriages    had   five  children 
Mrs.  Kingdon;  Jane,  wife  ' 


414 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


is  a  cousin  of  our  subject,  is  a  resident  of  Califor- 
nia; Eliza,  who  married  Thomas  Down,  of  Iowa; 
Robert  R.,  now  residing  in  Iroquois  County,  111.; 
Elizabeth,  who  is  the  wife  of  John  Santer,  and  liv- 
ing in  Sumner  County,  Kan. 

When  Mr.  Kingdon  first  came  to  Panola  he  pur- 
chased forty  acres  of  wet,  uncultivated  land,  so 
swampy  ns  to  be  uninhabitable.  This  he  reclaimed 
to  a  fertile  condition,  and  now  is  the  owner  of  280 
acres  in  this  county,  besides  eighty  acres  in  Mc- 
Lean County,  111.  In  all,  his  real-estate  comprises 
360  acres  of  land,  all  improved  and  well  cultivated. 
When  he  bought  it  there  had  been  no  improve- 
ments made,  but  it  is  now  a  home  of  which  anyone 
might  well  be  proud,  especially  as  it  is  the  result  of 
his  own  industry. 


RTEMAS  O.  SHUR.  In  former  years  Mr. 
Shur  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading 
business  men  of  El  Paso.  He  established 
its  first  bank  in  the  fall  of  1  867,  and  was 
connected  with  it  until  1879.  He  then  withdrew 
his  interests,  and  has  since  given  his  attention  to 
the  management  of  the  large  amount  of  real  estate 
which  he  owns  and  controls.  Aside  from  this,  he 
is  practically  retired  from  active  business,  and  is 
wisely  spending  his  later  years  in  the  enjoyment 
of  the  property  which  he  accumulated  in  his 
younger  manhood. 

In  Morrow  County,  Ohio,  our  subject  was  born 
Jan.  4,  1837.  He  comes  of  substantial  stock,  his 
father  having  been  William  Shur,  a  native  of  Wash- 
ington County,  Pa.,  and  of  German  extraction. 
The  paternal  grandfather,  Jacob  Shur,  was  likewise 
a  Penusylvanian  by  birth,  and  removed  to  the  young 
commonwealth  of  Ohio  about  1809,  six  years  after 
it  had  been  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  State.  He 
located  in  the  woods  of  Chester  Township,  then 
Knox,  now  Morrow  County,  at  a  time  when  goods 
were  obliged  to  be  carted  from  Toledo  and  Zanes- 
ville.  a  distance  of  nearly  100  miles.  He  con- 
structed a  comfort'il.lo  home  by  the  exercise  of 
arduous  labor  and  great  perseverance,  and  died 


about  1844,  when  sixty-eight  years  old.  His  wife, 
who  in  her  girlhood  was  Margaret  Porter,  survived 
him  many  years,  dying  Nov.  27,  1876,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety-one,  in  Delaware  County, 
Ohio.  She  was  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  while 
grandfather  Shur  traced  his  ancestry  to  Switzer- 
land. Both  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  were  of  that  kindly,  hospitable  and 
genial  disposition  which  made  them  universally  be- 
loved and  their  home  one  of  the  favorite  places  of 
resort  in  that  region. 

The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Leon- 
ard Shur,  a  native  of  Germany,  and  who  was  edu- 
cated for  the  Lutheran  ministry.  When  twenty-one 
years  old,  he  emigrated  with  a  brother  to  America, 
settling  at  Little  York,  Pa.,  and  was  there  married 
to  Miss  Mary  Ishpaw,  who  was  of  German  parent- 
age, but  it  is  not  known  whether  she  was  born  in 
Germany  or  America.  In  1794  they  removed  to 
Washington  County,  Pa.,  settling  on  land  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  town  of  Claysville,  where  it  is  prob- 
able they  were  among  the  earliest  pioneers.  Later 
they  removed  to  Knox  County,  and  when  they 
were  quite  aged,  changed  their  residence  to  what  is 
now  Shelby,  in  Richland  County,  where  they  were 
also  pioneers.  There  they  spent  their  last  days, 
dying  when  quite  aged. 

Leonard  Shur,  after  coining  to  America  aban- 
doned the  calling  to  which  he  had  been  elected,  and 
it  is  believed  occupied  himself  in  farming  pursuits. 
To  him  and  his  good  wife  there  were  born  nine 
children,  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  namely: 
Jacob,  Simon,  George,  Leonard,  Jr., William,  Eliza- 
beth, Mary,  Margaret  and  Eve.  All  of  these  lived 
to  be  over  seventy  years  old,  and  some  of  them 
passed  beyond  their  ninetieth  year.  To  Jacob,  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  there  were  born  eleven 
children  by  his  wife,  Miss  Porter,  whom  he  had 
married  in  Claysville,  Pa.,  in  1803.  Three  chil- 
dren were  there  born  to  them — AVilliam,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  who  was  born  Sept.  17,  1806;  John 
and  Eliza.  Upon  removing  to  Ohio,  they  settled 
in  what  was  then  Knox,  but  is  now  Morrow  County, 
and  which  was  then  quite  a  frontier.  The}-  put  up 
a  log  cabin  in  the  woods,  which  sheltered  them 

O 

many  years,  and  during  the  War  of  1812  were 
obliged  to  flee  to  the  block  house  for  protection 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


415 


from  the  Indians.  After  the  War  of  1812  they 
still  continued  to  live  upon  their  farm,  where  the 
grandfather  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

To  Jacob  Shur,  after  his  removal  to  Morrow 
County,  Ohio,  there  were  born  eight  children, 
namely:  Maria,  born  Feb.  5,  1811,  deceased;  Be- 
linda, May  26,  1814;  Sarah  P.,  June  20,  1818; 
Phebe  Ann,  July  23, 1820;  Cyrus  P.,  Oct.  22,  1822; 
Jacob  Jackson,  Nov.  18,  1824;  Samuel  P.,  Decem- 
ber, 1826;  and  Milton  M.,  Nov.  10,1831.  All 
these  are  living.  William,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  quite  young  when  his  parents  took  up 
their  abode  in  Morrow  County,  where  he  lived 
until  attaining  his  majority.  He  at  an  early  age 
gave  indication  of  being  possessed  of  unusually 
good  business  talent,  and  prior  to  his  marriage  be- 
gan merchf.ndising,  and  was  very  successful.  He 
enlarged  his  business,  establishing  branches  at  dif- 
ferent points,  and  at  one  time  had  five  different 
stores,  located  respectively  in  Chesterville,Carding- 
ton,  Westfield,  Delhi  and  Newton,  now  Prospect. 
Different  from  most  money-making  men,  he  was 
very  liberal,  giving  largely  to  various  enterprises, 
and  always  anxious  to  accommodate  his  friends. 
He  thus  did  not  become  wealthy,  only  accitmulat 
ing  a  fair  competence.  Finally,  on  account  of 
failing  health,  he  repaired  to  Idaho  Springs,  Col., 
where  his  death  took  place  of  asthma  and  pneumo- 
nia, March  29,  1878.  Politically,  he  belonged  to 
the  old  AVhig  party  until  it  was  superceded  by 
the  Republican  party,  and  in  religious  matters  he 
was  a  devout  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Grandfather  Jacob  Shur  was  a  stanch 
Democrat. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  married  in  Morrow 
County,  Ohio,  Dec.  6,  1832,  to  Miss  Marilla  Sweet- 
land.  She  was  born  in  Sunbury,  Ohio,  Sept.  14, 
1810,  and  is  still  living,  making  her  home  with  her 
son,  our  subject.  She  is  now  quite  aged,  but  re- 
markably well  preserved,  and,  with  the  exception 
of  deafness,  retains  all  her  faculties  unimpaired. 
The  maternal  grandparents  of  our  subject  were  Ar- 
temas  and  Lydia  (Abbott)  Sweetland.  who  removed 
from  Connecticut  to  Pennsylvania,  and  thence  to 
Ohio,  settling  in  what  is  now  Bloomfield  Township, 
Morrow  County,  where  they  were  among  the  ear- 
liest pioneers.  They  hewed  out  a  farm  from 


the  wilderness,  became  well-to-do,  and  there  spent 
the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Grandfather  Sweet- 
land  was  born  in  1769,  and  departed  this  life  in 
1855.  The  grandmother  was  born  in  1775,  and 
died  in  1863.  Both  were  Methodists  in  religious 
belief.  There  were  five  children  born  to  them, 
namely:  Augusta,  born  Oct.  9,  1797;  died  in  1882. 
Giles,  born  Aug.  19,  1799;  died  in  1881.  Fuller, 
born  Sept.  9,  1801;  died  in  1867.  Seth,  born 
March  14,  1807;  and  Marilla,  the  mother  of  our 
subject,  as  above  recorded. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  four  children  born  to  his 
parents,  and  of  whom  only  two  are  living,  the 
others  having  died  in  infancy,  these  latter  being 
Elnora  and  Lydia.  Columbus  P.,  the  only  brother 
living,  is  a  resident  of  Kearney,  Neb.  Mr.  Shur 
received  a  practical  education  in  his  native  State. 
and  was  Cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Mt.  Gilead,  Ohio,  for  two  years.  Before  that  time 
he  was  manager  of  a  general  store  in  the  Buckeye 
State.  He  was  married  in  Morrow  County,  to  Miss 
Hannah  I.  Weatherby,  who  was  born  near  the  line 
of  Knox  and  Morrow  counties,  in  Wayne  Town- 
ship, April  25,  1838.  Her  parents  were  Samuel 
and  Dorcas  (Hinkley)  Weatherby,  natives  of  New 
York  State,  and  born  not  far  from  Seneca  Lake. 
There  also  they  were  reared  and  married  and  lived 
until  after  the  birth  of  two  sons — Peter  and  Lewis. 
Then  leaving  the  Empire  State,  they  removed  to 
Ohio,  early  in  the  thirties,  and  began  life  amid  the 
wilds  of  what  is  now  Wayne  Township,  Knox 
County,  where  the  father  cleared  a  farm,  and  be- 
came well-to-do.  He  died  May  5, 1852,  at  the  age 
of  forty-seven  years,  having  been  born  March  10, 
1 806.  He  was  a  good  man  in  the  broadest  sense 
of  the  term,  affectionate  and  kind  to  his  family  and 
a  devoted  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  which  he  occupied  many  positions  of 
trust  and  responsibility.  He  kept  an  open  house 
for  the  itinerants  through  that  section,  and  reared 
his  children  carefully  in  the  doctrines  of  his  church. 
The  wife  and  mother  was  born  Feb.  10,  1808,  and 
died  July  27,  1870,  at  the  home  of  her  eldest  son, 
in  Maysville,  Mo.  She  likewise  belonged  to  the 
Methodist  Church.  In  Ohio  there  were  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Weatherlry,  Hannah  L,  now  Mrs.  Shur; 
Edmund,  deceased;  Joshua  II.  and  T.  Jefferson, 


416 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


twins,  the  latter  of  whom  is  living  and  a  resident 
of  Seward,  Seward  Co.,  Neb. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Shur  gave  their  children  an 
excellent  education,  she  having  been  graduated  in 
the  High  School  of  her  native  town,  and  attended 
Cornell  College,  Mt.  Vernon,  Iowa.  Afterwards 
she  attended  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  at 
Bloomington,  where  she  was  graduated  with  honors 
in  June,  1872.  She  followed  teaching  for  a  period 
of  eight  years  prior  to  her  marriage.  She  is  a  lady 
of  great  natural  refinement,  and  more  than  ordi- 
nary intelligence.'  Her  union  with  our  subject  re- 
sulted in  the  birth  of  two  children.  Belle  M. 
attended  school  in  El  Paso,  and  later  attended  the 
Chicago  Female  College  at  Morgan  Park,  from 
which  she  was  graduated  in  June,  1884.  She  was 
also  graduated  from  the  Chautauqua  Literary  and 
Scientific  Circle  in  1888.  William  W.,  the  son,  com- 
pleted his  education  in  the  El  Paso  High  School,  and 
like  his  father  before  him,  has  taken  kindly  to  mer- 
cantile pursuits,  representing  the  house  of  Springate 
&  Davis,  of  Chenoa,  as  salesman.  Mr.  Shur,  polit- 
ically, is  arT ardent  supporter  of  Republican  prin- 
ciples, and  both  he  and  his  wife  belong  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


^ICIIOLAS  S.  DK  RETRIES  represents  Pa- 
liola  Township  on  the  Wood  ford  County 
Board  of  Supervisors,  which  office  he  has 
held  for  several  terms.  He  is  one  of  the  most  en- 
terprising and  capable  of  the  farmers  in  this  section 
of  Illinois,  and  his  farm  on  section  17,  Panola 
Township,  replete  with  all  the  modern  improve- 
ments, with  its  broad,  finely  cultivated  fields  yield- 
ing splendid  harvests,  is  one  of  the  best  of  the 
many  choice  farms  within  a  radius  of  many  miles. 
Mr.  De  Revries  is  a  native  of  Hanover,  Germany, 
born  in  that  Province  July  2, 1843,  a  son  of  Stephen 
and  Grace  De  Revries.  He  lived  in  his  native 
country  till  he  was  about  nineteen  years  old,  re- 
ceiving in  the  meantime  a  fair  education  and  a 
knowledge  of  both  the  French  and  German  Ian- 
He  has  always  been  engaged  in  farming 


and  stock-raising,  and  in  the  fall  of  1862  he  deter- 
mined to  take  advantage  of  the  rich  opportunities 
offered  to  a  skilful  farmer  on  the  broad,  rich  prai- 
ries of  the  West  in  America.  He  embarked  on  a 
steamer  at  Bremen,  and  after  an  ocean  voyage  of 
about  fourteen  days  landed  in  New  York  City,  at 
Castle  Garden,  and  came  directly  to  Woodford 
County,  111.,  of  which  he  has  ever  since  been  a 
valued  resident.  His  parents  accompanied  him  to 
America,  and  his  father  rented  land  for  a  short 
time  in  Roanoke  Township,  and  then  bought  a  farm 
in  Minonk  Township.  The  father  died  at  the 
home  of  our  subject  April  27,  1885.  The  mother 
died  at  the  home  of  our  subject  Sept.  19,  1866. 

Our  subject  remained  at  home  with  his  parents 
till  his  marriage,  when  he  established  his  home  on 
his  present  farm.  This  embraces  450  acres  of  land 
of  exceeding  fertility,  which  has  been  placed  under 
high  cultivation,  and  an  excellent  set  of  farm  build- 
ings have  been  erected,  making  the  place  one  of 
the  most  desirable  in  all  Panola  Township. 
.  To  the  wife  who  presides  over  his  home  and 
looks  so  carefully  after  the  comfort  of  its  inmates, 
Mr.  De  Revries  was  united  in  marriage  May  22, 
1872.  Three  children  have  blessed  their  union  to 
them — Luitjen,  Stephen,  Grade.  Mrs.  De  Revries' 
maiden  name  was  Jenna  Roelfs  and  she  is  also  of 
German  birth  and  antecedents. 

Since  his  settlement  in  Woodford  County,  Mr. 
De  Revries  has  become  one  of  our  most  popular  and 
useful  citizens.  He  lias  been  a  great  reader  all  his 
life,  a  lover  of  good  books,  and  aims  to  keep  him- 
self well-informed  on  all  subjects,  and  he  has  gained 
a  thorough  mastery  of  the  English  language,  and 
uses  it  as  fluently  as  his  mother  tongue.  He  is  en- 
ergetic and  public-spirited,  and  his  hand  is  noted 
in  the  execution  of  all  the  schemes  for  the  advance- 
ment of  the  township  or  county.  His  fellow-citi- 
zens, recognizing  his  ability  and  solid  worth,  have 
honored  him  and  themselves  by  selecting  him  for 
the  important  office  of  County  Supervisor,  which 
position  he  has  filled  with  satisfaction  to  his  con- 
stituents and  greatly  to  the  benefit  of  his  township 
and  county.  He  has  also  been  Justice  of  the 
Peace  several  terms,  discharging  the  duties  of  that 
office  with  becoming  dignity  and  firmness,  his  rul- 
ings being  marked  with  wisdom  and  fairness.  In 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


417 


his  political  sentiments  he  is  in  harmony  with  the 
Democratic  party  as  to  the  conduct  of  National 
affairs.  He  is,  however,  independent  in  his  acts, 
and  supports  that  candidate  who  in  his  judgment 
is  best  fitted  for  the  office  without  regard  to  his 
political  affiliations.  He  and  his  wife  are  both 
active  members  of  the  Evangelical  Church,  cor- 
dially cooperating  with  their  pastor  and  fellow- 
members  in  all  plans  for  the  elevation  of  the  social 
and  moral  standard  of  the  community. 


fOHN  M.  ERSKIN,  a  highly  respected  citi- 
zen of  Piper  City,  Ford  Co.,  111.,  departed 
this  life  Sept.  28.  1869,  at  his  home  in  the 
above  named  place.  He  came  of  Scotch 
ancestry,  although  his  parents  were  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia, his  own  birthplace  probably  being  in  Ohio, 
where  he  was  reared  and  obtained  a  fair  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  the  district.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1851,  he  and  Miss  Isabelle  Kerns  were  united 
in  marriage  in  Highland  County,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Er- 
skin  was  born  in  the  same  county.  Aug.  21,  1825, 
ind  is  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Catherine  (Divens) 
Kerns,  natives  of  Virginia,  both  of  whom  are  now 
deceased,  their  demise  occurring  in  Logan  County, 
Ohio,  when  they  were  quite  well  advanced  in  years. 
Mrs.  Erskin  was  reared  on  the  farm  of  her  parents, 
and  divided  her  time  between  school  and  house- 
hold occupations,  in  both  of  which  she  became  quite 
proficient,  and  able  to  make  a  suitable  companion 
for  an  intelligent  business  man.  In  her  youth  she 
attended  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which 
her  parents  were  both  members.  She  was  the  third 
of  a  family  of  ten  children,  seven  of  whom  were 
daughters,  all  of  them  yet  living  and  married.  Af- 
ter marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Erskin  began  life  on  a 
farm  in  Highland  County,  and  worked  diligently 
to  provide  for  themselves  a  comfortable  home,  and 
to  give  the  children  that  were  added  to  their  fatn- 
ly  a  good  practical  training  as  well  as  a  liberal  edu- 
cation. In  1865  they  emigrated  to  Illinois,  and 
located  in  Hudson  Township,  McLean  County, 
where  they  secured  a  farm  and  operated  it  with 


their  usual  vigor  for  some  years,  when  hoping  to 
do  better,  they  removed  to  Ford  County,  in  which 
place  Mr.  Erskin  died  as  before  staled.  The  wid- 
owed mother  was  thus  left  with  her  large  family  of 
small  children  to  support,  and  trusting  to  be  bet- 
ter able  to  keep  her  family,  removed  to  McLean 
County,  where  she  occupied  herself  to  the  best  of 
her  ability,  and  with  varying  success  until  the  fall 
of  1881,  when  she  again  removed,  bringing  her 
children  to  Woodford  County,  where  she  purchased 
160  acres  of  improved  land  on  section  28.  This 
has  since  been  their  home,  and  the}'  have  by  recent 
purchase  added  eighty  acres  more  to  their  farm,  the 
latter  being  located  on  another  section,  and  occu- 
pied by  one  of  the  sons. 

Mrs.  Erskin  is  a  fine  intelligent  woman,  having 
good  business  capacity,  making  a  good  neighbor, 
and  a  kind,  affectionate  mother.  Her  children  are 
named,  respectively  :  Winfield  Scott,  who  is  at  home 
and  helps  operate  the  large  farm;  William,  de- 
ceased, at  the  age  of  twenty-nine  years,  and  was 
unmarried;  Sallie  is  the  wife  of  Albert  Stephen,  a 
farmer  in  Ford  County;  Ella  M.  is  at  home  assist- 
ing her  mother  in  the  domestic  work  of  the  house ; 
Cassius  C.  resides  on  a  farm' in  El  Paso  Township, 
and  married  Miss  Josephine  Griner,  of  this  town- 
ship; Frank  E.  is  at  home,  and  also  helps  in  the 
work  of  the  farm.  Mr.  John  M.  Erskin  was  a  stal- 
wart Republican  in  politics,  and  took  a  lively  in- 
terest in  both  National  and  local  political  affairs. 
On  all  the  questions  agitating  the  voters  of  this  re- 
public, he  was  an  intelligent  controversalist.  All 
of  the  sons  are  following  in  their  father's  footsteps, 
and  are  true  to  their  party. 


>ILLTAM  E.  RICE  comes  of  good  old  pio- 
neer stock,  his  parents  locating  in  Cazeno- 
via  in  the  early  years  of  its  settlement,  his 
father  being  one  of  the  men  who  were  influential 
in  giving  it  its  name,  and  contributing  his  share  in 
the  labors  of  promoting  its  growth.  We  may  re- 
mark in  this  connection,  that  an  ancestor  of  our 
subject  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  town  of 


418 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Cazenovia,  in  New  York,  from  which  this  town- 
ship received  its  name.  The  old  homestead  on 
which  our  subject  was  reared,  now  forms  a  part  of 
his  landed  property,  to  which  he  has  added  by 
further  purchase,  making  it  one  of  the  most  desir- 
able estates  in  the  neighborhood  in  point  of  loca- 
tion, productiveness,  and  all  that  goes  to  make  up 
n  good  farm. 

Mr.  Rice  was  born  in  Onondaga  County,  N.  Y., 
Aug.  21,  1833.  His  father,  Elisha  Rice,  was  born 
in  the  same  county  as  his  father,  bearing  the  same 
name,  who  was  a  pioneer  farmer  of  the  county, 
spending  his  last  years  in  the  town  of  Pompey. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  to  the  life  of 
a  farmer  in  that  town,  and  after  marriage  carried 
on  that  calling  in  his  native  county,  until  1842. 
Then,  hoping  to  better  his  financial  condition,  he 
sold  his  property  there,  and  accompanied  by  his 
wife  and  four  children,  came  to  Illinois,  the  re- 
moval being  made  with  teams.  The  monotony  of 
the  long  journey  was  broken  up  b}r  a  week's  visit 
in  Michigan,  and  then  the  travelers  set  forth  again, 
and  at  Chicago  stopped  to  get  their  household 
goods  that  had  been  shipped  to  that  point,  and  on 
the  15th  of  June  they  arrived  at  their  destination 
at  Woodford  County.  Mr.  Rice  rented  a  house  for 
the  shelter  of  his  family,  while  he  looked  around 
fora  suitable  location.  During  the  year  he  bought 
an  80-acre  tract  of  wild  land  now  included  in  the 
farm  owned  by  our  subject.  It  was  in  a  state  of 
nature,  not  a  sod  of  the  prairie  having  been  turned, 
and  a  part  of  it  was  covered  with  brush.  He  was 
in  very  limited  circumstances  at  the  time,  and  af- 
ter he  had  paid  $250  for  his  land,  had  but  fifty 
cenls  left,  which  he  invested  in  nails  to  build  a 
house,  he  having  bought  the  material  for  it  on 
time.  In  those  pioneer  days  when  money  was  a 
scarce  article,  it  was  quite  a  different  thing  to  be 
without  it,  from  what  it  would  be  at  present,  for 
those  sturdy,  courageous,  self-reliant  settlers  were 
men  of  resources,  and,  indeed,  in  the  abundance  of 
deer,  wild  turkeys,  prairie  chickens,  and  other  wild 
game,  had  a  supply  of  food  scarcely  attainable  now 
a  days,  and  in  the  absence  of  flour,  corn-meal  was 
a  useful  substitute.  And  in  matters  of  dress,  peo- 
ple had  not  acquired  extravagant  tastes,  and  in- 
stead of  silks  and  satins,  were  clad  in  plain  home- 


spun woven  by  the  mothers  and  daughters.  There 
were  no  railways  here  for  many  years  after  the 
country  was  settled,  and  the  father  used  to  add  to 
his  exchequer  by  teaming  for  others,  taking  grain 
to  Chicago,  and  whenever  he  could  do  so,  bringing 
back  merchandise  or  lumber  on  his  return  trip. 
He  was  present  at  the  meeting  when  his  fellow-pio- 
neers gathered  together  to  decide  on  a  name  for 
the  township.  Several  names  were  proposed,  among 
them  Marcellus  and  Pompey,  but  all  were  voted 
down,  until  some  one  from  Marcellus  suggested 
Cazenovia,  and  Mr.  Rice  exclaimed,  "Cazenovia  it 
is,"  and  the  name  was  adopted.  Mr.  Rice  was  an 
honored  resident  of  this  township  until  his  demise 
in  1863,  and  he  ever  took  a  warm  interest  in  its 
welfare.  His  wife  preceded  him  in  death,  dying 
on  the  home  farm  in  1862.  Her  maiden  name  was 
Rebecca  Marshall,  and  she  was  a  native  of  Connec- 
ticut. Her  father,  Simeon  Marshall,  was  a  native 
of  the  same  State,  and  moving  from  there  to  New 
York,  he  became  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Cazeno- 
via. He  opened  the  first  store  there,  and  was  a 
pioneer  merchant  of  the  place,  continuing  in  the 
mercantile  business  several  years.  He  spent  his 
last  days  on  a  farm  near  that  town.  The  parents 
of  our  subject  had  three  other  children  besides  him- 
self: Helen  M.,  wife  of  George  Ramley,  of  Mar- 
shall County;  Rosanna,  who  always  lived  with  her 
parents,  and  still  makes  her  home  on  the  old  home- 
stead with  her  brother;  Delency  F.,  wife  of  Alex- 
ander Piper,  of  Livingston  County. 

Our  subject  was  a  lad  of  eight  years  when  he 
came  to  this  county  with  his  parents,  and  he  grew 
up  with  the  county,  it  having  been  his  good  for- 
tune to  witness  almost  its  entire  development  from 
its  native  wildness,  and  he  has  always  resided  on 
the  old  homestead,  and  since  it  came  into  his  pos- 
session, has  made  many  valuable  improvements. 
He  has  a  well-appointed  set  of  buildings,  and  in 
1888  he  erected  his  present  comfortable  dwelling. 
He  has  increased  the  original  acreage  of  the  home- 
stead, and  now  has  a  fine  farm  of  336  acres,  all 
under  admirable  tillage,  and  yielding  abundant 
harvests.  Mr.  Rice  is  skillful  in  his  calling,  and  by 
well-directed  and  incessant  labor,  has  managed  to 
accumulate  a  comfortable  property.  He  is  a  man 
of  steady  habits,  is  a  kind  and  helpful  neighbor, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


419 


and  is  in  every  way  to  be  relied  on.  He  is  a  loyal 
and  law-abiding  citizen,  interested  in  the  welfare 
of  his  countr}',  and  he  has  always  affiliated  with  the 
Democratic  party,  which  finds  in  him  a  true  sup- 
porter. 


lEORGE  L.  KAMP,  who  resides  on  section 
22,  Greene  Township,  is  engaged  in  general 
farming.  lie  was  born  in  Richmond  Town- 
ship, Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  15,  1828,  and  is  a  son  of 
Jacob  and  Catherine  (Layman)  Kamp.  The  fam- 
ily is  of  German  descent  on  both  the  paternal  and 
maternal  sides.  David  Kamp,  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  emigrated  from  Germany  and  became  a 
a  resident  of  Berks  County,  as  did  also  Daniel  Lay- 
man, the  maternal  grand  father,  who  was  a  Luth- 
eran minister. 

The  father  of  our  subject  served  his  country  in 
the  War  of  1812,  and  was  a  faithful  soldier.  By 
trade  he  was  a  cabinet-maker,  and  in  connection 
with  that  occupation  engaged  in  iron  mining  in  his 
native  county.  He  accumulated  considerable  prop- 
erty, but  afterward  failed  in  business,  losing  it  all. 
In  1838  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Ohio,  being 
then  in  very  limited  circumstances,  and  upon  the 
children  devolved  the  care  of  the  parents,  who 
were  then  in  advanced  years.  Mr.  Kamp  had  not 
sutlicient  health  to  regain  his  lost  property,  and  in 
1869,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years,  his  death 
occurred.  His  wife,  who  nobly  shared  with  him 
his  trials  and  adversities,  died  in  1874,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-eight  years.  Their  family  numbered 
the  following  children:  Daniel,  John,  Jacob,  Eliza, 
David,  Harriet,  Catherine,  George  L.,  Isaac,  Au- 
gustus, Sarah  Jane,  Samuel,  and  one  who  died  in 
infancy. 

George  L.  Kamp,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
is  numbered  among  the  self-made  men  of  the 
county.  His  education  was  limited,  he  having  had 
no  opportunity  to  pursue  a  course  in  the  public 
schools,  as  at  an  early  age  he  was  forced  to  earn  his 
own  livelihood.  lie  was  but  ten  years  old  when  the 
family  removed  to  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  and  two 
years  later  began  working  as  a  farm  hand  for  $3.25 


per  month,  giving  his  wages  to  his  parents  to  aid 
in  their  support.  Until  twenty-three  years  of  age  he 
continued  to  work  in  that  line,  when  he  embarked 
as  a  carpenter.  He  possessed  the  necessary  strength 
for  that  occupation  and  soon  became  an  expert 
workman.  It  was  while  working  as  a  carpenter  in 
Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  that  he  became  acquainted 
with  the  estimable  lady,  Miss  Susanna  Driesbach, 
whose  hand  he  sought  in  marriage.  Their  union 
was  celebrated  on  the  20th  day  of  November,  1851, 
since  which  time  she  has  proved  a  true  helpmate  to 
her  husband.  Mrs.  Kamp  was  born  in  Union 
County,  Pa.,  March  4,  1828,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
the  Rev.  John  and  Frances  (Eyer)  Driesbach,  who 
were  also  natives  of  the  [same  county.  Her  father 
was  one  of  the  first  ministers  in  the  Evangelical 
Association,  and  was  twice  married.  When  she  was 
a  child  of  three  and  a  half  years,  the  family  removed 
to  Pickaway  County,  where  the  days  of  her  girl- 
hood were  spent.  The  educational  advantages  which 
she  received  were  limited,  but"  placing  her  books 
before  her,  she  would  con  her  lessons  while  work- 
ing at  the  loom.  She  had  five  brothers  and  seven 
sisters.  Soloma,  the  eldest,  who  now  resides  in  Ross 
County,  Ohio,  is  the  widow  of  Henry  Brookwalter, 
a  farmer,  by  whom  she  had  five  children;  Elizabeth 
is  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Steely,  a  farmer  of  Pickaway 
County,Ohio,  and  to  them  were  born  eight  children  ; 
Abraham,  who  was  born  in  Seneca  County,  Ohio, 
and  died  leaving  a  wife  and  nine  children,  was 
connected  with  the  Evangelical  Association  from 
his  childhood  until  his  death,  and  .for  many  years 
was  an  itinerant  minister  of  that  denomination ; 
Isaac,  a  resident  farmer  of  Pickaway  County,  Ohio, 
is  married  and  has  seven  children  ;  Catherine  is  ths 
wife  of  the  Rev.  Lewis  Einsel,  and  resides  with 
her  husband  and  family  of  seven  children  in  Hoi- 
dredge,  Phelps  Co.,  Neb. ;  Sophia  wedded  Eli 
Luce,  a  local  minister  of  Monroe  County,  Mich., 
and  to  them  have  been  born  ten  children,  six  liv- 
ing; Jacob,  who  is  married  and  has  five  children, 
was  for  two  terms  Superintendent  of  the  Orphan's 
Home  at  Flat  Rock,  Ohio,  and  is  now  residing  in 
Cartilage,  Mo.,  near  where  he  was  formerly  engaged 
in  farming,  but  now  living  in  retirement;  Leah 
became  the  wife  of  D.  B.  Wagner,  a  grocer  of 
Circleville,  Ohio,  and  to  them  have  been  born 


420 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


four  children;  Martin,  a  wealthy  citizen  of  Circle- 
ville,  Ohio,  owner  of  a  seed  and  implement  store 
in  that  city,  and  also  of  several  farms  in  that  com- 
munity, is  married  and  has  three  children;  John 
wedded  Mary  Reedy,  by  whom  he  had  three  chil- 
dren, and  died  on  his  farm  in  Pickaway  County. 
The  above  mentioned  members  of  the  family  were 
all  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  the  following  were 
born  after  the  emigration  to  Ohio:  Fannie,  widow 
of  Louis  Speckler,  who  now  resides  with  her  five 
children  in  Salina,  Kan ;  and  Martha,  wife  of  Dr. 
W.  C.  Gildersleeve,  of  Denver,  Colo.,  by  whom 
she  has  five  children. 

Mr.  Driesbach,  father  of  Mrs.  Kamp,  was  an 
itinerant  minister  of  the  Evangelical  Church,  and 
traveled  throughout  different  counties  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Ohio,  where  he  preached  the  Gospel  and 
did  missionary  work.  He  was  a  prominent  citizen, 
and  while  residing  in  the  Keystone  State  served 
for  two  terms  in  the  State  Legislature.  At  that 
time  he  was  a  Democrat,  but  afterward  supported 
the  Whig  party.  He  died  at  his  home  in  Pickaway 
County,  Ohio,  in  1871,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three 
years.  His  wife,  who  was  an  earnest  Christian 
lady,  highly  respected  by  all  who  knew  her,  died 
in  1876,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  Kamp  and  his  bride 
began  their  domestic  life  on  a  farm  in  the  county 
where  their  wedding  took  place.  He  there  worked 
at  his  trade  of  carpentering  until  1857,  when  he 
removed  with  his  wife  and  three  children  to  Wood- 
ford  County,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
On  his  arrival  he  purchased  eighty -five  acres  of 
land  in  Greene  Township,  but  as  his  financial  re- 
sources were  increased,  he  added  to  that  amount 
until  his  landed  possessions  now  aggregate  174 
acres,  160  of  which  is  situated  on  sections  22  and 
23,  while  the  remaining  fourteen  acres,  consisting 
of  timber  land,  is  on  section  29.  His  property  has 
all  been  acquired  through  his  industry,  frugality 
and  perseverance,  supplemented  by  the  assistance 
of  his  excellent  wife. 

Six  children  graced  the  union  of  this  worthy  cou- 
ple, four  of  whom  are  yet  living :  H.  Flora,  who 
married  W.  T.  Hereford,  a  farmer  of  Bates  County, 
Mo.,  by  whom  she  has  nine  children — Arista  G.. 
Estella  M.,  Orville  W.,  E.  Earl,  Daisy  G.  and  F.  Carl 


(twins),  Edna  P.,  Burr  C.,  and  George  L.  The 
next  of  the  family,  Joanne  E.,  is  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Patterson,  express  agent  of  El  Paso,  and  they  have 
a  daughter,  Nellie  G.  Lewis  D.,  who  resides  on 
the  homestead,  married  Sarah  E.  Mohr,  and  their 
family  numbers  three  children — Laura  M.,  Homer 
M.  and  George  L.  Martin  D.,  the  next  younger, 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  months;  Frances  C. 
is  the  wife  of  Sidney  L.  Mohr,  a  resident  farmer  of 
Greene  Township,  by  whom  she  has  two  children — 
Clarence  E.  and  Harry  Harrison;  Cassie  M.,  the 
youngest  of  the  family,  died  at  the  age  of  one 
year. 

In  early  life  Mr.  Kamp  was  a  Democrat,  but  in 
1856  supported  Fremont,  and  since  that  time  has 
voted  with  the  Republican  party,  of  which  he  is 
now  a  warm  advocate.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Evangelical  Association  of  El  Paso, 
Mrs.  Kamp  having  united  with  that  denomination 
when  only  twelve  years  of  age.  They  take  au 
active  part  in  religious  and  temperance  work,  and 
are  highly  respected  by  those  who  know  them. 


NDREW  TOMB,  SR.,  an  early  settler  of 
Metamora  Township,  has  been  greatly 
prospered  in  his  agricultural  pursuits,  and 
while  actively  assisting  in  the  develop- 
ment of  this  part  of  Wood  ford  County,  has  placed 
himself  among  its  substantial,  well-to-do  citizens. 
His  farm  on  section  26  is  a  fine  one,  replete  with 
all  the  modern  appointments,  and  with  its  neat  and 
tasty  buildings,  forms  a  pleasant  picture  in  the 
landscape,  and  here  he  and  his  family  have  a  cozy 
attractive  home. 

Mr.  Tomb  is  a  native  of  the  County  Derry,  Ire- 
land, born  in  the  year  1819,  on  the  same  farm  that 
bad  been  the  birthplace  of  his  grandfather,  Alex- 
ander Tomb,  and  of  his  father,  Andrew  Tomb, 
they  spending  their  entire  lives  there,  prosperously 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  The  grandfather 
was  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church  and 
brought  his  children  up  in  that  faith.  The  mother  of 
our  subject,  whose  maiden  name  was  Jane  Willev, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


421 


was  also  also  a  native  and  life-long  resident  of 
County  Deny,  Ireland.  She  and  her  husband 
reared  a  family  of  six  sons  and  five  daughters, 
four  of  their  children  settling  in  America,  as  fol- 
lows :  Mathew,  now  deceased  (see  sketch  of  J.  W. 
Tombs);  Margaret,  who  married  Michael  Larkin, 
and  now  lives  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.;  Anna,  who  mar- 
ried El  wood  Kelly,  and  lives  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.; 
and  our  subject. 

The  latter,  of  whom  we  write,  passed  his  early 
life  among  the  pleasant  scenes  of  his  birth,  but 
being  an  ambitious,  wide-awake  lad,  desirous  of 
seeing  something  of  the  world  and  making  his  way 
in  it  to  an  honorable  independent  position,  he  de- 
termined to  try  life  in  America,  and  when  about 
nineteen  years  of  age  he  crossed  the  ocean  and 
.landed  in  New  York,  poor  in  pocket,  but  rich  in 
spirit,  health  and  a  willingness  to  toil  for  his  daily 
bread.  He  soon  found  employment  in  a  machine 
and  boiler  shop,  where  he  spent  the  next  four  years 
of  his  life.  He  then  made  his  way  to  Ohio  and 
there  worked  on  a  farm.  In  1849  he  caught 
the  gold  fever  that  was  then  so  prevalent 
and  started  with  the  tide  of  travel  for  the  gold 
fields  of  California,  going  by  the  Strait  of  Magel- 
lan. While  on  the  Pacific  coast  he  was  twice  em- 
ployed in  a  mail  steamer  that  plied  between  San 
Francisco  and  Panama,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
time  he  was  engaged  in  mining.  In  1853  he  re- 
traced his  steps  eastward  to  New  York,  and  was 
there  married  to  Elizabeth  Tomb,  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Susan  (Carson)  Tomb.  She  is,  like 
himself,  a  native  of  County  Derry,  Ireland,  and 
the  newly  married  couple  went  back  to  their  old 
home  and  spent  a  year  among  the  happy  scenes  of 
their  childhood.  They  then  returned  to  this  coun- 
try and  came  at  once  by  rail  to  Peoria,  and  thence 
to  Washington,  then  the  terminus  of  the  railway. 
It  was  Mr.  Tomb's  purpose  to  give  his  attention 
to  farming  in  this  then  sparsely  settled,  wild  coun- 
try, which  he  shrewdly  foresaw  was  one  day  des- 
tined to  be  a  rich  agricultural  region.  Deer 
roamed  at  will  over  the  prairies  and  could  fre- 
quently be  seen  in  large  droves,  and  they  often 
furnished  a  feast  for  the  skillful  pioneer  hunts- 
man's table.  Our  subject  rented  land  for  nearly 
four  years  HIK!  then  invested  in  his  present  farm 


on  section  26,  Metamora  Township.  It  was  wild 
land  when  he  located  on  it,  but  he  has  placed  it  all 
under  cultivation,  has  erected  an  excellent  set 
of  frame  buildings  and  planted  both  fruit  and 
shade  trees.  Some  of  the  beautiful  trees  that 
adorn  his  farm  lie  brought  from  Ireland  in  his 
trunk,  and  they  have  grown  and  thriven  as  if  on 
their  native  sod  and  are  pleasant  reminders  to  him 
and  his  wife  of  their  old  home  across  the  sea.  The 
pleasant  wedded  life  of  our  subject  and  his  wife 
has  been  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  eight  chil- 
dren, of  whom  the  following  six  are  living:  Mary, 
William,  Andrew,  James,  Alexander  and  John. 
Mrs.  Tomb  is  a  faithful  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  which  the  other  members  of  the  family 
also  attend. 

Mr.  Tomb  possesses  practical  wisdom  and  fore- 
thought so  combined  with  those  useful  qualities  of 
thrift,  prudence  and  steadiness  of  purpose,  that, 
although  he  landed  in  tin's  country  a  poor  boy,  lie 
has  secured  a  competence,  a  comfortable  home,  and 
has,  indeed  placed  himself  far  above  want  and 
poverty  among  our  substantial  moneyed  citizens. 
During  his  long  sojourn  in  this  land  of  his  adop. 
tion  he  has  made  many  good  friends  and  is  well 
liked  by  the  entire  community  for  those  genuine 
qualities  of  head  and  heart  that  mark  him  as  an 
honest  man  and  a  good  citizen. 


GEORGE  j.  WAGGONER,  M.D.  The  sci- 
ence of  homeopathy  has  no  more  ardent  or 
intelligent  disciple  than  the  gentleman 
whose  name  appears  at  the  head  of  this  sketch.  He 
is  a  resident  of  Minonk,  and  has  been  numbered 
among  the  prominent  citizens  and  principal  physi- 
cians of  that  city  since  his  arrival  there  in  1877. 

Dr.  Waggoner  comes  of  English  stock,  some  of 
his  ancestry  having  emigrated  to  America  at  an 
early  date  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  War.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  George  Waggoner,  Sr.,  was  a 
native  of  the  Empire  State,  and  was  an  officer  in 
the  American  ranks  during  the  period  of  the  Rev- 
olutionary War  and  aided  other  patriots  to  free 


422 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


his  country  from  the  hands  of  the  oppressors. 
He  was  an  eye-witness  of  that  scene,  famous  in  the 
annals  of  American  history,  where  tlie  Stars-and- 
Stripes  waved  most  gloriously  and  the  eagle  of 
freedom  perched  most  victoriously  on  uplifted 
banners.  This  was  the  siege  of  Yorktown,  with  its 
grand  culmination  —  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis. 
After  peace  had  once  more  returned  to  the  country 
Grandfather  Waggoner  went  back  to  his  home. 
In  1810  he  changed  his  location  to  Canada,  where 
he  passed  the  declining  years  of  his  life  and  where 
he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  He  had  reared 
a  large  family  and  had  so  well  prepared  them  for 
their  life  work  that  they  were  able  to  go  forth 
buckled  for  the  contest. 

It  is  believed  that  Joseph  Doan,  the  maternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  England 
and  at  an  early  age  came  "  to  the  United  States. 
Being  of  strong  English  sympathies  he  was  op- 
posed to  the  colonists  in  their  efforts  to  gain  free- 
dom and  served  as  an  officer  in  the  British  Army. 
With  those  of  his  belief  he  fought  until  the  war 
was  closed  and  the  treaty  of  1783  was  signed. 
Upon  the  disbanding  of  the  armies  Mr.  Joseph 
Doan  settled  in  Bucks  County,  Pa.,  and  later  went 
to  make  his  home  in  Canada.  This  was  in  the  early 
part  of  the  present  century,  and  in  his  chosen  home 
he  passed  the  rest  of  his  life  and  died  when  he 
lacked  only  six  years  of  having  completed  a 
century. 

Among  the  children  born  to  George  Wag- 
goner, Sr.,  and  his  wife,  was  George,  Jr.,  the 
father  of  George  J.,  our  subject.  George  Wag- 
goner, Jr.,  was  born  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
there  grew  to  years  of  maturity.  He  then  chose 
agriculture  as  an  occupation,  and  was  also  an 
active  practical  miller.  He  married  Miss  Mary 
Doan,  daughter  of  Joseph  Doan.  She  was  born 
during  the  sojourn  of  her  parents  in  Bucks 
County,  Pa.,  and  was  united  in  marriage  with 
George  Waggoner,  Jr.,  in  Walpole,  Canada,  he 
having  come  there  with  his  parents  when  a  lad  ten 
years  of  age. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waggoner, 
Jr.,  lived  in  the  old  homeplace  until  1854,  when 
they  came  West  to  Dubuque,  Iowa.  Many  years 
of  their  life  were  passed  in  that  bustling  city, 


where  they  endeared  themselves  to  all  around  them 
by  their  hospitality,  kind-heartedness  and  generos- 
ity. The  father  in  1873  returned  to  Canada  on  a 
visit  and  there  passed  away  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
three  years.  His  wife  survived  him  nine  years 
and  also  died  while  on  a  visit  with  old  friends  in 
Walpole,  Canada.  She  was  then  eighty-one  years 
of  age. 

Nine  children  were  born  of  the  union  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  George  Waggoner,  Jr.,  of  whom  the  record  is 
as  follows:  Matilda,  Electra,  George  J.,  Mahlon  D., 
Esther,  Adelaide,  Calvin  C.,  Melancthon  R.  and 
Charles  W.  Matilda  married  Thomas  H.  Harris, 
and  died  in  1866  in  Wyoming,  Iowa;  Electra  be- 
came the  wife  of  Francis  Buckley,  and  resides  in 
Walpole,  Canada;  George  J.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  the  third  in  his  father's  family;  Mah- 
lon D.  resides  in  Ellington,  N.  Y.,  and  is  a  prac- 
tical successful  fanner;  Esther  married  Lucius 
B.  Hitchcock,  a  physician  of  Comanche,  Iowa; 
Adelaide  was  the  wife  of  Samuel  Woodward  and 
passed  to  rest  in  Iowa;  Calvin  C.  was  a  physician 
and  died  in  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  in  1867;  Melanc- 
thon R.  is  a  prominent  doctor  in  DeAVitt,  Iowa; 
the  youngest  in  this  family,  Charles  W.,  died  in 
boyhood. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  born  in  Walpole,  Can- 
ada West,  May  13,  1831,  and  was  the  son  of 
George  and  Mary  (Doan)  Waggoner.  His  youth 
was  passed  in  the  quiet  pursuits  of  the  farm  and 
also  in  the  sawmill,  which  his  father  owned  and 
operated.  His  education  was  received  in  the 
common  schools  of  Canada.  In  May,  1850,  he 
removed  to  New  York  State,  and  soon  after  com- 
menced to  study  medicine  with  Dr.  O.  L.  B.  Main. 
From  his  youth  the  science  of  medicine  had  at- 
tracted his  attention  as  opening  a  field  for  the 
most  profound  study  and  the  deepest  thought. 
To  cure  the  ills  that  are  common  to  humanity 
seemed  to  him  a  gift  for  the  accomplishment  of 
which  much  toil  and  labor  might  fitly  be  spent. 
He  took  a  thorough  course  of  training,  attending 
lectures  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  where  he  took  three 
courses.  In  1855.  he  was  graduated  from  the 
Homeopathic  Medical  College  in  Pennsylvania.  He 
has  practiced  in  various  places,  being  located  at 
Dubuque,  Iowa,  for  one  year,  and  for  the  same 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


425 


length  of  time  in  Ogdensburg,  N.Y.,  but  disliked 
the  climate  of  the  latter  city  and  so  removed  West 
to  Wyoming,  Iowa,  where  his  father  was  interested 
in  lands.  His  next  field  of  labor  was  iu  Maquo- 
keta,  in  the  same  State,  and  there  he  lived  for  ten 
years.  After  one  year  in  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  he 
located  in  Minonk,  his  present  home. 

Dr.  Waggoner  has  given  his  whole  attention  to 
his  profession,  with  the  sole  exception  of  two  years 
when  he  was  General  Agent  for  an  insurance  com- 
pany. He  is  an  enthusiast  in  his  labor,  and  devotes 
his  time  to  it  to  such  an  extent  that  he  has  never 
joined  any  society  either  civic  or  religious.  He, 
however,  generously  aids  any  project  that  i»  con- 
ducive to  public  advancement.  He  supports  the 
Democratic  party  and  usually  votes  that  ticket. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Waggoner  occurred 
February,  1855,  his  wife  being  Martha  A.  Thatcher, 
a  daughter  of  Charles  Thatcher,  of  Western  New 
York.  She  died  in  1863,  leaving  three  children: 
Charles  T.,  M.D.,  of  Chicago,  George  W.,  a  physi- 
cian of  Cora,  Pa.,  and  Althea  M.,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Mr.  Hanks,  of  Kent,  Ohio.  The  second  mar- 
riage of  our  subject  occurred  in  1873,  when  he  was 
united  in  the  bonds  of  matrimony  with  Nettie  H. 
Haran,  a  native  of  Logansport,  Ind.,  and  the 
daughter  of  M.  Haran,  a  hardware  merchant  of 
that  city.  She  is  a  lady  universally  esteemed  and 
highly  accomplished,  and  is  a  valuable  social  addi- 
tion to  the  village  in  which  she  lives. 


ON.  A.  H.  BRUBAKER,  for  the  past  thirty- 
three  years  has  been  a  resident  of  Greene 
Township,  and  now  resides  on  section  4. 
He  is  not  only  the  most  prominent  citi/.  n 
of  the  township,  but  is  also  a  leading  man  in  the 
county,  where  he  has  made  his  home  since  early 
manhood.  He  has  been  connected  with  its  prog- 
ress and  development,  its  public  enterprises  and  its 
leading  business  interests,  and  his  sketch  will  be 
perused  with  pleasure  by  his  large  circle  of  friends. 
Mr.  Brubaker  was  born  on  the  little  Conestoga 
Creek  near  Lancaster,  Pa.,  on  the  llth  of  April. 


1833,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  B.  and  Anna  (Huber) 
Brubaker.  The  family  is  descended  from  Swiss  an- 
cestry, and  the  progenitor  in  America  was  the  great- 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  who  became  a 
resident  of  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  during  the  Col- 
onial days  of  our  history.  His  descendants  are  now 
widely  scattered  throughout  Virginia,  Pennsylva- 
nia, Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois;  also  in  Kansas  and 
other  Western  States.  They  were  principally  fol- 
lowers of  agricultural  pursuits,  but  here  and  there, 
among  the  members  is  numbered  a  professional 
man  of  prominence.  Longevity  is  characteristic 
of  the  family,  many  of  its  members  having  attained 
very  advanced  ages.  The  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject was  eighty-seven  years  of  age  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa. 
In  that  county  the  Brubaker  family  were  promi- 
nent farmers  and  among  the  heaviest  tax-payers. 
From  the  Examiner  and  Herald,  published  at  Lan- 
caster, we  read  that  there  were  156  tax-payers  by 
the  name  of  Brubaker. 

Jacob  Brubaker,  father  of  our  subject,  like  most 
of  his  kinspeople  for  generations,  followed  the  oc- 
cupation of  farming,  and  was  a  prominent  and 
influential  citizen  of  Lancaster  County.  By  his 
marriage  with  Anna  Huber,  eight  children  were 
were  born  as  follows:  Mary  A.,  Aaron  H.,  Samuel, 
Sarah  A.,  Jacob,  John,  Hiram  and  Anna. 

Hon.  Aaron  H.  Brubaker,  of  this  sketch,  spent 
his  early  life  in  his  native  county,  and  in  its  public 
schools  received  his  education.  In  1854  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Catherine  Snyder,  a  native  of  Lan- 
caster County,  where  their  wedding  was  celebrated. 
Two  years  later,  in  1856,  with  his  young  wife  he 
started  for  the  West,  determined  to  try  his  fortune 
on  its  broad  prairies.  He  stopped  for  a  short  time 
in  Chicago,  but  soon  afterward  continued  on  his 
way  to  Freeport,  then  to  Peoria,  whence  he  came 
to  Woodford  County.  The  prospects  of  the  county 
were  pleasing  and  he  resolved  to  make  it  his  future 
home.  He  purchased  of  the  Illinois  Central  Corn- 
pan  y  160  acres  of  land  on  section  4,  Greene  Town- 
ship, and  that  year  made  a  permanent  location  on 
his  farm.  The  whole  section  of  the  countiy  round 
about  was  unbroken  prairie,  and  the  family  were 
forced  to  endure  the  usual  hardships  incident  to 
pioneer  life.  He  not  only  witnessed  the  transfer- 


426 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


mation  wrought  by  civilization  and  progress,  but 
has  been  a  central  figure  in  the  work  of  advance- 
ment and  development  which  has  been  steadily 
carried  forward  since  the  county  was  settled.  Few 
men  have  done  more  for  the  upbuilding  of  the 
community  and  the  promotion  of  its  interests,  and 
to  him  the  honor  bestowed  upon  the  successful 
pioneer  is  due. 

February  9,  1864,  Mr.  Brubaker  was  called  upon 
to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  leaving 
four  children  now  grown  to  manhood  and  woman- 
hood: Maria,  the  first  born  of  the  family,  wedded 
B.  G.  Zirkle,  a  farmer  and  carpenter  of  Wallace 
County,  Kan.,  by  whom  she  has  five  children — 
Henry  , May,  Minnie,  Nora  and  Emma;  Aaron,  a 
resident  farmer  of  Dawson  County,  Neb.,  married 
Ida  Huxtable,  and  they  have  two  children — Lora 
and  Jennie;  Hiram,  who  is  engaged  in  the  grain 
business  in  Benson,  is  the  husband  of  Lyda  Tool, 
and  their  family  numbers  three  children — EdnaC., 
Leroy  and  Chelsie;  Sarah,  wife  of  Joseph  AVells  of 
Dawson  County,  Neb.,  has  two  children  by  her 
marriage — Orville  and  Ernest.  Mr.  Brubaker  was  a 
second  time  married  Dec.  6,  1866,  when  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Brubaker  became  his  wife.  She  was  born  in 
Richland  County,  Ohio,  and  with  her  father  came 
to  this  county  in  1851.  Her  mother  died  in  1852, 
and  after  her  marriage  the  father  made  his  home 
with  Mrs.  Brubaker  until  his  death  in!881.  Six  chil- 
dren grace  the  second  unions-Henry  C.,  Emma  M., 
Minnie  E.,  Jennie  A.,  Clarence  M.  and  Nettie 
Pearl.  The  family  circle  remains  unbroken  and 
all  the  children  are  with  their  parents. 
•  Mr.  Brubaker  is  one  of  the  large  farmers  in 
Woodford  County,  his  possessions  aggregating  327 
acres,  160  of  which  are  situated  on  section  4,  eighty 
on  section  8,  and  eighty  on  section  9,  all  in  Greene 
Township.  His  premises  have  the  appearance  of  a 
fair-ground.  No  finer  farm  can  be  found  in  this 
section  of  the  country.  Every  necessary  improve- 
ment and  convenience  is  there  seen  and  the  family 
residence,  situated  only  a  few  miles  from  Benson, 
is  a  beautiful  home,  surrounded  by  all  the  comforts 
and  luxuries  which  make  life  worth  living.  His 
farm  is  an  evidence  of  the  thrift  and  prosperity  of 
the  owner,  and  tells  of  a  refined  and  cultivated 
taste.  Through  wind-mill  power  in  the  ingenious 


arrangement  of  a  perfect  system  of  water  supply, 
not  only  are  his  barns  and  cattle  supplied,  but  his 
house  and  kitchen  as  well.  Annually  he  ships  and 
feeds  about  a  car  load  of  cattle,  and  sells  from  fifty 
to  100  hogs  per  year.  As  a  stock-dealer  he  gives  the 
same  careful  attention  to  his  business  that  is  dis- 
played in  the  management  of  his  farm,  and  it  is 
needless  to  say  is  successful.  Other  important  busi- 
ness interests  also  occupy  his  attention.  In  1873 
he  embarked  as  a  grain-dealer  in  Roanoke,  where 
he  carried  on  operations  for  two  years,  and  in  1874, 
under  the  firm  name  of  J.  B.  Miller  &  Co. .engaged 
in  the  same  enterprise  at  Benson,  where  he  built  a 
large  elevator.  In  1878  the  firm  also  rented  the 
elevator  of  S.  C.  Bartlett  &  Co.,  of  Benson,  since 
which  time  he  has  superintended  their  business. 
He  now  has  charge  of  two  elevators  and  handles 
about  400,000  bushels  of  grain  annually.  In  1874 
he  began  shipping  live  stock,  and  in  1879  estab- 
lished a  coal  yard  at  Benson.  About  1884  he  em- 
barked in  the  mercantile  business,  wliich  he  carried 
on  until  1887,  when  he  sold  out,  and  the  following 
year  established  a  lumber-yard  at  the  same  place. 
In  the  various  enterprises  wliich  he  has  followed  he 
has  been  eminently  successful,  and  honesty  and  fail- 
dealing  have  characterized  his  entire  business  ca- 
reer. He  has  shipped  grain  extensively  to  the 
South  and  East,  and  during  his  long  experience  has 
handled  millions  of  money.  He  is  energetic,  ca- 
pable and  sagacious,  and  possessing  business  quali- 
fications of  a  high  order,  has  become  one  of  the 
wealthy  citizens  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Brubaker  is  a  charter  member  and  stock- 
holder in  the  El  Paso  Agricultural  Association,which 
was  organized  in  1879,  and  is  now  serving  his  sec- 
ond term  as  director  of  that  institution.  In  politics 
he  is  an  inflexible  adherent  of  the  Republican  party 
and  an  advocate  of  its  principles.  In  1878,  1879 
and  1880  he  served  as  Supervisor,  and  held  that 
office  again  in  1888.  In  1868,  without  solicitation, 
he  was  nominated  County  Judge,  but  was  unsuc- 
cessful. For  nine  years  he  served  as  President  of 
the  Roanoke  Fire  Insurance  Company,  which  asso- 
ciation he  was  instrumental  in  organizing.  In  1886 
he  was  elected  to  the  State  Legislature  and  served 
one  term.  His  county  is  strongly  Democratic,  but 
his  capability  and  popularity  led  to  his  election, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


427 


and  his  course  justified  the  confidence  reposed  in 
him.  During  his  service  he  introduced  many  bills 
of  importance,  some  of  which  were  passed,  some 
defeated.  He  was  the  originator  of  the  bill,  which 
passed  both  Houses,  providing  for  three  terms  of 
general  county  court  in  Wood  ford  County,  against 
one  as  previously  in  vogue;  also  introduced  the  bill 
providing  for  the  payment  of  officers  of  the  law  in 
case  of  settlement  after  an  appeal,  which  was  also 
passed ;  another  for  payment  of  witnesses  in  crimi- 
nal C'ises,  but  it  was  defeated.  He  introduced  the 
bill  for  the  dating  of  the  putting  up  of  garden  seeds 
and  patent  medicines;  the  bill  to  protect  quails,  and 
also  introduced  the  one  to  amend  an  act  to  provide 
for  the  election  and  qualification  of  Justices  of  the 
Peace  and  Constables,  and  to  provide  for  the  juris- 
diction and  practice  of  Justices  of  the  Peace  in 
civil  cases,  and  fix  the  duties  of  the  Constable. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brubaker  hold  a  high  social  posi- 
tion in  the  social  world  and  have  a  large  circle  of 
acquaintances  and  friends  throughout  the  county, 
by  whom  they  are  held  in  the  highest  regard. 
They  hold  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  Benson,  of  which  he  is  trustee,  and  are 
active  workers  for  its  interests.  Mrs.  Brubaker  is 
an  excellent  lady  who  delights  in  doing  good  to 
those  about  her,  and  her  home  indicates  taste  and 
refinement.  The  history  of  Woodfovd  County 
would  be  incomplete  without  a  sketch  of  this  wor- 
thy couple,  who  for  more  than  a  third  of  a  century 
have  here  made  their  home. 

Elsewhere  in  this  volume  is  presented  a  fine  por- 
trait of  Mr.  Brubaker,  thus  forming  an  additional 
feature  of  interest  in  an  already  valuable  work. 


)EOKGE  LALLMANN.  This  gentleman 
is  one  of  the  oldest  business  men  in  the 
town  of  Kappa,  El  Paso  Township,  and  is 
numbered  among  its  leading  citizens.  He  came  to 
Illinois  in  1858,  and  in  1861  established  himself 
as  a  shoe  dealer  in  Kappa,  and  later  he  branched 
out  into  general  merchandising,  which  he  has  since 
followed  very  successfully.  He  is  also  half  owner 


of  the  grain  elevator  at  Kappa.  He  is  a  native  of 
the  Kingdom  of  Bavaria,  having  been  born  on  the 
river  Rhine,  .Sept.  6,  1834.  His  ancestors  were  of 
both  French  and  German  stock,  but  his  father, 
Capt.  Frank  J.  Lallmann,  was  born  in  Germany  of 
French  parents. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  but  after  reaching  roan's  estate 
served  ten  years  under  Napoleon  I.,  and  partici- 
pated in  many  of  the  important  battles  in  France, 
Spain,  Russia  and  Prussia.  He  was  honored  with 
a  captain's  commission  in  the  "  Flying  Cavalry," 
and  did  gallant  service.  He  was  several  times  cap- 
tured by  the  enemy,  but  always  succeeded  in  mak- 
ing his  escape.  He  received  a  number  of  honorable 
wounds  and  had  ten  horses  shot  from  under  him. 
After  leaving  the  service  he  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life  in  Bavaria,  dying  there  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven  years. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Katie  Heffner,  and  she  died  when  the  latter  was 
an  infant,  so  he  remembers  nothing  of  her.  One 
of  his  brothers  died  at  an  early  age.  The  mother 
was  the  second  wife  of  Mr.  Lallmann.  who  by  his 
first  marriage  had  become  the  father  of  three  sous, 
the  eldest  of  whom,  Frank,  died  in  Africa  in  1844, 
after  being  married;  Anton  is  a  weaver  by  trade 
and  a  resident  of  Bavaria;  his  son,  Jacob,  is  a 
clerk  in  the  store  of  onr  subject.  The  younger 
child  of  Frank  J.,  was  a  daughter,  Katie,  who  died 
in  Germany  after  her  marriage. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  in  his  na- 
tive province,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  boot 
and  shoe  maker,  and  later,worked  as  a  journeyman. 
Not  being  satisfied  with  his  condition  or  prospects, 
financially,  he  decided  to  seek  the  other  side  of  the 
water,  and  on  the  19th  of  April,  1858,  set  out  from 
Havre  on  the  sailing  vessel  "  Gulf  Stream."  After 
a  voyage  of  forty-two  days  he  landed  in  New  Or- 
leans, and  thence  came  up  the  Mississippi  and  Illi- 
nois rivers,  to  Peoria,  111.,  where  he  followed  his 
trade  until  1861.  He  then  removed  to  Kappa,  this 
county,  of  which  he  has  since  been  a  resident. 

On  Feb.  18,  1862,  Mr.  Lallmann  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Hexamer,  who  is  a 
native  of  Ohio,  and  was  born  in  September,  1840. 
Her  father,  Jacob  Hexamer,  was  born,  reared  and 


428 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


married  in  Germany,  and  after  the  birth  of  one 
child,  emigrated,  in  1837,  to  the  United  States,  set- 
tling in  Ohio.  Later,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  lo- 
cated in  Palestine  Township,  where  the  wife  and 
mother  died.  Mr.  Hexamer  is  still  living,  and  is 
now  seventy-seven  years  old. 

Mrs.  Lallmann  was  quite  young  when  her  parents 
came  to  Illinois,  about  1846-7.  She  remained 
under  the  parental  roof  until  reaching  womanhood, 
attending  school  and  becoming  familiar  with  all 
useful  household  duties.  Of  her  union  with  our 
subject  there  has  been  born  one  child,  a  daughter, 
Louisa  M.,  who  has  received  a  thorough  education 
and  remains  at  home  with  her  parents.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lallmann  are  prominent  in  social  circles,  and 
our  subject  is  an  active  member  of  the  Catholic 
Church.  Mrs.  Lallmann  belongs  to  the  German- 
Lutheran  Church. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Lallmann  supports  the 
principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  been 
prominent  in  local  affairs  for  twenty  years.  Four- 
teen and  one  half  years  of  this  time  he  was  Post- 
master of  Kappa,  and  has  served  as  village  Treas- 
urer; he  has  also  been  School  Director  for  twenty 
years.  He  has  attained  to  his  present  position, 
socially  and  financially,  by  his  own  honest  efforts, 
having  started  out  in  life  without  other  means  than 
his  industrious  and  persevering  disposition,  and 
the  integrity  which  has  gained  for  him  the  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  his  fellow  men. 


rOHN  C.  MUNDELL.  -Wood ford  County, 
|  has  among  its  representative  business  men 
and  agriculturists,  many  who  are  native- 
born,  and  of  these  none  are  more  worthy  of 
a  place  in  this  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBITM,  than  this  gen- 
tleman, who  is  Postmaster  of  Cazenovia,  where  he 
is  engaged  at  general  merchandising,  and  is  also 
superintending  his  farming  interests.  lie  was  born 
in  Partridge  Township,  April  15,  1846,  and  is  the 
second  son  of  Abner  and  Maria  (C'lingman)  Mun- 
dell.  For  full  particulars  of  the  Mundell  family, 
see  sketcli  of  Samuel  Mundell,  Jr.  Our  subject 


was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  assisted  his 
father  in  the  management  of  his  farm  until  his  mar- 
riage. At  that  time  he  rented  land  in  Roanoke 
Township  for  a  period  of  three  years,  and  at  the 
end  of  that  time  bought  an  80-acre  farm  in  Caze- 
novia Township,  known  as  the  Stoddard  farm.  In 
1873  he  disposed  of  that  estate  at  a  good  price,  and 
with  the  proceeds  emigrated  to  Kansas,  and  became 
a  pioneer  of  Phillips  County.  He  took  up  a  tract 
of  Government  land  in  Crystal  Township,  and 
built  a  comfortable  hewed  log  house  and  dug-out 
stables,  of  the  most  approved  style  of  architecture 
in  that  part  of  the  country  at  that  date.  The  re- 
gion roundabout  was  in  a  sparsely  settled,  wild 
condition,  and  buffalo,  deer,  elk,  and  antelopes  were 
still  plenty,  so  that  Mr.  Mundell  had  a  fine  oppor- 
tunity to  indulge  in  his  fondness  for  hunting,  and 
he  has  as  a  highly  prized  trophy,  a  horn  from  the 
last  buffalo  that  he  killed.  He  was  quite  exten- 
sively engaged  in  the  sheep  and  cattle  business,  un- 
til the  grasshoppers  caused  such  havoc  among  the 
Kansas  farmers,  ruining  entirely  the  prospects  of 
many  a  poor  man,  aud  causing  him  to  give  up  his 
home  and  depart  elsewhere.  The  pests  came  in 
clouds  and  devoured  everything  growing,  strip- 
ping corn-stalks  as  bare  as  bean  poles,  and  eating 
the  grass  to  the  ground,  so  that  there  was  nothing 
left  for  the  starving  cattle,  horses  and  other  animals. 
This  was  a  death-blow  to  our  subject's  stock  inter- 
ests, and  in  1880  he  closed  out  his  business,  and 
came  back  to  his  native  State  poorer  than  when  he 
left  it,  making  the  entire  journey  with  a  team,  feel- 
ing only  too  thankful  that  it  had  been  left  to  him 
out  of  the  wreck  of  his  property,  to  take  him  back 
to  the  home  of  his  birth,  and  to  his  old  friends. 
On  his  return,  with  good  courage,  he  began  to  re- 
pair his  damaged  fortunes;  and  renting  the  farm 
of  his  father,  that  he  now  owns,  actively  engaged 
in  agriculture,  and  was  so  successful  in  that  ven- 
ture, that  he  was  enabled  to  buy  the  place,  which 
is  finely  located  on  section  3,  Metamora  Township. 
It  comprises  eighty-five  acres  of  well-improved 
land,  and  he  owns  besides,  thirty  acres  of  valuable 
timber  land  in  Partridge  Township.  He  confined 
himself  to  farming  until  1886,  when  he  established 
himself  in  Cazenovia  in  the  mercantile  business,  and 
was  appointed  Postmaster  of  the  town  the  same 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


429 


year.  The  duties  of  this  office  were  not  new  to 
him,  as  he  had  formerly  had  charge  of  the  post- 
office  at  Norman,  in  Kansas,  ns  its  first  Postmaster, 
and  he  is  found  to  be  the  right  man  in  the  right 
phcc.  He  has  a  neat,  well-conducted  store,  and  is 
doing  quite  a  large  and  profitable  business,  as  his 
fair  dealings,  and  gentlemanly,  obliging  manners 
have  attracted  to  him  many  customers. 

Mr.  Mundell  has  been  greatly  encouraged  and 
assisted  in  his  work  of  upbuilding  a  home  and  se- 
curing his  present  competence,  by  his  amiable  wife, 
to  whom  he  was  united  in  wedlock  in  the  month  of 
August,  1875.  To  them  have  come  five  children 
— Francis  Marion,  Simeon  I.,  George  E.,  Maud  M., 
Mark  Aimer.  Mrs.  MundelPs  maiden  name  was 
Hester  A.  Evans.  She  was  born  Feb.  8,  1848.  in 
Woodford  County,  a  daughter  of  James  and  Mary 
(Suoderland)  Evans,  natives  of  Ohio. 

Mr.  Mundell  is  a  gentleman  of  superior  intelli- 
gence, with  an  enlightened  and  well-informed  mind, 
and  hp  is  very  much  interested  in  the  study  of  geo- 
logy and  kindred  sciences,  and  has  a  valuable  col- 
lection of  specimens  gathered  from  different  parts 
of  the  country,  among  which  are  some  fine  samples 
of  the  enormous  bones  of  the  mammoth  mastodon, 
which  he  discovered  on  his  farm  in  Phillips  County, 
Kan.  Mr.  Mundell  has  reason  to  be  proud  of  tha 
manner  in  which  he  has  overcome  every  obstacle  to 
success  by  his  excellent  business  management,  and 
the  exercise  of  rare  judgment.  In  social,  political, 
and  religious  circles  his  position  is  among  the  high- 
est. He  and  his  wife  are  esteemed  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  In  regard  to  the 
conduct  of  National  and  local  affairs,  he  is  in  hearty 
sympathy  with  the  Democratic  party. 


ENRY  LEMON, -an  early  settler  and  pion- 
eer of  Roanoke  Township,  was  for  more  than 
thirty  years  actively  engaged  in  agricultu- 
ral pursuits  in  this  part  of  Woodford 
Count}',  and  still  owns  one  of  its  man}-  valuable 
and  highly  productive  farms,  which  he  developed 
from  the  wild  prairies  by  well-directed  toil  and 


shrewd  management.  He  has  rented  his  farm,  and 
now  lives  in  honorable  retirement  with  his  good 
wife  in  a  comfortable  and  cozy  home  in  Roanoke 
Village,  which  is  rendered  attractive  by  the  num- 
ber of  fruit  trees  and  beautiful  dowers  on  every 
side. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Botetourt  County,  Va., 
July  20,  1829.  His  father,  John  Lemon,  was  born 
in  the  same  county.  The  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, George  Lemon,  was  for  many  3'ears  a  resident 
of  Maryland,  and  removing  from  there  to  Bote- 
tourt County,  Va.,  he  traded  a  horse  and  wagon 
with  the  Indians  for  a  tract  of  land  which  was 
heavily  timbered.  He  cleared  a  farm  from  the 
primeval  forests  of  the  Old  Dominion,  and  for 
many  years  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  tobacco, 
finally  dying  there  at  a  ripe  old  age.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  wife  was  Barbara  Yon.  The  father 
of  our  subject  was  reared  and  spent  his  entire  life 
in  his  native  county.  He  bought  a  tract  of  land 
near  the  old  homestead  that  had  been  his  birth- 
place, and  built  a  brick  house  in  the  wilderness, 
and  some  years  later  bought  another  tract  of  land 
with  a  sawmill,  which  he  operated  in  connection 
with  farming.  He  made  his  home  on  his  land  till 
death  called  him  to  a  better  .home  sometime  during 
the  late  war.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was 
Mary  Kesler,  and  she  was  a  native  of  either  Mary- 
land or  Virginia.  Her  father,  Abraham  Kesler, 
was  born  in  Maryland,  and  there  married  a  lady 
by  the  name  of  Hepler.  He  snbsqueiitly  moved 
to  Botetourt  County,  Va.,  and  spent  his  last  years 
there.  The  mother  of  our  subject  died  on  the 
home  farm  a  few  years  after  her  husband's  decease. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  a  [stalwart 
manhood  amid  the  pleasant  scenes  of  his  Virginia 
birthplace,  and  continued  to  live  with  his  parents 
till  he  attained  his  majority.  At  that  age  he  com- 
menced working  out  by  the  month,  arid  was  thus 
engaged  nearly  two  years.  He  then  rented  land 
till  1853,  and  in  that  year  took  a  river  voyage 
down  the  Kanawha  and  Ohio  rivers  and  up  the 
Mississippi  and  Illinois  rivers,  landing  at  Peoria, 
and  thence  coming  to  AVoodford  Count}'.  After 
his  arrival  here  he  rented  a  farm  in  Pauola  Town- 
ship, and  at  the  end  of  a  year  came  with  the  money 
that  he  had  made  in  that  way,  and  rented  land  in 


430 


PORTRAIT  AMD  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Roanoke  Township,  the  three  ensuing  years.  At 
the  expiration  of  that  time  he  had  saved  up  enough 
money  to  become  independent,  and  he  bought 
eighty  acres  of  fertile  land  on  section  35.  There 
were  deer  and  wolves  here,  and  the  latter  were  so 
bold  that  they  used  to  come  to  his  door  at  night 
to  gather  up  the  crumbs  of  food  that  had  been 
thrown  out  during  the  day.  In  the  spring  of 
1857  Mr.  Lemon  settled  on  his  land,  building  a 
comfortable  house  for  a  dwelling,  and  lived  there- 
on till  1885.  In  the  meantime  he  worked  quietly 
but  persistently,  and  made  many  valuable  improve- 
ments, and  put  the  land  under  fine  cultivation,  and 
then  rented  his  farm,  and  retired  to  the  village  of 
Roanoke,  purchasing  at  that  time  his  present  home. 
He  has  besides  two  blocks  finely  located  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  the  village,  a  most  desirable 
resident  quarter,  and  has  a  good  set  of  frame  build- 
ings. He  and  his  wife  have  a  very  attractive 
home,  and  an  abundance  of  fruits  and  flowers,  and 
every  comfort  to  make  life  worth  living. 

This  worthy  couple  were  united  in  the  holy  bonds 
of  matrimony  Oct.  10,  1850,  and  their  happy  wed- 
ded life  has  been  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of 
three  children — Salina  F.,  John  D.  and  Mollie  C. 
Salina  married  David  Kindig,  of  Palestine  Town- 
ship, and  they  have  six  children — William  II.,  Vi- 
ola M.,  Pearl  E.,  Ivy  L.,  Maud  S.,  Jay  R.  John, 
who  lives  in  Adams  Count}',  Neb.,  married  Miss 
Belle  Gish',  and  they  have  two  children,  Dora  E. 
and  Charles  Edward;  Mollie  married  C.  C.  Bru- 
baker,  of  Roanoke,  and  they  have  two  children, 
Bessie  May  and  Flossie  Lemon. 

Mrs.  Lemon  was  born  in  Carroll  County,  Rid., 
a  daughter  of  Jacob  Hildebrand,  a  native  of  the 
same  State.  His  father,  John  Hildebrand,  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  removing  from  that 
State  to  Carroll  County,  Md.,  when  he  was  a  young 
man,  he  bought  a  farm  and  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  there  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Mrs. 
Lemon's  father  was  reared  and  married  in  his  native 
State  and  county,  and  removed  from  there  in  1847  to 
Botetourt  County,  Va.  After  residing  thereabout 
six  years,  he  emigrated  to  this  State,  and  settled  in 
Panola  Township,  this  county.  He  purchased  a 
fui'iii  there,  lived  on  it  a  few  years,  and  then  went 
to  Missouri,  and  located  in  Cass  County,  where  he 


still  makes  his  home.  The  maiden  name  of  his 
wife  was  Nancy  C.  Wentz,  and  she  was  a  native  of 
Maryland,  and  a  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Mary 
(Powell)  Wentz,  natives,  respectively  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  Maryland. 

The  perusal  of  Mr.  Lemon's  biographical  sketch 
leads  one  to  feel  that  he  is  in  all  respects  a  man  of 
sound  integrity  and  high  worth,  one  whom  his  fel- 
low-citizens may  well  hold  in  respect  and  esteem. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  German  Bap- 
tist Church,  and  their  Christian  faith  is  known  by 
their  work  and  kindlv  deeds. 


A.  YKRION,  a  prosperous  and 
Prom'"cnt  stock  man,  resides  on  section  30, 
El  Paso  Township,  where  he  has  followed 
the  business  of  raising,  breeding,  buying  and  ship- 
ping stock  for  the  last  twenty  years.  He  came  to 
this  county  in  1852,  and  located  in  El  Paso  Town- 
ship, where  the  prairie  was  almost  unbroken,  the 
county  being  yet  new,  and  settlers,  like  angels' 
visits,  were  few  and  far  between.  The  land  had 
been  entered  by  his  father  the  previous  year,  and 
in  the  above-named  year  the  father  of  our  subject 
removed  his  family  from  Peoria  County  to  Wood- 
ford  County,  and  resided  on  the  place  he  had  en- 
tered until  1864,  when  our  subject  became  the 
owner  of  it,  and  has  made  it  his  home  ever  since. 
The  parents  of  our  subject  established  themselves 
in  Brunswick.  Trivola  Township,  in  1840,  when 
Peoria  County  had  scarcely  been  touched  with  a 
plow.  They  entered  land,  and  made  such  improve- 
ments as  their  means  permitted,  and  continued  re- 
siding thereuntil  1852,  the  date  when  they  made 
their  entry  into.Woodford  County.  This  county 
was  also  at  that  time  comparatively  unimproved, 
neighbors  being  located  at  distances  of  several 
miles  from  each  other.  The  father  of  our  subject, 
therefore,  had  the  honor  of  being  one  of  the  pio- 
neers, but  it  was  a  post  of  danger,  and  one  requir- 
ing nerve  and  intrepidity,  as  well  as  great  physical 
endurance. 

Our  subject  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  where  he 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


431 


was  born,  June  13,  1833,  in  Wythe  County.  He  is 
the  youngest  son  of  William  and  Eliza  (Campbell) 
Yerion,  natives  of  Virginia,  of  German  extraction, 
and  of  American  parentage  on  the  paternal  side, 
but  the  mother  came  of  old  Scotch  stock,  and 
American  parentage  for  one  or  two  generations. 

William  Yerion,  father  of  our  subject,  and  his 
wife,  were  both  reared  in  Wythe  County,  Va.,  in 
which  place  also  their  marriage  took  place.  The 
young  couple  began  life  on  a  farm  in  their  native 
county,  subsequently  spending  a  short  period  in 
Montgomery  County,  Va.,  and  later  removed  back 
to  Wythe  County,  where  they  remained  until  1840, 
when  they  started  Westward  with  their  family  of 
five  children,  having  Illinois  as  the  goal  of  their 
destination,  where  they  arrived  June  2d,  the  same 
year,  in  Peoria  County,  after  a  journey  of  six 
weeks,  made  in  a  covered  wagon  drawn  by  six 
horses,  camping  by  the  wayside,  and  in  every  other 
respect  following  out  the  primitive  mode  of  travel 
employed  by  the  Virginians  of  that  da}'  in  their  emi- 
grations to  the  "West.  The  wild  waste  of  land  sur- 
rounding them  on  their  arrival  at  what  was  ex- 
pected to  be  their  new  home,  might  have  appalled 
stouter  hearts,  but  the  first  settlers  of  our  Western 
country  were  made  of  sterner  stuff  than  to  be 
frightened  at  the  desolate  look  of  the  place, 
although  it  was  inhabited  by  wandering  tribes  of 
wolves  and  other  wild  animals,  who  made  the  air 
mournful  with  their  cries.  They  secured  good, 
fertile  land,  and  set  diligently  to  work  to  build  up 
a  comfortable  home  for  themselves  and  children. 
The  mother's  death,  in  1856,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
two  years,  was  the  first  serious  trouble  they  had 
experienced  after'coming  to  this  State;  as  she  was 
a  Christian  woman  they  sorrowed,  but  not  without 
hope.  The  father  then  spent  four  years  in  Texas, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  returned  to  Illi- 
nois, to  the  home  of  his  son,  which  lie  made  his 
abode  until  suddenly  stricken  with  his  last  illness, 
which  removed  him  from  the  scenes  of  earth,  when 
in  his  eighty -sixth  year.  He  was  born  Jan.  12, 
1801,  and  his  death  occurred  on  Sept.  24,  1887. 
During  life  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  Uie 
denomination  known  as  the  Dutch  Reformed. 

Dr.  Joseph  R.  Yerion,  the  eldest  brother  of  our 
subject,  is  a  resident  of  the  Lone  Star  State,  at 


Weatherford,  Parker  County,  whera  he  has  a  large 
practice  as  a  physician.  He  is  married  and  has  a 
family.  William  E.  died  at  Farmington,  111.,  leav- 
ing a  widow  and  several  children.  George  A.,  our 
subject,  was  the  third  child.  Clarisa  is  the  wife  of 
Arthur  Annett,  now  deceased;  Mrs.  Annett  lives 
with  her  family  in  Bloomington.  Mary  E.  is  the 
wife  of  Alouzo  Albros;  their  home  is  in  Texas, 
where  he  follows  the  occupation  of  an  engineer. 
Susan  is  the  wife  of  John  Bridges,  and  resides  in 
Kansas  City,  Mo.,  where  he  follows  the  occupation 
of  a  plaster  mechanic. 

Our  subject  was  reared  in  Peoria  County,  and 
secured  a  good  practical  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  district,  although  the  buildings  were 
of  log,  with  stick  and  mud  chimneys.  lie  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mary  E.  Tucker,  at  her  home  in  El 
Paso  Township.  Mrs.  Yerion  was  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Louisa  (Wathan)  Tucker,  who  were  na- 
tives of  Kentucky,  and  pioneers  of  Wood  ford 
County,  coming  here  in  the  early  '30s.  When  the 
parents  of  Mrs.  Yerion  came  to  Illinois,  they  pur- 
chased wild  land  in  Tazewell  County,  near  what  is 
now  Pekin  and  Washington  cities,  which  they  im- 
proved and  made  their  home  for  sometime,  but 
later  came  to  El  Paso  Township,  where  they  resided 
until  the  close  of  life,  Mr.  Tucker  dying  at  the  age 
of  fifty-six  years.  His  wife  had  preceded  him  to 
the  better  land,  dying  in  1873,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
two  years.  Mrs.  Yerion  was  one  of  a  family  of  six 
children,  four  of  whom  are  sons;  one  is  deceased — 
James  was  shot,  when  a  young  man,  in  the  mines 
of  Silver  City,  New  Mexico.  Those  now  living 
are:  Junius,  the  second  child,  lives  in  Arkansas, 
following  the  occupation  of  a  fanner,  having  good 
success,  and  making  a  pleasant  home  for  his  family. 
Frank  lives  in  Bradley  Township,  McLean  County, 
on  a  farm,  with  his  wife  and  children.  Anna  re- 
sides in  El  Paso  with  her  uncle,  Major  J.  H. 
Wathan.  Henry  resides  in  Eureka;  he  is  a  police- 
man, and  lives  with  his  wife  and  children. 

Mrs.  Yerion,  the  wife  of  our  subject  was  reared 
in  this  county,  where  she  obtained  a  fair  education 
in  the  common  schools,  and  resided  under  the  pa- 
rental roof  until  her  ni'irriage  to  Mr.  Yerion.  when 
she  went  to  preside  over  a  home  of  her  own,  which 
her  training  had  well-fitted  her  to  do,  Mr.  and 


432 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Mrs.  Ycrion  have  become  the  parents  of  twelve 
children,  four  of  whom  are  deceased,  all  dying  in 
their  youth.  Those  living  are:  Willie,  who  is  op- 
erating a  farm  for  himself  in  Bradley  Township, 
McLean  County;  Isa,  wife  of  William  Allison; 
George  H.  lives  with  his  brother  Willie  in  McLean 
County;  Anna,  a  twin  sister  of  George  H.,  is  now 
the  wife  of  Michael  C.  Cown,  and  resides  on  a  farm 
near  Kappa;  Florence,  James  II.,  Louisa  and  May 
Belle  remain  at  home  to  cheer  and  comfort  their 
parents. 

Mr.  Ycrion  is  a  public-spirited,  wide-awake  gen- 
man,  who  takes  a  deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the 
township  since  he  has  been  a  resident  of  it..  He  has 
assisted  every  enterprise  that  would  promote  its 
growth  and  development,  and  is  held  in  high  es- 
teem by  his  neighbors  and  friends.  Politically  he 
is  a  sound  Democrat,  but  has  never  sought  an 
office. 


[JLLIAM  P.  HEPPERLY,  who  has  been 
a  resident  of  Illinois  for  more  than  half  a 
century,  and  is  now  numbered  among  the 
progressive  and  substantial  farmers  of  Montgomery 
Township,  resides  on  section  3,  where  he  owns  a 
fine  farm  comprising  320  acres.  He  was  born  in  the 
historical  town  of  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  April  30,  1825, 
and  is  the  son  of  a  Pennsylvania  mechanic,  who 
died  when  our  subject  was  about  eighteen  months 
old.  He  therefore  knows  but  little  of  his  father's 
history  or  the  early  traditions  of  the  family.  His 
mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Eckert, 
was  born  and  reared  in  Gettysburg,  Adams  Count}-, 
and  there  became  acquainted  with  Mr.  Hepperly, 
who  sought  her  hand  in  marriage  and  led  her  to 
the  hymeneal  altar.  Eight  children,  five  sons  and 
three  daughters,  were  born  of  their  union,  our  sub- 
ject being  the  youngest  of  the  family.  All  grew 
to  manhood  and  womanhood,  and  six  are  yet  liv- 
ing. The  eldest  son,  Jacob,  was  the  first  to  emi- 
grate to  the  West  and  become  a  resident  of  Illinois. 
Bidding  good-by  to  his  widowed  mother,  he  started 
across  the  country  and  at  an  early  day,  probably 


abont  1831,  located  in  Peoria  County,  and  thence 
went  to  Tazewell  County,  111.  In  1835  he  sent  for 
the  family  to  join  him  in  his  new  home,  and  the  same 
year,  Mrs.  Hepperly,  accompanied  by  her  children, 
with  the  exception  of  three  daughters  who  were 
married,  came  to  the  West.  A  number  of  years 
later,  in  1849,  her  death  occurred  in  Tazewell 
County  when  past  fifty  years  of  age.  She  nobly 
performed  the  task  of  caring  for  her  large  fainil}1 
of  children,  when  by  the  death  of  her  husband 
that  duty  devolved  upon  her.  She  provided  for 
their  maintenance,  guided  them  by  her  loving 
counsel  and  instilled  into  their  youthful  minds 
lessons  of  honesty  and  industry. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  ten  years  old 
when  he  went  with  his  mother  to  Tazewell  County, 
III.  Though  forty  years  have  come  and  gone  since 
that  estimable  lady  was  called  home,  he  has  never 
forgotten,  nor  will  while  memory  lasts,  the  kind 
advice  and  counsel  which  sheltered  him  in  his  boy- 
hood and  has  been  his  guide  in  after  life.  He  was 
reared  to  manhood  in  Tazewell  County,  where  he 
received  such  educational  advantages  as  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  that  time  afforded.  On  attaining 
to  mature  years,  he  married  Miss  Margaret  O'Brien, 
who  was  born  in  1827,  in  Indiana,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Sarah  O'Brien,  the  former  a  native  of 
Nova  Scotia,  while  the  birth  place  of  the  latter  was 
probably  in  Indiana,  where  their  marriage  was  cel- 
ebrated. About  the  year  1831,  the  family  became 
residents  of  Tazewell  County,  where  the  death  of 
the  wife  and  mother  occurred  while  yet  in  the 
prime  of  life.  The  husband  survived  for  many 
years,  dying  in  the  same  county  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-five  years.  He  was  a  leading  farmer 
of  the  community,  and  a  prominent  and  influential 
citizen,  who  justly  merited  the  respect  which  he  re- 
ceived from  all.  For  the  long  period  of  thirty 
years  he  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  his 
faithfulness  and  able  discharge  of  duty  being  indi- 
cated by  his  continued  service. 

Mr.  Hepperly  has  been  the  architect  of  his  own 
fortunes.  He  is  entirely  a  self-made  man.  When 
he  started  out  in  life  for  himself  he  had  no  capital, 
but  possessed  a  resolute  will  and  steadfast  purpose 
which  brooked  no  defeat,  but  overcame  all  obsta- 
cles that  he  encountered  in  his  path  to  a  position 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


433 


of  affluence.  He  is  industrious,  energetic  and  con- 
ducts his  business  on  systematic  principles,  the  re- 
sult of  which  is  prosperity  and  success.  In  1 859, 
he  located  on  his  present  farm  which  now  comprises 
320  acres  of  valuable  land,  the  greater  part  of 
which  he  hns  placed  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. He  now  owns  one  of  the  most  comfortable 
homes  of  the  county,  his  residence  is  tasty  and  com- 
modious, the  improvements  which  he  has  made  are 
many,  useful  and  beautiful,  and  his  barns  and  out- 
buildings are  all  that  are  necessary  to  the  model 
farm.  His  stock  is  also  of  good  grades  which  he 
is  constantly  improving. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hepperley  are  the  parents  of  six 
children,  as  follows:  John,  who  married  Ada  Small, 
and  now  resides  on  a  farm  in  Livingston  County, 
Til.;  Orin,  a  farmer  of  the  same  county,  wedded 
Tarcy  Foster;  Albert  is  at  home;  Henry  was  joined 
in  wedlock  with  Alice  Havens,  and  is  now  operat- 
ing his  farm  in  Livingston  County;  Sarah  is  en- 
gaged in  teaching,  and  Mary,  who  completes  the 
family,  is  with  her  parents.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hepperly 
are  consistent  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  which  he  holds  the  office  of  Trustee.  In 
politics,  he  is  a  Republican,  unswerving  in  his  alle- 
giance to  that  party.  The  worthy  couple  of  whon? 
we  write  are  ranked  among  the  best  citizens  of  the 
community,  and  well  deserve  a  representation  in 
the  history  of  their  adopted  county. 


FEIIRING,  a  successful  and  energetic- 
farmer,  has  his  home  on  section  4,  Minonk 
Township,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  the 
township  since  1859.  Westphalia,  Ger- 
many, was  his  birthplace,  he  having  made  his  ap- 
pearance on  the  stage  of  this  world's  activities, 
Aug.  9,  1833.  His  parents  were  John  and  Charlotte 
Feliring,  natives  of  the  same  place  as  their  son. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  miller,  owning  a 
flouring-mill  in  Germany.  In  1833,  some  three 
months  before  the  birth  of  our  subject,  his  father 
left  his  native  land  alone,  and  came  to  the  United 
States.  Shortly  aftei  landing  in  New  York  he  was 


taken  ill  and  died.  About  six  months  afterward, 
when  our  subject  was  only  three  months  old  lie  also 
lost  his  mother.  Four  children  besides  our  subject 
were  in  the  parental  family:  Lona  died  leavingfour 
children,  in  Germany;  Deina  died  in  New  York, 
unmarried;  Charles  died  in  Wisconsin,  leaving 
eleven  children;  August  died  in  Woodford  County, 
111.,  unmarried;  our  subject  was  the  youngest  of 
the  family.  He  was  reared  by  relatives  in  Germany 
and  came  with  his  uncles  and  aunts  to  the  United 
States.  He  first  secured  employment  in  New- 
port, R.  I.,  afterward  going  to  Boston.  Mass.,  where 
he  worked  some  two  and  one-half  years  in  a  sugar 
factory.  Leaving  Boston  he  came  to  Illinois,  first 
engaging  in  work  as  a  farm  hand,  then  securing 
employment  in  a  warehouse  at  Minonk,  which  he 
soon  left  for  more  remunerative  employment  in  a 
mill.  He  continued  at  this  work  until  1870,  invest- 
ing a  portion  of  his  earnings  in  land.  In  that  year 
he  found  himself  possessed  of  a  sufficient  number 
of  acres  to  constitute  a  fine  farm.  He  thereupon 
took  possession  of  it  and  commenced  improving  it 
with  the  view  of  building  up  a  pleasant  home  for 
himself.  When  our  subject,  bought  his  land  it  was 
raw  prairie,  and  cost  him  $25  per  acre.  It  has 
probably  quadrupled  in  value  since  then.  His  farm 
now  consists  of  100  acres,  all  of  which  is  in  the 
finest  state  of  cultivation,  owing  to  the  energetic 
industry  and  wise  economy  with  which  he  has  man- 
aged his  affairs. 

In  1861  Mr.  Feliring  and  Miss  Mary  Schnlze 
were  united  in  the  bonds  of  matrimony.  Mrs. 
Fehring  is  a  native  of  Germany,  from  which  coun- 
try she  came  to  the  United  States  in  her  childood 
under  the  care  and  protection  of  her  parents.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Anna  Marie  Schulze,  who 
came  to  the  United  States  and  located  at  New 
York.  After  a  residence  of  four  or  five  years  in 
that  city  they  removed  to  Woodford  County, 
where  they  finally  established  themselves,  making 
many  warm  friends  by  their  genial  disposition,  and 
remaining  in  this  county  until  death  released  them 
from  their  earthly  toil. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Feliring  have  had  born  unto  them 
nine  children,  as  follows  Henry  F.,  Mary  (deceased;, 
Charles,  Menia,  John,  Joseph,  Lena  (deceased), 
Anna  and  Maggie.  Our  subject  is  a  plain,  honest, 


434 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


industrious  man;  his  careful  economy  will  be  man- 
ifest when  it  is  known  that  on  the  small  wages  of 
$14  per  month  he  supported  himself  and  also  saved 
sufficient  to  pay  for  his  land,  including  a  high  rate 
of  interest.  For  the  last  seven  years  our  subject 
has  confined  his  labors  entirely  within  the  precincts 
of  his  own  farm,  managing  the  interests  of  his  place 
so  judiciously  as  to  win  the  praise  of  all  beholders. 
He  is  an  earnest  supporter  and  devoted  adherent 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  Politically,  he  is 
in  the  ranks  of  the  Republican  parly,  and  has  been 
rewarded  for  his  services  with  the  positions  of 
School  Director  and  Road  Overseer. 


-MM- 


years, 


AMUEL  R.  DAWSON,  a  highly  respected 
member  of  the  farming  community  of 
Panola  Township,  has  been  a  resident  of 
Woodford  County  for  the  past  twenty 
and  within  that  time  he  has  developed  a 
well-improved  farm  on  section  24,  that  for  its  size 
compares  with  the  best  in  its  vicinity.  Mr.  Daw- 
son  comes  of  good  old  New  Jersey  stock,  and  the 
blood  of  a  Revolutionary  grandsirc  runs  in  his 
veins.  He  was  born  in  Salem  County,  N.  J.,  Feb. 
6,  1843,  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  A.  (Hampton) 
Dawsou,  also  natives  of  New  Jersey.  His  maternal 
ancestry  was  probably  of  English  origin,  while  his 
paternal  great-grandfather  came  from  Germany. 
His  progenitors  were  among  the  early  settlers  of 
New  Jersey,  and  his  grandfather  Dawson  was  a 
gallant  soldier  in  the  Revolution,  and  two  of  his 
father's  brothers  fought  in  the  War  of  1812. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  bred  to  the  life  of  a 
farmer  on  his  father's  homestead,  and  lived  in  his 
native  county  until  he  had  attained  his  majority. 
He  received  but  limited  educational  ad  vantages,  as 
in  his  youth  there  were  no  free  schools  in  his  county. 
But  notwithstanding  the  early  defects  in  his  edu- 
cation he  has  been  an  intelligent  observer  of  men 
and  events,  and  having  been  a  lover  of  books  all 
his  life  has  gleaned  much  knowledge,  and  has  edu- 
cated himself  perhaps  better  than  those  who  have 
enjoyed  better  school  privileges,  In  1869  he  left 


his  old  home  in  New  Jersey  to  seek  another  on  the 
great  prairies  of  Illinois,  judging  that  his  chances 
for  success  as  a  farmer  were  better  on  this  rich, 
virgin  soil  than  in  his  native  place,  where  the  land 
had  been  impoverished  by  many  years  of  cultiva- 
tion. The  first  year  after  his  arrival  here  he  worked 
out  by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand  in  Minonk  Town- 
ship. He  subsequently  rented  land  for  a  year  in 
Nebraska  Township,  Livingston  County,  and  thus 
further  added  to  his  capital.  He  afterward  re- 
moved to  a  place  two  miles  south  of  El  Paso,  and 
lived  there  a  short  time.  In  1^72  he  invested  his 
money  in  his  present  farm,  purchasing  eighty  acres 
of  land,  of  which  the  few  acres  broken  constituted 
the  only  improvements.  By  dint  of  energy,  hard 
work,  close  economy  and  thrifty  management  he 
has  transformed  that  untilled  tract  of  land  into  a 
highly  cultivated  farm,  on  which  he  has  placed 
substantial  buildings  and  provided  it  with  all  the 
necessary  appurtenances,  so  that  it  is  considered  as 
desirable  an  estate  for  its  size  as  is  to  be  found  in 
in  the  township. 

In  his  manly  struggles  to  build  up  a  home,  Mr. 
Dawson  has  had  the  cheerful  aid  of  a  wife  who  has 
been  to  him  a  true  helpmate  in  every  particular. 
They  were  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony 
March  25,  1872,  and  nine  children  have  come  to 
brighten  their  lives,  of  whom  six  are  now  living — 
Russell,  Elsie  M.,  NoraN.,  Lizzie,  May  and  Bertha. 
Three  of  their  children,  Bessie,  Lottie  and  one  who 
died  in  infancy,  were  early  removed  ^from  the 
cares  and  sins  of  this  world  to  a  better.  Mrs.  Daw- 
son's  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Metcalf;  she  was 
born  Sept.  3,  1848,  and  is  a  native  of  England,  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Mary  (Arkle)  Metcalf. 
They  were  both  born  in  England,  and  in  1852  emi- 
grated to  America,  locating  in  Virginia,  and  in 
1 854  came  to  Marshall  Count}',  111.  Here  he  engaged 
in  mining  and  afterward  farming.  He  removed  to 
Minonk,  Woodford  County,  in  1858.  He  and  his 
wife  both  died  in  this  county,  the  mother  in  1864 
and  the  father  in  1882. 

Mr.  Dawson  is  of  the  type  of  so  called  self-made 
men.  as  what  he  is  and  what  he  has,  are  the  results 
of  his  own  unaided  efforts.  He  is  a  man  of  excel- 
lent moral  character,  a  zealous  and  valued  member 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  in  his  com- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


435 


inunity  is  liked  and  respected  for  those  traits  that 
make  him  a  good  neighbor  and  a  true  friend,  a 
tender  husband  and  a  loving  father.  In  his  poli- 
tics he  is  a  sound  Democrat.  He  has  served  his 
township  as  School  Director,  and  favors  all  plans 
for  the  educational,  social  and  religious  advance- 
ment of  the  community.  Mrs.  Dawson,  a  sincere 
Christian,  is  a  member  of  the  same  church  as  her 
husband. 


'ACOB  WAGNER  was  brought  to  this 
country  from  the  German  Fatherland  when 
very  young,  by  his  parents,  who  were  pio- 
neers of  Woodford  County,  and  has  grown 
iip~with  its  growth,  and  is  now  prominently  identi- 
fied with  its  highest  interests  as  one  of  the  most 
extensive,  enterprising,  and  successful  farmers  in 
Partridge  Township.  Here  lie  owns  a  very  large 
farm  that  he  has  placed  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation,  has  provided  it  with  ample,  well- 
appointed  buildings  and  made  various  other  valu- 
able improvements. 

He  was  born  in  Germany,  Dec.  13,  1843.  His 
father,  bearing  the  same  name,  was  a  native  of  the 
same  place.  In  due  course  of  time  he  married  and 
settled  down  in  his  native  land  and  continued  to 
live  there  till  1847.  In  that  year  he  determined 
to  better  his  condition  if  possible  by  emigration 
to  America,  and  seek  in  this  land  the  opportunity 
denied  him  in  his  own  to  build  up  a  comfortable 
home  for  his  wife  and  little  ones.  Leaving  his 
family  behind  he  crossed  the  ocean,  landed  at  New 
York,  proceeded  to  Ohio,  and  after  working  there 
a  short  time  came  to  Woodford  County.  Here  he 
secured  employment  by  the  month  or  day,  care- 
fully saved  his  earnings,  and  the  following  year 
borrowed  more  to  put  with  what  he  had  saved, 
and  sent  for  his  family.  His  faithful,  courageous 
wife  braved  the  perils  of  the  deep  witli  her  four 
little  children,  and  after  a  long  and  tedious  voyage 
of  fifty-seven  days,  landed  in  New  York,  a 
stranger  in  a  strange  land,  meeting  on  every  hand 
unfamiliar  faces  and  people  speaking  an  unknown 


language.  Her  weary  journey  was  not  yet  ended; 
many  miles  lay  between  her  and  her  husband  and 
the  father  of  her  children,  and  many  days  would 
elapse  before  she  would  arrive  at  her  future  home 
in  the  Prairie  State.  She  traveled  by  the  Hudson 
River  and  Erie  Canal  to  Buffalo,  and  thence  by  the 
lakes  to  Chicago,  there  being  no  railways  in  Illi- 
nois then,  and  from  the  latter  city  she  journeyed 
by  canal  and  the  Illinois  River  to  Lacon,  and  there 
the  happy  family  were  once  more  united  never 
again  to  part  in  this  world.  The  father  had  previ- 
ously leased  a  tract  of  land  in  Partridge  Township, 
which  is  now  included  in  our  subject's  homestead. 
In  consideration  for  the  use  of  the  land  he  was  to 
build  a  log  house  on  it,  clear  and  fence  forty  acres 
of  it  and  pay  taxes  on  the  place.  He  at  once 
erected  a  log  house,  into  which  the  family  moved, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  eight  years  he  had  been 
so  fortunate  in  his  venture  that  he  was  enabled  to 
buy  the  farm,  and  it  remained  his  home  till  his 
death  in  May,  1874.  By  persistent  industry  and 
careful  management  he  secured  wealth  beyond  his 
expectations  when  he  started  out  in  life,  and  he 
was  considered  one  of  the  moneyed,  substantial 
men  of  the  township.  The  maiden  name  of  his 
wife  was  Margaretta  Slander,  and  as  in  their  lives 
they  were  devoted  to  each  other,  in  death  they 
were  not  long  divided,  they  both  passing  away  in 
the  same  year.  Six  of  their  eight  children  .ire  now 
living,  namely,  George,  Dan.,  Jacob,  Adam,  Michael 
and  Hannah.  The  latter  married  John  Kanive. 

Jacob  Wagner,  of  this  biographical  review,  was 
four  years  old  when  he  came  to  America  with  his 
mother,  and  so  has  but  little  remembrance  of  any 
other  home  than  this  country  has  afforded  him. 
lie  inherited  from  his  parents  commendable  traits 
of  energy  and  industry,  and  was  bred  to  the  life 
of  a  farmer,  and  as  soon  as  he  arrived  at  years  of 
discretion  he  identified  himself  with  the  agricultu- 
ral interests  of  the  county.  He  made  his  home 
with  his  parents  till  he  attained  manhood,  and  then 
commenced  life  for  himself  by  renting  land,  which 
he  farmed  successfully  for  some  time.  At  the  end 
of  eight  years  he  had  worked  to  such  good  purpose 
and  had  so  much  money  to  show  for  it.  that  he 
was  enabled  to  buy  the  old  homestead  where  the 
years  of  his  boyhood  had  been  passed.  He  contin- 


436 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ued  to  be  very  much  prospered,  and  from  time  to 
time  judiciously  invested  his  money  in  other  land, 
and  now  has  a  fine  large  farm  embracing  520 
acres  of  choice  and  fertile  land.  He  has  erected  a 
commodious,  substantial  set  of  frame  buildings, 
and  the  improvements  that  lie  has  made  compare 
favorably  with  those  of  any  other  estate  in  the 
township. 

Mr.  Wagner  was  married  in  1867  to  Miss  Helen 
Belsly,  a  native  of  Woodford  County  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Barbara  Belsly.  In  their  pleasant 
home  ten  children  have  been  born  to  them  :  Jofeph, 
Ella,  Kate,  Emma,  Louise,  Lydia,  Perlie,  Susie, 
Jessie  and  Ray. 

Mr.  Wagner  is  a  stirring,  wide-awake  man, 
prompt  and  systematic,  in  the  management  of  his 
affairs  and  at  the  same  time  displaying  commend- 
able thrift  and  prudence.  In  him  are  found  those 
commendable  traits  that  command  the  confidence 
of  men,  and  his  fellow-citizens  recognizing  his 
general  trustworthiness  and  other  sterling  qualities 
of  a  good  counselor,  have  selected  him  as  a  useful 
man  for  public  office,  and  have  appointed  him  to 
fill  some  responsible  positions,  such  as  Supervisor 
on  the  County  Board  to  represent  Partridge  Town- 
ship, School  Director  for  this  locality  and  Trustee 
for  the  township.  In  politics  he  is  a  devoted 
adherent  of  the  Republican  party. 


HRISTIAN  MOSER.  The  agricultural  in- 
terests of  Montgomery  Township  have  been 
sensibly  promoted  by  Mr.  Moser,  who  occu- 
pies his  time  in  the  cultivation  of  a  quarter-section 
of  prime  land  on  section  20.  He  has  lived  upon 
this  since  1856,  and  put  up  his  present  residence 
in  1875.  He  was  born  in  Alsace,  formerly  a  Prov- 
ince of  France,  but  now  belonging  to  Germany, 
May  3,  1829,  and  there  spent  the  opening  years  of 
his  life.  In  1853,  when  a  young  man  twenty-four 
years  old,  he  set  sail  for  the  United  States  in  hopes 
to  better  his  condition,  financially.  The  first  two 
years  thereafter  he  spent  in  Wayne  County  Ohio; 
then  removed  to  Adams  County,  where  he  lived 


one  year,  and  from  there  came  to  Woodford 
County,  of  which  he  has  since  been  a  resident. 
His  record  has  been  eminently  that  of  an  honest 
man  and  a  good  citizen. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Benedict  and 
Elizabeth  (Roth)  Moser,  the  former  of  whom  died 
in  the  Province  of  Alsace,  at  the  age  of  forty-nine 
years.  The  mother  lived  there  until  after  her  son 
Christian  had  come  to  America,  and  then  the  lat- 
ter sent  her  money  to  join  him  in  this  country. 
She  died  in  Fulton  County,  Ohio,  when  seventy 
years  of  age.  Both  were  members  of  the  old  Omish 
Church. 

Mr.  Moser  was  the  eldest  son  and  second  child 
of  his  parents,  whose  family  consisted  of  seven 
children.  One  of  these  died  young  in  France.  The 
other  six  came  to  the  United  States,  and  are  all 
married.  Three  are  living  in  Ohio,  one  in  Indiana 
and  two  in  Illinois.  Christian,  our  subject,  was 
educated  both  in  the  French  and  German  languages 
and  remained  with  his  parents  until  coming  to 
America,  a  single  man.  After  becoming  a  resident 
of  this  county  he  was  married,  in  Monlgomeiy 
Township,  to  Mrs.  Magdalena  (Summers)  Camp. 
She  was  born  in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  June  1,  1816, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Susannah  (Chalen) 
Summers.  Her  father  was  also  of  French  birth  and 
a  native  of  Alsace,  and  the  mother  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  in  which  State  they  were  married. 
After  living  on  a  farm  there  a  number  of  years 
they  went  to  Butler  County,  Ohio,  and  later  to 
Tippecanoe  County,  Ind.,  where  the  father  died  at 
the  age  of  eighty-eight  years.  The  widowed  mother 
subsequently  made  her  home  with  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Moser,  and  departed  this  life  at  the  ripe  old 
age  of  ninety-two  years.  Both  were  members  of 
the  old  Omish  Church. 

Mrs.  Moser  was  the  3roungest  but  one  of  three 
sons  and  six  daughters  born  to  her  parents,  and 
she  with  her  sister,  Mrs.  Susannah  Salsman,  are  the 
only  living  representatives  of  her  family.  The  first 
husband  of  Mrs.  Moser  was  Christian  Camp,  who 
was  born  in  Germany.  After  coming  to  America 
he  settled  in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  and  thence  came 
to  Illinois  and  died  in  Montgomery  Township,  July 
15,  1856,  in  the  prime  of  life,  being  only  forty 
years  of  age.  He  left  his  widow  with  nine  children, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


437 


one  of  whom  is  since  deceased;  Christian,  a  youth 
of  seventeen,  makes  his  home  with  his  brother  in 
McLean  County;  Joseph,  Nancy,  John,  .  Daniel, 
Peter,  Lizzie,  Susan  and  Moses ;  all  are  married  ex- 
cepting Peter. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moser  are  the  parents  of  one  child 
only,  a  daughter,  Catherine,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Albert  Meyer,  and  they  live  on  a  farm  in  Mont- 
gomery Township.  Mr.  Moser  and  his  wife,  as  did 
their  respective  parents,  belong  to  the  Ouiish 
Church. 

_ &$> _ 


ON.  PETER  A.  COEN  occupies  a  leading 
position  among  the  most  prominent  and  en- 
terprising farmers,  stock-breeders  and  deal- 
ers in  cattle,  of  Woodford  County.  He  is 
also  conspicuously  identified  with  the  public  life  of 
this  section  of  the  State,  and  in  his  honorable  career 
as  a  civic  official,  he  has  always  worked  for  the 
highest  good  of  his  township  or  county  without  re- 
gard to  personal  or  party  interests,  and  his  fellow- 
citizens  may  point  to  his  unblemished  record  with 
pride.  He  is  a  resident  of  Cazenovia  Township, 
where  he  settled  at  the  time  of  his  marriage,  on  a 
farm  that  his  wife  inherited  from  her  father,  and 
which  he  has  managed  ever  since  with  more  than 
ordinary  success.  This  farm  is  one  of  the  largest 
and  best  in  this  part  of  the  county,  and  is  first-class 
in  all  its  appointments.  It  is  used  chiefly  as  a  stock 
farm,  and  Mr.  Coen  has  made  a  specialty  of  thor- 
oughbred Short- horn  cattle,  being  among  the  first 
to  introduce  them  here,  and  he  has  gained  a  wide 
reputation  as  a  breeder,  and  now  has  one  of  the 
finest  herd  of  Short-horns  in  the  country. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  County  Gal  way,  Ire- 
land, June  29,  1836,  a  son  of  P.  H.  and  Dora 
(Gough)  Coen.  He  was  very  young  when  his  par- 
ents died,  and  he  lived  with  an  elder  brother  until 
the  time  of  his  coming  to  the  United  States  in 
1852,  when  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  to  seek  his 
fortunes  on  American  soil.  He  spent  his  first  year 
in  this  country,  at  Racine,  Wis.,  and  then  went  to 
Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  where  he  worked  in  a  carriage 
factory  for  about  five  years,  gaining  a  thorough 


mastery  of  the  trade.  In  1858  he  came  to  Meta- 
mora,  and  pursued  his  trade  here  a  year.  In  the 
meantime  he  had  devoted  all  his  spare  time  to  study- 
ing, as  he  had  resolutely  determined  to  have  a  lib- 
eral education  at  any  cost,  well  knowing  its  value 
to  a  man  in  any  walk  in  life,  and  in  1859  he  en- 
tered the  Chicago  University.  For  three  years  he 
was  a  close  student  in  that  institution  of  learning, 
obtaining  high  rank  in  his  classes  for  excellence  of 
scholarship.  But  his  close  application  to  his  studies 
affected  his  health,  and  he  was  obliged  to  leave  col- 
lege in  July,  18C2,  in  his  junior  year,  without  be- 
ing graduated.  He  then  settled  on  the  farm  where 
he  now  resides,  which  his  wife  had  inherited  from 
her  father,  Morgan  Buckingham,  a  noted  pioneer 
of  Wood  ford  County.  It  now  comprises  960  acres 
of  well-improved  land,  provided  with  a  substantial, 
conveniently  arranged  set  of  frame  buildings,  and 
is  considered  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  county. 
It  is  devoted  mainly  to  stock-raising.  About 
twenty-three  years  ago  Mr.  Coen  commenced  to 
raise  Short- horn  cattle  of  the  highest  grade,  being 
one  of  the  first  in  this  section  of  the  country  to  in- 
troduce that  breed.  He  has  been  eminently  suc- 
cessful in  that  line,  and  now  has  a  herd  of  upwards 
of  sixty  thoroughbreds. 

Sept.  12,  1861,  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Coen  and 
Miss  Margaret  Buckingham  was  duly  solemnized. 
She  is  a  native  of  Cazenovia  Township,  and  a 
daughter  of  Morgan  Buckingham,  one  of  the  origi- 
nal settlers  of  Cazenovia  Township.  (For  particu- 
lars of  her  parental  history  see  sketch  of  Morgan 
Buckingham).  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coen  have  eight  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  George  H.,  Edward  R.,  Mary, 
Charles  M.,  Ruah,  John,  Margaret,  and  Nellie. 

Mr.  Coen  has  fine  native  abilities  that  have  been 
rendered  more  effective  by  education,  and  he  is  a 
keen  observer,  and  is  well-informed  on  all  subjects. 
His  business  talents  are  of  a  high  order,  and  he  is 
gifted  with  practical  energy  and  activity  of  pur- 
pose, which  are  guided  by  high  moral  principles, 
so  that  he  has  exerted  a  great  influence  for  good  in 
his  community,  and  bis  services  as  a  public  official 
have  been  of  incalculable  value.  He  has  held  vari- 
ous offices  of  trust  and  responsibility;  has  ably 
represented  Cazenovia  Township  on  the  County 
Board  of  Supervisors  eleven  years,  and  in  1888  he 


438 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


was  elected  representative  to  the  State  Legislature, 
and  served  with  distinction  during  the  session  of 
the  36th  General  Assembly.  He  has  taken  an  active 
interest  in  educational  affairs,  and  has  been  School 
Director  many  years.  In  politics,  he  has  been  a 
stanch  Republican  since  the  formation  of  the  party, 
and  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Abraham 
Lincoln.  He  and  his  amiable  wife  are  members  of 
the  Baptist  Church,  and  cheerfully  aid  all  endeav- 
ors to  elevate  the  moral  and  social  standing  of  the 
community. 


GEL  GUDEMAN,  senior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Gudeman  Bros.  &  Co.,  is  joint  proprietor 
of  the  Eureka  Pressed  Brick  and  Tile  Man- 
ufactorj',  one  of  the  leading  industries  of 
that  city.  He  was  born  in  Morton,  Tazewell  Co., 
111.,  May  29,  1855,  and  was  brought  to  this  county 
by  his  parents  when  a  child  of  four  years,  they  set- 
tling in  Worth  Township,  where  Joel  was  reared  to 
man's  estate,  receiving  a  common-school  education. 
He  remained  at  home  until  his  marriage,  July  1, 
1878,  then  removed  to  Roanoke  Township,  where 
he  purchased  a  farm  upon  which  he  lived  for  about 
four  years.  Then  selling  out  he,  in  1885,  came  to 
Eureka,  where  he  has  since  lived. 

In  1882  our  subject  formed  a  partnership  with 
his  brother  Albert  for  the  purpose  of  manufactur- 
ing pressed  brick  and  tile.  In  1883  J.  M.  Murray 
was  admitted  to  the  firm,  which  then  assumed  the 
title  of  Gudeman,  Murray  &  Co.  After  two  years 
Mr.  Murray  withdrew,  and  Gudeman  Bros,  enlarged 
their  works  to  their  present  capacity,  which  is 
'2,500,000  pressed  brick  and  1,000,000  feet  of  tile. 
The  works,  however,  are  not  run  to  their  full  ca- 
pacity, although  in  1888  the  company  manufact- 
ured and  sold  1,100,000  pressed  brick,  which  were 
disposed  of  in  Peoria,  Pekin,  Canton  and  Fairbury. 
The  business  is  constantly  on  the  increase.  In  1889 
the  firm  was  strengthened  by  the  admission  of  an- 
other partner  and  now  employs  from  fifteen  to 
twenty-five  men. 

In   connection   with   their  brick  and  tile  works 


Gudeinan  Bros,  have  a  sawmill,  which  they  oper- 
ate to  a  considerable  extent.  A  large  amount  of 
pumping  is  done  with  their  machinery.  They  furn- 
ished the  material  for  .the  erection  of  the  stand  pipe 
which  was  built  in  1  887.and  which  is  located  directly 
at  their  works.  They  furnish  most  of  the  city  water 
mains  and  also  pump  the  water  with  their  machin- 
ery. They  furnish  the  steam  for  the  elevator,  which 
is  located  1,000  feet  distant,  grind  feed  and  do 
general  blacksinithing  for  machine  work,  besides 
furnishing  building  estimates  on  brick  work  and 
contracts  for  mason  work.  They  also  operate  as 
agents  for  the  H.  W.  John's  abestos-roofing.  Mr. 
Joel  Gudeman  is  a  Republican,  politically,  and  re- 
ligiously, a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  con- 
tributing liberally  to  its  support. 

Our  subject  was  married,  July  7,  1878,  in  Roan- 
oke Township,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Fehr,  who  was 
born  in  Metamora  Township,  this  county,  March 
11,  1857.  This  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of 
six  children,  viz:  Anna  M.,  Daniel,  Benjamin,  Al- 
bert, Josephine  and  Louisa,  of  whom  only  four  are 
living,  two  having  died  in  infancy. 


ENRY  S.  SHUMAN.  Among  the  enter- 
prising young  farmers  of  Woodford  County, 
few  arc  better  known  and  more  highly  es- 
teemed than  the  subject  of  this  biographical 
review.  He  is  a  young  man  of  exemplary  habits, 
and  possesses  the  ability  and  energy  necessary  to 
make  life  a  success.  In  his  worthy  works  he  is  as- 
sisted by  his  wife,  a  lady  of  education  and  refine- 
ment, with  whom  he  was  united  in  marriage,  Sept. 
29,  1887,  in  Juniata  County,  Pa.,  which  was  the 
home  of  Mrs.  Shuman  previous  to  her  marriage. 
She  was  Miss  Laura  S.,  daughter  of  John  and  Susan 
(Brubaker)  Woodward,  and  was  born  June  28, 
1862.  in  Juniata  County,  and  there  reared  and 
marrie'd. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shuman  live  on  a  pleasant  home- 
stead situated  just  outside  the  city  limits,  in  El 
Paso  Township.  Their  farm  comprises  197  acres 
of  finely  improved  land  on  section  8,  and  has  been 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


439 


their  home  since  their  marriage.  The  residence  is 
a  neat  and  comfortable  one,  while  the  farm  build- 
ings are  of  a  substantial  character.  They  here  wel- 
come their  many  friends,  who  are  always  treated  in 
the  most  hospitable  manner,  and  Mr.  Shu  man  and 
his  wife  are  in  turn  welcomed  as  honored  guests  in 
all  the  best  circles  of  society,  which  their  education 
and  refinement  fit  them  to  adorn. 

Mr.  Shuman  came  to  his  present  home  from  Olio 
Township,  where  he  had  lived  with  his  parents 
since  the  year  1867.  He  is  a  native  of  Minnesota, 
having  been  born  in  Goodhue  County,  that  State, 
April  19,  1864.  He  is  the  eldest  son  in  a  family 
of  two  sons  and  one  daughter,  born  to  Samuel  and 
Henrietta  (Schnebly)  Shuman.  Samuel  Shuman 
was  a  native  of  Juniata  County,  Pa.,  where  he  was 
reared  to  manhood.  His  wife  was  born  in  Maryl- 
and, but  when  only  two  years  of  age  came  with  her 
parents  to  Illinois.  When  she  grew  to  womanhood 
she  removed  to  Minnesota,  and  there  met  her  fu- 
ture husband,  Mr.  Shuman,  who  had  come  there 
when  a  young  man,  and  had  taken  up  a  claim. 
They  were  married  in  Peoria,  Ills.,  and  lived  on  the 
claim  which  Mr.  Shuman  had  pre-empted  in  Good- 
hue  County,  until  their  oldest  child,  our  subject, 
was  two  years  of  age,  when  they  came  to  Olio 
Township,  this  county,  which  has  since  been  their 
home.  Samuel  Shuman  has  been  prospered  in  his 
labors,  and  now  is  the  owner  of  over  400  acres  of 
well-improved  land.  He  and  his  wife  are  not  only 
well-to-do  in  this  world's  goods,  but  are  held  in 
high  esteem  by  their  neighbors  and  friends.  They 
are  among  the  most  prominent  people  in  the 
county,  where  they  have  passed  so  many  years  of 
their  lives.  They  gave  their  children  excellent 
educations,  and  thus  our  subject  was  well  prepared 
for  the  duties  awaiting  him  in  the  future.  In  early 
life  he  learned  those  habits  of  industry  which  are 
of  so  much  benefit  to  him  now,  and  his  parents  early 
in  his  life  inculcated  the  important  lessons  of  perse- 
verance and  energy.  To  them  he  owes  a  great  deal 
of  his  present  prosperity,  for  they  fitted  him  well 
for  his  present  position. 

Mrs.  Henry  Shuman.  the  wife  of  the  subject  of 
this  notice,  was  reared  to  womanhood  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  her  parents  yet  reside.  She  was  a  very 
successful  teacher  in  her  native  county,  and  for 


several  years  prior  to  her  marriage  her  time  was 
thus  employed.  Her  father  is  a  prosperous  farmer, 
and  now  lives,  hale  and  hearty,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-four  years.  His  wife  is  sixty- five  years 
old.  They  are  both  active  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  while  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shuman  are  attendants 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  which  was  the  relig- 
ious faith  of  Mr.  Shuman's  mother. 


AMUEL  M.  ROBINSON  is  a  young  farmer 
residing  on  section  1,  Cazenovia  Town- 
ship, where  he  has  lived  since  he  was  eight 
years  of  age,  occupying  the  homestead  upon 
which  he  has  been  reared,  and  which  he  has  man- 
aged with  signal  success  several  years.  He  is  a 
native  of  the  Keystone  State,  having  been  born  in 
Allegheny  County,  June  18,  1857.  His  father, 
James  Robinson,  was  born  in  the  same  county, 
where  his  father,  who  was  a  farmer,  spent  his  last 
years.  The  father  of  our  subject  commenced  life 
by  working  in  a  woolen  factory  when  but  a  boy, 
and  after  he  had  grown  to  manhood,  such  had  been 
his  enterprise  and  industry  that  he  was  enabled  to 
purchase  the  factory  where  he  had  learned  the 
trade,  and  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cloth 
several  years  thereafter.  He  subsequently  sold  the 
factory,  and  moving  to  Allegheny  County,  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
until  1864,  when  he  disposed  of  his  farm  at  a  good 
price,  in  order  to  take  up  bis  residence  in  Illinois. 
After  his  arrival  here  he  bought  the  farm  where 
his  son  lives,  and  made  his  home  here  until  his 
death.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife,  the  mother 
of  our  subject,  was  Eliza  Curry.  She  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  and  was  the  daughter  of  Daniel 
Curry.  She  died  on  the  homestead  in  August,  1888. 
There  were  four  of  their  eight  children  grew  to 
maturity,  namely:  Mary  J.,  Elizabeth,  Thomas, 
Samuel  M. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  youngest  child 
of  his  parents,  and  he  was  seven  years  of  age  when 
he  came  to  this  State  with  them.  His  early  life 
was  spent  very  much  as  that  of  other  farmers'  boys, 


440 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


attending  school  and  assisting  on  the  farm,  and 
with  the  exception  of  three  years,  when  lie  was  a 
clerk  in  Washburn,  he  lias  resided  on  the  old  home- 
stead. This  comprises  eighty  acres  of  well-improved 
land,  finely  located  within  a  half-mile  of  the  nour- 
ishing village  of  Washburn. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  was 
joined  in  marriage  to  Miss  Flora  Hawk,  a  native  of 
Illinois,  in  August,  1883.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Philip  Hawk.  They  have  one  child,  named  Clay. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robinson  are  members  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church,  and  do  what  they  can 
to  advance  the  religious  and  moral  status  of  the 
community  of  which  they  are  worthy  residents. 
Mr.  Robinson  is  a  sturdy,  sober-minded  industri- 
ous young  man,  of  good  moral  habits,  and  is  de- 
serving of  success. 


THOMAS  OSCAR  TANTON.  Wood  ford 
County  has  a  flue  representative  of  her  na- 
tive-born citizens  in  this  gentleman,  who, 
reared  within  her  borders,  educated  in  her  schools, 
is  now  one  of  the  foremost  among  her  leading 
farmers  and  stock-raisers,  and  in  the  amount  of  his 
wealth  and  ability  as  a  business  man.  is  surpassed  by 
none.  He  was  born  on  the  farm  that  lie  owns  and 
occupies  in  Cazenovia  Township.  April  10,  1850, 
and  is  the  only  son  now  living  of  John  and  Hannah 
Tanton.  For  an  extended  account  of  their  family 
history,  see  biography  o£  John  Tanton  on  another 
page  of  this  volume. 

Mr.  Tanton  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  early  gained  a  thorough  practical  knowledge 
of  the  calling  in  all  its  branches,  and  when  only 
twenty  years  of  age,  commenced  business  for  him- 
self, farming,  raising  and  dealing  in  stock,  and  at 
twenty-three  years  of  age  took  entire  charge  of  his 
father's  extensive  business,  and  has  carried  it  on 
with  marked  success  ever  since. 

Mr.  Tanton  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
marriage,  which  took  place  Feb.  27,  1873,  was  to 
Miss  Karbai-a  Gingrich,  a  most  estimable  lady.  She 
was  born  at  Hickory  Point,  Wood  ford  Count}-, 


March  18,  1853,  a  daughter  of  Christian  and  Eliza- 
beth (Naffsinger)  Gingrich,  pioneers  of  Woodford 
County,  her  father  a  native  of  France,  and  her 
mother  of  Germany.  May  10,  1887,  the  shadow- 
of  death  fell  over  the  threshold  of  the  home  of  Oil  a 
subject,  and  the  beloved  wife  and  mother  was 
taken  from  her  family.  She  bore  her  husband  five 
children  —  Lizzie  IT.,  Josie  E.,  Edna  B.,  Mary  M. 
and  John  Oscar.  Mrs.  Tanton  was  a  member  of 
the  old  Omish  Church,  and  was  known  and  es- 
teemed for  her  amiable  qualities  and  Christian 
spirit. 

Mr.  Tanton's  marriage  to  his  present  wife,  for- 
merly Miss  F.  Amanda  Martin,  was  solemnized  May 
16,  1889.  She  is  a  native  of  Cazenovia  Township, 
born  March  22,  1852,  to  Henry  and  Sarah  A.  (Wil- 
son) Martin,  well-known  early  settlers  of  this  town- 
ship, who  are  at  the  present  time  residents  of 
Metamora.  Mrs.  Tanton  is  a  lady  of  education 
and  refinement,  and  was  successfully  engaged  in 
teaching  school  prior  to  her  marriage,  entering  upon 
that  arduous  profession  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years.  She  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  and  her  pleasant,  kindly 
ways  have  won  her  a  large  circle  of  friends  and 
acquaintances.  On  another  page  of  the  ALBUM  ap- 
pears a  fine  lithographic  engraving  of  their  attract- 
ive home,  over  which  Mrs.  Tantou  presides  with 
admirable  grace,  seconding  her  husband's  courteous, 
friendly  welcome  to  all  guests. 

Mr.  Tanton  possesses  masterly  talents  for  busi- 
ness, is  at  once  bold  and  cautious,  prompt  and  dar- 
ing, is  quick  to  see  and  take  advantage  of  the 
fluctuations  of  the  market,  and  is  rightly  consid- 
ered one  of  the  keenest  and  ablest  financiers  in 
Woodford  County.  He  could  not  have  accom- 
plished all  that  he  has  at  his  age,  if  he  had  not  been 
well-endowed  by  nature  with  indomitable  force  of 
will,  great  tenacity  of  purpose,  and  no  less  ambi- 
tion. 


illOMAS  STEVENSON,  a  substantial,  well- 
to-do  farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  Woodford 
County,  has  lived  on  the  same  homestead 
for  a  period  of  thirty-five  years.    It  was  originally 


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PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


443 


taken  up  by  his  father  while  it  was  still  a  part  of 
the  wild,  uncultivated  prairie,  and  now  constitutes 
one  of  the  choicest  farms  in  all  Cazenovia  Town- 
ship, finely  located  on  section  12,  one  mile  south- 
east of  the  village  of  Washburn.  Its  320  acres  are 
in  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  its  commodious, 
well-appointed  buildings  are  in  good  order,  while 
all  about  the  place  indicates  thrift  and  wise  man- 
agement. Mr.  Stevenson  also  owns  a  fine,  well- 
improved  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Linn  Township. 
When  he  came  to  this  county  in  early  manhood,  it 
had  been  settled  for  several  years,  yet  but  little  im-  | 
provemcnt  had  been  made  on  the  prairie,  and  deer 
and  other  wild  animals  roamed  at  will  over  its  broad 
expanse,  or  sought  shelter  in  the  groves  along 
the  streams.  The  railway  had  just  been  com- 
pleted through  the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  but 
the  nearest  railway  station  was  some  distance  away 
at  Minonk.  It  has  been  Mr.  Stevenson's  fortune  to 
witness  the  great  changes  that  have  come  over  the 
face  of  the  country  since  he  first  looked  upon  it, 
and  to  promote  its  growth  as  only  an  intelligent, 
successful  farmer  can.  He  has  been  much  pros- 
pered, as  better  facilities  for  disposing  of  his  pro- 
duce have  come  with  the  advent  of  the  railway 
within  half  a  mile  of  his  farm,  and  with  the  spring- 
ing up  of  the  flourishing  village  of  Washburn 
near  by. 

Mr.  Stevenson  comes  of  good  stock,  and  is  a 
native  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  his  birth  taking  place 
in  Bladensburg,  Knox  County,  March  28,  1833,  the 
eldest  son  of  George  and  Hannah  (Le  Fevre)  Stev- 
enson. (For  parental  History,  see  sketcli  of  Will- 
iam Stevenson  on  another  page  of  this  volume.) 
Our  subject  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native 
county,  growing  to  a  stalwart,  intelligent  manhood. 
In  1854,  he  set  out  with  his  parents  from  the  old 
home  and  traveled  across  the  country  by  slow 
stages  to  this  county.  Being  pleased  with  the  as- 
pect of  the  surrounding  country,  the  father  decided 
to  locate  in  Cazenovia  Township,  and  purchased 
the  homestead  now  in  possession  of  our  subject. 
The  latter  was  of  great  assistance  to  him  in  its  de 
velopment,  and  some  years  before  his  death  the  son 
assumed  the  entire  control  of  the  farm,  and  has 
ever  since  managed  it  so  as  to  produce  the  best  re- 
sults. He  has  never  married,  but  while  his  parents 


were  living,  devoted  himself  to  caring  for  them 
and  making  their  declining  years  comfortable  and 
free  from  care.  He  is  a  man  of  sound  common 
sense,  possessing  great  stability  of  character,  and  is 
an  influence  for  good  in  this  community.  In  his 
religious  belief  he  is  a  Presbyterian,  strong  in  the 
faith,  and  has  been  a  Trustee  in  the  church  to  which 
he  belongs,  for  many  years.  He  keeps  himself  well 
informed  as  to  the  political  questions  that  agitate 
the  public  mind,  and  favors  the  policy  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party. 

We  present  elsewhere  in  this  volume  a  view  of 
the  home  and  surroundings  of  Mr.  Stevenson,  and 
it  is  especially  noticeable  that  he  keeps  everything 
in  fine  shape  and  systematic  arrangement. 


A.  DAVIS,  a  well-known  resident  of  Eu- 
reka and  proprietor  of  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant banking  institutions,  first  visited 
this  section  in  the  spring  of  1860.  Soon 
afterward,  however,  he  emigrated  to  Weston,  Mo., 
but  returned  and  with  a  partner  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  until  the  fall  of  1861.  Then  in  com- 
pany with  Benjamin  Lyon,  of  Peoria,  he  purchased 
a  half  interest  in  the  Eureka  flouring-mills,  which 
they  conducted  until  about  1869,  after  which  Mr. 
Davis  became  chief  owner,  retaining  his  interest 
therein  until  the  mill  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  the 
spring  of  1889.  In  1868  he  established  the  bank- 
ing house  of  J.  A.  Davis  &  Co.,  which  was  con- 
ducted under  this  name  until  June  1871,  when  Mr. 
Davis  assumed  the  entire  control  and  changed  its 
name  to  the  Bank  of  Eureka. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  near  George- 
town, Brown  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  27,  1829.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfather  journeyed  in  the  early  days 
from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio  while  it  was  a  territory, 
and  settled  on  the  Little  Miami  River.  One  of  his 
sons,  Hugh,  the  father  of  our  subject,  when  a 
young  man  went  into  Kentucky,  but  later  crossed 
the  river,  settling  on  the  Little  Miami,  eighteen 
miles  above  the  present  city  of  Cincinnati.  Later 
he  removed  to  Brown  County  and  settled  near 


444 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Georgetown.  He  died  when  our  subject  was  only 
five  years  old.  He  was  married,  it  is  supposed, 
on  the  Little  Miami,  to  Miss  Winnifred  Berry,  and 
there  was  born  to  them  a  family  of  eleven  children, 
of  whom  our  subject  was  the  youngest  and  is  the 
only  survivor. 

Young  Davis,  after  the  death  of  his  father,  lived 
with  one  of  his  brothers  for  a  time,  and  when  of 
suitable  age  was  apprenticed  to  a  wagon-maker  to 
learn  the  trade.  This,  however,  was  not  congenial 
to  his  tastes,  and  when  only  sixteen  years  old  he 
enlisted  as  a  soldier  for  the  Mexican  War  and  was 
made  a  Second  Lieutenant.  Much  to  his  regret 
the  company  was  never  called  into  service.  He 
then  determined  to  go  West,  and  leaving  Ohio,  in 
1848,  repaired  to  Weston,  Mo.,  where  he  engaged 
as  a  carpenter.  He  remained  there  and  in  that 
vicinity,  living  also  for  a  time  in  Vicksburg,  Miss., 
and  put  up  the  best  hotel  in  that  place. 

In  the  spring  of  1850  Mr.  Davis  came  up  the 
Mississippi  River  to  Weston,  Mo.,  and  in  March 
following  started  overland  for  California.  He 
reached  the  Pacific  coast  in  August,  1850,  and  re- 
mained in  that  region  until  the  fall  of  1859. 
Shortly  after  his  arrival  there  he  was  taken  ill  and 
did  not  recover  until  the  following  spring.  After- 
ward he  was  engaged  in  the  mines  a  little  less 
than  three  years. 

At  a  place  called  Glenooe,  in  the  mountains,  Mr. 
Davis  assisted  in  putting  up  the  first  sawmill 
erected  in  California,  at  which  place  he  came  near 
losing  his  life  through  the  carelessness  of  a  fellow- 
workman.  He,  however,  escaped  with  the  loss  of 
some  of  the  fingers  of  his  right  hand.  We  next 
find  him  in  Sacramento  County,  where  he  became 
owner  of  a  dairy  ranch  and  operated  this  in  part- 
nership with  another  man  about  four  years.  In 
the  meantime  he  assisted  in  the  organization  of 
Eldorado  County,  and  voted  on  the  adoption  of  a 
State  Constitution,  casting  his  vote  in  favor  of 
having  California  admitted  as  a  free  State.  He 
was  chosen  one  of  the  County  Commissioners  and 
was  otherwise  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the 
county  while  remaining  there.  His  subsequent 
movements  we  have  already  indicated. 

In  the  fall  of  1862,  having  returned  to  Illinois, 
Mr.  Davis  was  elected  to  the  General  Assembly, 


being  a  member  of  the  Legislature  during  the  in- 
teresting and  important  sessions  which  followed. 
He  has  represented  his  township  in  the  County 
Board  of  Supervisors  several  terms.  Politically 
he  votes  the  Democratic  ticket.  During  the  war 
he  took  an  active  part  in  upholding  the  Union 
cause,  encouraging  enlistments  and  giving  substan- 
tial aid.  He  became  identified  with  the  Masonic 
fraternity  in  the  fall  of  1861,  and  is  now  a  mem- 
ber of  W.  C.  Hobbs  Lodge,  No.  306,  R.A.M.  He 
has  been  connected  with  the  Presbyterian  Church 
since  1868. 


THUR  LEE  HEREFORD  is  editor  of  the 
Woodford  Sentinel^ and  his  facile  pen  and 
able  management  have  made  it  one  of  the 
best  and  most  popular  newspapers  in  this 
part  of  the  State.  Our  subject  is  a  native  of  the 
county,  born  in  Palestine  Township,  April  1,  1858. 
His  father,  Levan  P.  Hereford,  a  pioneer  settler  of 
Woodford  County,  was  a  Virginian  by  birth,  born 
near  the  town  of  Leesburg,  Loudoun  County,  March 
3,  1815.  His  father,  Ammon  Hereford,  is  thought 
to  have  been  a  native  of  the  same  county,  while 
his  father,  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Herefordshire,  England,  and  later  in  life, 
coming  to  America  with  his  family,  bought  a  large 
tract  of  land  in  Virginia,  and  became  the  owner  of 
a  fine  plantation  and  a  large  number  of  slaves.  He 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  his  Virginia 
home.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject  served  in 
the  navy  during  the  War  of  1812,  and  never  en- 
joyed good  health  after  his  experience  of  military 
life,  but  died  a  few  years  after  leaving  the  marine 
service.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Miss 
Virginia  Powell.  She  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and 
a  grandaughter  of  the  illustrious  Gen.  Greene,  of 
Revolutionary  fame.  She  came  to  Illinois  with  her 
children,  and  passed  her  last  days  in  this  State.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  but  nine  years  old  when 
liis  father  died,  and  he  was  reared  by  his  grand- 
parents after  that  event.  He  continued  to  live  in 
old  Virginia,  among  the  pleasant  scenes  of  his 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


445 


childhood,  till  1836,  when  he  joined  the  tide  of 
emigration  that  was  flowing  westward,  and  came  to 
this  State  by  those  great  highways  of  travel — the 
Ohio,  Mississippi  and  Illinois  rivers — to  Peoria, 
and  thence  to  Tazewell  County,  to  the  part  of  it 
now  embraced  in  Woodford  County.  He  commenced 
life  by  working  by  the  day  or  month,  as  chance  of- 
fered, and  after  he  had  saved  money  enough  to  buy 
an  ox  team,  he  went  to  Clark  County,  where  he 
rented  land,  and  farmed  a  little,  and  chopped  wood. 
During  his  residence  there,  he  made  a  few  trips 
down  the  Mississippi  River  to  New  Orleans,  with 
flatboats  loaded  with  produce.  On  his  arrival  at 
that  city  he  would  sell  the  flatboats  as  well  as  the 
produce.  In  a  few  years  he  returned  from  Clark 
County  to  Washington,  and  buying  a  threshing 
machine,  he  operated  it  a  part  of  each  year,  and 
the  remainder  of  the  time  engaged  in  teaming.  He 
used  to  take  grain  to  Chicago,  and  on  the  return 
trip  brought  back  merchandise  from  that  city. 
About  1852  he  came  to  Woodford  County,  and  en- 
tered a  tract  of  land  in  Palestine  Township,  a  part 
of  it  lying  near  the  village  of  Secor.  He  devel- 
oped a  good  farm,  and  meeting  witli  more  than 
ordinary  success,  he  bought  more  farms,  and  became 
quite  wealthy.  For  some  time  he  was  agent  for 
Isaac  Underbill,  a  large  land  owner,  of  Peoria.  He 
continued  to  reside  in  Secor  till  his  demise,  Dec.  23, 
1876,  when  a  valuable  citizen  was  lost  to  that  place, 
one  who  had  been  instrumental  in  bringing  about  its 
prosperity.  He  was  known  and  honored  through- 
out the  county,  and  took  a  prominent  part  in  pub- 
lic affairs.  He  was  an  influential  member  of  the 
County  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  served  as  Chair- 
man of  that  august  body  several  terms.  He  took 
a  lively  interest  in  politics,  and  was  one  of  the 
leaders  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  was  a  dele- 
gate to  many  county,  district  and  State  conven- 
tions. The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our 
subject  was  Louisa  M.  Powell,  and  she  was  born 
in  Loudoun  County ,Va..  a  daughter  of  Mahlon  and 
Johanna  (Schohagan)  Powell.  She  is  still  living  in 
Secor.  She  is  the  mother  of  eight  children,  seven 
of  whom  grew  to  maturity. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Secor,  and  at  the  youthful  age  of  seven- 
teen he  commenced  teaching,  and  taught  very 


successfully  the  ensuing  year.  In  1876  he  com- 
menced studying  law  with  Judge  Shaw,  of  Lacon, 
and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  became  a  stu- 
dent at  the  Union  College  of  Law  at  Chicago.  He 
was  graduated  from  that  institution  in  the  spring 
of  1878,  having  gained  a  good  knowledge  of  his 
profession,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Mt.Ver- 
non  in  1879.  He  then  went  to  the  town  of  Clyde, 
Cloud  Co.,  Kan.,  and  opened  an  office,  and  was 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  there  with 
very  good  success  till  the  month  of  December, 
1880.  At  that  time  he  renounced  law  to  enter  the 
more  inviting  field  of  journalism,  for  which  he  has 
a  decided  taste,  and  returning  to  Woodford  County, 
he  bought  the  El  Paso  Journal.  He  was  prosper- 
ously engaged  in  its  management  till  January, 
1885,  and  from  that  time  till  1888  he  was  connected 
with  the  Chicago  Tribune  and  News.  In  that 
month  he  became  the  editor  of  the  Woodford  Sen- 
tinel. Under  his  able  editorship  this  paper  is  un- 
doubtedly becoming  an  educator  of  the  people,  a 
guide  in  political  matters  and  in  public  affairs. 
Through  its  columns  our  subject  uses  his  influence 
to  rouse  public  spirit,  and  promote  all  schemes  for 
the  benefit  of  the  city  or  county. 

Mr.  Hereford  is  of  an  active  temperament,  is  a 
keen  observer  of  men  and  things,  possesses  marked 
literary  talent,  and  bringing  a  well-trained  mind  to 
bear  on  his  work,  in  the  few  short  years  since  he 
entered  the  journalistic  field,  he  has  made  a  name 
for  himself  in  the  editorial  world,  and  has  placed 
himself  among  the  most  progressive  members  of 
his  profession. 


LBERT  M.  K1NDIG  is  classed  among  the 
the  native  citizens  of  Woodford  County 
who,  within  the  last  decade,  have  stepped 
to  the  front  to  perform  their  share  in  tin; 
support  and  propagation  of  the  great  agricultural 
interests  of  this  fine  farming  region.  The  son  of  a 
pioneer,  he  is  pursuing  his  calling  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Roanoke  Township,  where  lie  was  born, 


446 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  where  he  has  passed  bis  entire  life,  and  which 
his  father  purchased  from  the  Government  many 
years  ago,  when  it  was  a  tract  of  wild  prairie  land. 
Our  subject  comes  of  good  Pennsylvania!]  and 
Virginian  stock.  His  father,  Benjamin  G.  Kindig,was 
born  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  Sept.  29,  1814,  and 
when  he  was  a  small  lad  his  parents  removed  to  Vir- 
ginia, and  there  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  in  1842 
was  married  to  Delila  Shotwell,  a  native  of  Page 
County,  that  State.  In  1851  he  came  with  his 
family  to  Illinois,  where  he  thought  he  could  bet- 
ter his  condition  and  build  up  a  more  comfortable 
home  for  his  wife  and  children  than  in  the  place 
where  he  was  then  living.  The  long  journey  hither 
was  made  witli  a  team,  and  he  found  this  section 
of  the  country  sparsely  settled,  and  most  of  the 
land  still  in  the  hands  of  the  Government.  He  spent 
nearly  a  year  in  Metamora,  and  then  located  in 
Roanoke,  where  our  subject  now  lives.  He  bought 
the  land,  a  part  of  which  was  covered  with  timber 
and  brush,  and  the  remainder  being  wild  prairie, 
at  the  low  rate  of  $1.50  an  acre.  After  paying  for 
his  homestead  he  had  but  little  cash  left  in  his 
pocket,  and  only  one  team  to  work  the  land. 
Wolves  were  plentiful  at  that  time,  and  deer  and 
an  abundance  of  other  wild  game  supplied  the 
family  larder.  For  some  years  neighbors  were  few 
and  far  between,  and  the  nearest  market  was  at 
Peoria.  He  set  to  work  with  a  will  to  make  the 
best  of  his  resources,  and  after  procuring  lumber 
at  Peoria  and  building  a  dwelling  for  his  family, 
he  set  about  the  pioneer  task  of  clearing  his  land 
and  preparing  it  for  cultivation,  and  in  the  course 
of  years,  by  persevering  and  well-directed  toil,  he 
developed  a.  fine  farm,  on  which  he  continued  to 
make  his  residence  until  the  year  1885.  In  that 
year  he  removed  to  Iroquois  County,  this  State, 
and  bought  a  valuable  farm  three  and  one-half 
miles  from  Onarga,  and  there  rounded  out  a  long 
and  useful  life  Oct.  9,  1888.  Fie  was  in  every  re- 
spect a  thoroughly  good  man,  whom  to  know  was 
to  esteem.  He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Christian  Church,  and  for  many  years  an  Elder,  and 
ho  earnestly  strove  to  disseminate  the  Gospel.  His 
estimable  wife,  who  was  the  worthy  companion  of 
sucli  a  man,  is  still  spared  to  her  children,  and 
makes  her  home  on  the  farm  where  he  spent  his 


last  years.  She  is  the  mother  of  nine  children, 
seven  of  whom  grew  to  maturity — Eliza  A.,  Mary 
E.,  Amanda,  John  D.,  Albert  M.,  James  A.  and 
Frank. 

The  subject  of  this  brief  biography  was  born  on  the 
farm  where  he  now  resides,  Oct.  14,  1859,  and  here 
the  years  of  his  life  have  been  passed.  He  received 
a  very  good  education  in  the  local  public  schools, 
and  at  home  a  sound,  practical  training  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  The  high  principles  of  truth  and 
honesty  were  early  instilled  into  his  mind  by  wise, 
Christian  parents,  and  have  guided  him  to  an  hon- 
orable, upright  manhood.  He  chose  the  calling  to 
which  he  had  been  bred,  having  a  natural  inclina- 
tion for  it,  and  since  this  farm  came  into  his  pos- 
session has  taken  pride  in  keeping  it  up  to  the  same 
high  standard  that  it  had  attained  under  his  father's 
management. 

On  the  18th  of  February,  1885,  Mr.  Kindig  and 
Miss  Gertie  Wilson  were  united  in  the  holy  bonds 
of  matrimony,  and  to  them  one  child  has  been  born, 
Lee  F.  Mrs.  Kindig  is  a  native  of  Metamora,  born 
Feb.  27,  1865,  and  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Jo- 
sephine (Sager)  Wilson. 

Our  subject  is  a  young  man  of  sturdy  enter- 
terprise,  possessing  good  capabilities  and  a  stead- 
fast will,  so  that  his  chances  for  a  successful  career 
as  a  farmer  are  very  promising.  He  and  his  ami- 
able wife  are  members  of 'the  Christian  Church, 
and  their  fidelity  to  their  religious  belief  is  evi- 
denced in  their  daily  conduct.  Mr.  Kindig  is  a 
firm  supporter  of  the  Prohibition  party. 


J~i  AMES  W.  ROBESON,  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent and  successful  farmers  of  the  county, 
resides  on  section   7,    Palestine    Township, 
'    where  be  owns  a  fine  farm  of  136  acres.     Of 
him  it  can  be  said  what  is  true  of  but  a  few,    that 
he  was  born  and    reared  in  the  community  where 
he  still  makes    his    home.     His    birth    occurred  in 
what  is  now  Olio  Township,  Jan.  19,    1837.     The 
family  is  of  Irish  descent.     Andrew    Robeson,   its 
founder  in  America,  was   a  native  of  the  Emerald 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


447 


Isle,  but  in  early  manhood  emigrated  to  America, 
and  located  in  North  Carolina.  His  people  were 
numbered  among  the  prominent  and  highly  re- 
spected families  of  his  native  land,  and  were  fol- 
lowers of  the  Presbyterian  faith.  In  North  Caro- 
lina, he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  a  Miss  Emerick, 
who  afterwards  became  his  wife.  She  was  born  in 
North  Carolina,  of  German  parentage.  After  her 
marriage  with  Mr.  Robeson  was  celebrated,  the 
young  couple  began  their  domestic  life  near  Wells- 
burg,  W.  Va.,  and  after  the  birth  of  their  only 
child — James,  father  of  our  subject,  removed  to 
Kentucky,  settling  near  Hopkinsville,  where  their 
son  was  reared  to  manhood. 

In  his  early  life,  James  Robeson  resolved  to 
study  for  the  ministry,  and  acting  upon  that  deter- 
mination became  a  student  under  the  great  Chris- 
tian minister,  B.  W.  Stone,  one  of  the  most  emi- 
nent divines  of  the  age.  On  arriving  at  man's 
estate,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Jane  Earl, 
who  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and  reared  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  Hopkinsville,  that  State.  By  his  mar- 
riage he  came  into  possession  of  a  large  number  of 
slaves,  but  believing  it  contrary  to  the  teachings  of 
the  Bible,  to  hold  in  bondage  any  of  the  human 
race,  he  liberated  all  but  two,  to  whom  he  could 
not  give  their  freedom  as  he  could  not  vouch  for 
their  good  behavior.  Six  children  were  bom  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robeson,  while  residing  in  Kentucky, 
and  as  he  did  not  wish  to  rear  them  in  the  midst  of 
slavery  and  its  influences,  he  resolved  to  come 
to  the  North,  and  locate  in  a  free  State.  He 
chose  Illinois  as  the  scene  of  his  future  labors  and 
with  his  family  made  the  trip  across  the  country  in 
covered  wagons,  camping  out  by  the  roadside  at 
night.  At  length  they  reached  Walnut  Grove, 
then  known  as  Ross'  Point  in  Olio  Township, 
where  he  took  up  his  residence.  The  family 
moved  into  a  little  log  cabin,  which  had  been  pre- 
viously erected  by  one  of  the  early  settlers,  and 
began  life  in  this  county  in  true  pioneer  style. 
Elder  Robeson  labored  hard  to  make  a  home.  All 
week  long  he  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  his  land, 
and  on  Sunday  preached  the  gospel  to  the  people 
of  the  community.  Some  years  later,  he  went  to 
Washington,  Tazewell  County,  where  his  life  was 
spent  in  a  similar  manner,  and  afterward  pur 


chased  a  farm  southwest  of  Secor,  where  he  re- 
mained for  a  few  years.  His  next  place  of  residence 
was  at  Bowling  Green,  where  he  engaged  in  minis- 
terial duties  for  about  four  years,  and  also  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business,  when  he  again 
returned  to  his  farm  near  Secor.  He  possessed  un- 
bounded energy  and  great  strength  of  purpose, 
which  enabled  him  to  successfully  combat  against 
the  trials,  hardships  and  difficulties  incident  to 
frontier  life.  He  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits 
until  1862,  when  he  received  and  accepted  a  call 
from  the  church  at  Secor,  and  also  engaged  in 
pastoral  duties  in  other  places.  In  McLean 
County,  he  engaged  in  evangelical  work,  and  his 
labors  were  very  effective.  He  did  great  good  for 
the  cause,  and  through  his  instrumentality  many 
were  led  to  accept  the  doctrines  which  he  advo- 
cated. He  was  a  man  of  intelligence,  possessing 
more  than  ordinary  ability,  and  by  his  eloquence 
and  earnestness  of  expression  won  many  hearts. 
Only  a  few  weeks  prior  to  his  death  he  laid  aside 
his  duties  and  retired  to  private  life.  His  upright- 
ness and  honesty  of  purpose  won  him  the  confi- 
dence and  love  of  all;  of  him  it  may  be  truly  said 
that  the  world  is  better  for  his  having  lived.  His 
loved  wife,  who  was  born  March  2,  1806,  died  at 
"Her  home  in  Secor,  Feb.  6,  1876.  Like  her  hus- 
band, she  delighted  in  doing  good  and  was  ever 
ready  to  extend  a  helping  hand  to  the  poor  and 
needy.  She  was  a  worthy  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  and  her  many  acts  of  kindness,  per- 
formed in  a  quiet  and  unostentatious  manner,  won 
her  the  love  of  the  entire  community,  and  her 
memory  will  long  be  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of 
those  who  knew  her. 

The  family  circle  of  Elder  Robeson  and  wife 
was  completed  b}'  the  birth  of  the  following  children : 
Andrew,  the  first  born  died  in  infancy;  Polly  A. 
was  married  and  died  at  the  birth  of  her  first  child; 
Martha  A.,  wife  of  L.  M.  Wolley,  died  at  James- 
town, Ark.,  Feb.  21,  1883,  leaving  six  children, 
all  grown;  Betsy  J.  is  the  wife  of  Sanford  Short- 
ridge,  a  farmer  residing  at  Mt.  Zion ;  Hamilton,  a 
farmer  in  Cruger  Township,  married  Phoebe  Jones, 
I  by  whom  he  has  seven  living  children,  three  sons 
and  four  daughters;  James  W.,  of  this  sketch,  is 
the  next  in  order  of  birth;  John  E.,  who  is  a  sue- 


448 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


cessful  and  skillful  painter,  and  also  is  proprietor 
of  a  hotel  in  Secor,  wedded  Mary  S.  Brown,  of 
Olio  Township,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Illi- 
nois; C.  A.  is  the  husband  of  Susan  Raines,  by 
whom  he  has  three  living  children,  and  resides 
with  his  family  in  Secor;  Marcus  E.  is  a  promi- 
nent teacher  and  attorney  in  Oklahoma;  Albert  E. 
was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Mary  McDowell,  of 
Bates  County.  Mo.,  and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
six  years.  Three  sons  of  the  family,  John,  C.  A. 
and  Marcus  served  their  country  in  the  Rebellion, 
enlisting  as  privates  in  different  regiments,  and  John 
was  the  only  one  wounded  during  the  entire  strug- 
gle. All  the  children  were  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  and  are  an  honor  to  their  parents. 

James  W.  Robeson,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
lias  been  a  life-long  resident  of  Woodford  County. 
His  education  was  received  in  a  log  school-house, 
his  father  teaching  part  of  the  time,  and  under  the 
parental  roof  he  was  reared  to  manhood.  He  has 
resided  in  various  parts  of  the  county,  as  his  father 
was  called  to  take  different  charges,  and  remained 
at  home  until  his  marriage,  which  took '  place  in 
Palestine  Township.  Dec.  19,  1861,  Miss  Margaret 
M.  Richardson  becoming  his  wife.  The  lady  was  a 
daughter  of  James  M.  and  Nancy  Richardson,  who 
are  numbered  among  the  early  settlers  of  this 
county.  Five  children  were  born  of  their  union, 
two  of  whom  are  now  deceased — Minnie  J.  and 
Martha  E.,  who  died  in  childhood.  Tnose  living 
are  T.  Jay,  an  intelligent  and  promising  young 
man.  who  received  his  education  at  Normal  and 
Eureka,  and  is  now  a  teacher  of  recognized  ability 
in  the  county.  He  intends  making  the  medical 
profession  his  life  work,  and  is  already  pursuing  a 
course  of  reading  in  that  line;  Stella  K.  and  Nan- 
nie M.  are  still  at  home.  The  mother  of  this  family, 
who  was  born  in  Palestine  Township,  Dec.  19,  1841, 
died  at  her  home  Feb.  7,  1888.  Her  death  was 
caused  by  cancer,and  her  loss  was  sincerely  mourned 
throughout  the  community.  She  was  one  of  na- 
ture's noble  women,  and  a  sincere  and  faithful 
member  of  the  Christian  Church. 

Since  his  marriage,  Mr.  Robeson  has  followed 
the  occupation  of  farming,  and  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing and  enterprising  citizens  of  the  township.  He 
owns  a  fine  farm  of  136  acres,  upon  which  he  has 


made  his  home  since  1861.  The  entire  amount  is 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  the  improvements 
are  both  useful  and  ornamental,  and  the  stock 
which  he  raises  is  of  the  best  grades.  In  business 
enterprises,  he  is  practical  and  judicious,  yet  enter- 
tains progressive  ideas,  and  has  been  eminently 
successful  in  his  labors.  In  political  sentiment,  he 
is  a  stalwart  supporter  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  has  held  several  official  positions,  including 
that  of  Supervisor  and  Collector.  At  the  age  of 
sixteen  years  he  united  with  the  Christian  Church, 
and  throughout  life  it  has  been  his  daily  endeavor 
to  live  in  harmony  with  his  professions.  His  in- 
tegrity is  beyond  question,  and  his  excellence  of 
character  has  won  him  many  friends,  by  whom  he 
is  held  in  high  regard. 


\fACOB  BARINGER.  who  resides  on  section 
36,  Roanoke  Township,  is  one  of  the  most 
I  prosperous  farmers  of  the  county,  and  is  also 
numbered  among  its  self-made  men.  His 
father,  John  Lewis  Baringer,  was  a  native  of  Stutt- 
gart, the  '  capital  of  Wurtemberg,  German}',  and 
married  Sabina  Elizabeth  Tabgerusch,  who  was  also 
born  in  the  same  city.  They  had  two  children, 
Caroline  and  Catherine,  who  were  born  in  Ger- 
many, and  with  them,  in  1830,  they  set  sail  for 
America.  The  ship  missed  its  way,  and  for  some 
days  their  whereabouts  was  unknown,  but  after 
more  than  than  ten  weeks  from  the  time  when  they 
embarked,  they  reached  America.  AVhile  on  board 
the  sailing  vessel  "Orinoco,"  the  mother  gave  birth 
to  her  third  child,  our  subject,  Jacob.  This  was  on 
waters  bordering  the  United  States,  hence  he  is 
practically  a  citizen  of  this  country.  On  reaching 
New  York  City,  he  was  baptized  according  to  the 
rites  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  after  which  the  fam- 
ily continued  on  their  way  across  New  Jersey 
to  Philadelphia,  Pa.  A  short  time  afterwards  the 
father  purchased  a  farm  in  Bucks  County,  but  the 
enterprise  proved  an  unprofitable  one,  in  conse- 
quence of  which  he  lost  all  his  money.  After  nine 
years  spent  in  the  Keystone  State,  they  removed  to 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


449 


Ohio,  locating  on  a  farm  near  Dayton,  Montgomery 
County,  where  they  continued  to  reside  until  1846, 
when  once  more  resuming  their  westward  journey, 
they  came  to  Wood  ford  County,  111.  For  two 
years  Mr.  Baringer  operated  a  rented  farm,  then 
purchased  land  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
Company,  in  Greene  Township.  After  the  parents 
settled  in  America,  the  family  was  increased  by  the 
birth  of  eight  children.  Among  all  their  offspring, 
four  besides  our  subject  are  now  living — Sarah  A., 
who  married  Joseph  Dehm,  a  merchant  of  Havana, 
III.;  Catherine,  wife  of  Louis  Weber,  also  a  resi- 
dent of  Havana;  Rebecca,  wife  of  Milas  Arm- 
strong, who  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Greene 
Township;  and  Lydia  L.,  who  wedded  Joseph  D. 
Powell,  also  a  resident  of  Greene  Township.  Those 
deceased  are,  Mary  Ann;  Caroline,  wife  of  Joel 
Kinsser;  P^lizabeth,  wife  of  Stephen  Armstrong; 
William  II.,  John  L.  and  John. 

Our  subject  was  born  on  the  24th  day  of  July, 
1830,  as  above  stated,  on  the  ocean,  and  remained 
in  Pennsylvania  until  nine  years  of  age,  when  with 
the  family  he  started  for  Ohio.  Their  route  lay 
over  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  and  he  well  remem- 
bers their  pausing  to  rest  upon  the  top  of  the 
ridge,  and  eating  dinner  in  a  beautiful  spot,  near 
where  flowed  a  large  spring  of  purest  water.  When 
fifteen  years  of  age,  he  became  a  resident  of  Wood- 
ford  County,  111.  At  first,  to  a  person  of  his  genial 
and  social  qualities,  the  solitude  of  pioneer  life  was 
not  pleasing,  but  his  home  has  now  become  to  him 
the  dearest  spot  on  earth,  and  he  is  proud,  as  well 
he  may  be,  of  his  pioneer  record.  Though  the 
settlements  were  widely  scattered,  there  were  some 
novel  scenes  to  vary  the  monotony.  Deer  were 
still  numerous  in  the  vicinity,  and  at  one  time 
he  saw  a  large  drove  of  forty  pass  near  his  home. 
Foxes  and  wolves  were  also  quite  numerous  and  af- 
forded fine  sport  to  those  who  enjoyed  a  hunter's 
life.  The  educational  advantages,  however,  were 
quite  limited.  There  were  no  graded  schools,  but  the 
pupils  conned  their  lessons  in  a  little  rude  log  house, 
such  as  were  common  in  the  pioneer  days,  with 
seats  made  of  slabs,  and  the  windows  small  aper- 
tures made  in  the  logs,  while  an  immense  fire-place 
occupied  one  side  of  the  building.  Mr.  Bn  ringer, 
since  his  school  life  lias  been  finished,  has  largely 


supplemented  the  knowledge  then  gained,  by  varied 
and  extensive  reading,  and  is  now  an  intelligent 
citizen,  who  keeps  himself  well  informed  on  all  the 
leading  questions  of  the  day,  both  political  and 
otherwise.  lie  was  early  inured  to  hard  labor,  and 
from  childhood  was  taught  lessons  of  industry, 
economy  and  perseverance.  His  pioneer  experience 
developed  seif-reliance  and  a  strength  of  purpose 
which  have  been  of  incalculable  benefit  to  him  in 
after  life. 

On  the  16th  day  of  January,  1862,  Mr.  Baringer 
was  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  with 
Miss  Mary  Ann  Cline,  daughter  of  Philip  and  Annie 
(Arter)  Cline,  the  former  a  native  of  Virginia,  the 
latter  of  Pennsylvania.  Her  father  was  a  "black- 
smith by  trade,  and  followed  that  occupation  dur- 
ing the  greater  part  of  his  life.  The  family  numbered 
six  children — Joseph,  who  resides  in  Eldorado 
Springs,  Mo.;  Samuel,  who  makes  his  home  in  the 
same  place,  married  Miss  Ann  Sunderland;  Syl- 
vanus  died  at  the  age  of  six  years;  Mary  A.,  wife 
of  our  subject,  was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth; 
Julia  A.  is  now  deceased.  She  was  the  wife  of 
James  Armstrong,  and  at  her  death  left  a  family  of 
seven  children.  Sarah  J.,  the  youngest,  resides 
with  her  husband,  R.  S.  Campbell,  in  San  Diego 
County,  Cal. 

Mrs.  Baringer  is  a  native  of  Muskingum  County, 
in  the  Buckeye  State,  born  Sept.  9,  1830,  and  was 
only  about  six  years  of  age  when  her  parents  emi- 
grated to  Illinois,  settling  near  Washington,  Taze- 
well  County,  where  she  attended  the  public  schools. 
She  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  her 
marriage,  when  the  young  couple  began  their  do- 
mestic life  on  the  farm  where  they  still  make  their 
home.  One  child  graces  their  union,  Samuel  C., 
who  assists  his  father  in  his  farming  operations.  In 
connection  with  his  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Roanoke 
Township,  Mr.  Baringer  owns  120  acres  in  Pales- 
tine Township,  and  nine  acres  of  timberland  in 
Greene  Township,  the  whole  aggregating  209  acres. 
The  improvements  which  he  has  made  upon  his 
land  are  both  useful  and  ornamental,  and  indicate 
the  thrift  and  enterprise  of  the  owner,  who  is 
recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  and  progressive 
farmers  of  the  community.  His  pleasant  home 
is  one  of  the  best  in  the  county,  and  with  its 


450 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


surroundings  is  represented  by  an  engraving  else- 
where in  this  volume.  It  is  elegantly  and  taste- 
fully furnished,  and  would  do  justice  to  the  more 
pretentious  city  residences.  Refinement  and  an 
easy  gracefulness  are  its  chief  characteristics,  and 
tell  more  plainly  than  words  of  the  cultured 
mind  of  the  mistress  and  her  appreciation  of 
the  beautiful.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baringer  are 
members  of  the  Christian  Church  of  Secor,  and 
hold  a  high  position  in  the  social  world,  where 
intelligence  and  merit  are  the  passports  to  good  so- 
ciety. Public-spirited  and  progressive,  he  has  long 
been  identified  with  the  best  interests  of  the  com- 
munity, and  done  all  in  his  power  to  advance  those 
enterprises  which  are  calculated  to  promote  the 
feneral  welfare.  The  cause  of  education  finds  in 

O 

him  a  special  friend,  and  for  sixteen  years  he  proved 
an  efficient  and  useful  member  of  the  School  Board. 
He  does  not,  however,  care  to  hold  public  office, 
preferring  rather  to  devote  his  entire  time  and  at- 
tention to  his  home  and  business  interests.  He 
casts  his  ballot  with  the  Democratic  party,  with 
which  he  has  affiliated  since  attaining  his  majority. 
He  has  not  only  witnessed  the  growth  of  town  and 
county,  but  has  been  an  active  participant  in  its 
progress  and  development,  and  has  been  promi- 
nently connected  with  its  advancement  since  1846. 
Few  have  longer  been  residents  of  the  community, 
and  it  is  with  pleasure  that  we  present  this  sketch  of 
one  of  Woodford  County's  honored  pioneers. 


UDWIG  TJ ADEN,  who  resides  at  his  pleas- 
ant  home  on  section  2  in  Palestine  Town- 
afc,  ship,  is  engaged  in  general  farming.  He  is 
one  of  the  representative  citizens  of  the  commu- 
nity, and  is  a  successful  business  man.  He  now 
owns  a  fine  farm  of  eighty-two  acres,  well-im- 
proved and  cultivated,  with  good  buildings  and 
the  best  grades  of  stock.  He  has  there  made  his 
home  since  1870,  and  has  largely  increased  the 
value  of  his  land  by  the  care  and  labor  which  he 
has  bestowed  upon  it.  Neatness  and  regularity 
everywhere  abound,  and  its  well-tilled  fields 


comfortable  home  indicate  the  owner  to  be  a  man 
of  practical  and  progressive  ideas. 

Mr.  Tjaden  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  in 
1834,  and  is  a  son  of  Heike  and  Schwantja  (Rhein- 
ders)  Tjaden,  both  of  whom  were  also  born  in  the 
Kingdom  of  Hanover,  where  they  resided  for  many 
3'ears.  The  father  made  agricultural  pursuits  his 
life  occupation,  being  engaged  in  that  business  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  the  fifty- 
first  year  of  his  age.  Ten  children  were  born  of 
the  union  of  this  worthy  couple,  and  after  the 
death  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Tjaden,  accompanied 
by  three  sons  and  three  daughters,  set  sail  for 
America.  The  brothers  all  became  residents  of 
Woodford  County,  111.,  and  the  daughters  located 
in  Mississippi,  the  mother  making  her  home  with 
them  until  her  death.  She  died  at  the  home  of  one 
of  her  daughters  in  1889,  at  the  extreme  old  age  of 
ninety  years.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tjaden  were 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  their  chil- 
dren have  embraced  the  faith  of  that  society. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  reared  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  land,  and  for  two  years  served 
as  a  soldier  in  the  German  army  prior  to  his  emi- 
gration to  America.  In  1857,  when  twenty- three 
years  of  age,  he  bade  good-bye  to  his  old  home 
and  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to  the  land  where 
his  life  has  since  been  passed.  The  same  year  he 
located  in  this  county,  settling  in  Linn  Township, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming.  Subsequently,  he 
removed  to  Cazenovia  Township,  where  he  pursued 
the  same  vocation,  and  in  1868  rented  land  in  the 
township  of  Palestine.  Two  years  afterwards  he 
purchased  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides,  and 
for  almost  nineteen  years  has  carried  on  the  work 
of  improving  and  developing  his  land. 

After  his  arrival  in  Woodford  County,  Mr. 
Tjaden  formed  the  acquaintance  of  Mrs.  Hannah 
(Stitt)  Pickerell,  a  sister  of  Samuel  Stitt,  in  whose 
sketch  is  given  a  history  of  the  family.  He  wooed 
and  won  the  lady,  and  in  October,  1862,  their 
wedding  was  celebrated  in  Cazenovia  Township. 
Mrs.  Tjaden  was  born  in  Brown  County,  Ohio,  in 
1833,  and  in  her  native  county  was  reared  and 
educated.  Previous  to  her  removal  she  married 
George  Pickerell,  and  by  their  union  two  children 
were  born — Nancy,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Luther 


RESIDENCE  OF  HENRY  M.  ROBINSON, SEC. r.  MONTGOMERY  TOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCE  OF  WILKE  C.  HOGELUGHT,,  SEC.IS.  GREENE  TOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCE  OF  5.  H. m  CLURE,  SEC.SG.CRUGER  TOWNSHIP. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


453 


E.  Stowell.  proprietor  of  a  hotel  in  Fillmore  County, 
Neb.;  and  William,  who  wedded  Lizzie  Flick,  and 
is  now  engaged  in  farming  in  Fillmore  County, 
Neb.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Pickerel!,  his  widow 
became  the  wife  of  our  subject,  and  one  child 
graced  their  union,  Mollie,  an  intelligent  and  capa- 
ble young  lad}',  who  is  now  keeping  house  for  her 
father.  She  was  married,  Aug.  13,  1889,  to  John 
Charles  Mezger,  of  El  Paso,  111.  The  death  of  the 
mother  occurred  at  her  home  in  Palestine  Town- 
ship, July  14,  1885.  when  fifty-one  years  of  age. 
She  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  a 
lady  whose  many  excellencies  of  character  and 
kindness  of  heart  won  her  many  friends. 

Mr.  Tjaden  is  numbered  among  the  early  set- 
tlers of  this  county,  and  ranks  among  its  leading 
farmers.  He  has  borne  his  part  in  the  work  of  de- 
velopment and  progress,  and  liberally  responds 
when  called  upon  to  aid  in  the  promotion  of  its 
public  enterprises.  He  is  a  valued  and  worthy  citi- 
zen, who  well  merits  the  high  respect  in  which  he 
is  held.  In  politics  his  views  are  in  accordance 
with  the  principles  advocated  by  the  Democratic- 
party,  and  in  religious  belief  he  is  a  Lutheran. 


OSEPH  BOULTER  was  born  March  5,  1849 
In  Partridge  Township,  while  it  was  yet  in 
the  hands  of  the  sturdy,  self-reliant,  enter- 
prising pioneers(his  father  being  among  the 
number),  who  laid  the  foundations  of  its  prosper- 
ity, and  made  its  present  flourishing  condition  pos- 
sible. Since  attaining  man's  estate,  our  subject 
has  placed  himself  by  their  side,  and  has  in  his 
turn  taken  up  the  work  of  sustaining  and  advanc- 
ing the  agricultural  interests  of  this  community. 
His  father,  Henry  Boulier,  was  born  and  reared 
in  France,  and  in  about  1836,  he  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  of  America,  to  better  his  prospects 
in  life,  he  and  his  sister  Ann  R.  being  the  only 
members  of  the  family  to  come  to  this  country. 
He  landed  at  New  Orleans,  and  thence  came  up  the 
Mississippi  River  to  Rome,  then  a  mere  hamlet, 
and  from  there  he  went  to  Ft.  Clark,  as  Peoria  was 


then  called.  He  had  sold  his  watch  to  pay  his  passage 
and  on  his  arrival  in  Partridge  Township  he  was 
out  of  money.  But  with  characteristic  lightness  of 
heart  he  did  not  let  that  fact  disturb  him  at  all, 
but  soon  secured  work  from  his  brother-in-law,  and 
prudently  saving  up  his  earnings,  in  a  short  time 
he  had  the  wherewithal  to  buy  land  and  become 
independent.  He  made  a  claim  to  a  tract  of 
forty  acres,  but  before  lie  could  enter  it  some  one 
else  did  so,  and  he  had  to  pay  that  man  $2.50  per  acre 
for  it.  He  build  a  log  house  on  the  place,  and  in 
j  that  rude  dwelling  our  subject  first  saw  the  light  of 
'  day.  He  subsequently  bought  other  land  adjoin- 
ing, erecting  an  excellent  set  of  frame  buildings, 
and  lived  there  in  prosperity  and  comfort  till  his 
eyes  closed  in  death  in  1872.  The  maiden  name 
of  his  wife  was  Mary  J.  Sauvage,  and  she  was  also 
a  native  of  sunny  France.  Her  father,  Joseph 
Sauvage  was  born,  reared  and  married  in  that  coun- 
try, and  followed  the  trade  of  a  millwright  and  of 
bridge-builder  there  many  years.  In  1835  he  came 
to  America  with  his  family,  and  after  staying  in 
New  Orleans  a  short  time  he  came  to  Woodford 
County  as  one  of  the  pioneers.  When  he  landed 
in  New  Orleans  he  had  but  two  cents  in  his  pocket, 
and  when  he  attempted  to  exchange  them  for  some 
necessity,  he  found  that  they  were  counterfeit.  He 
immediately  sought  and  found  employment  in  the 
Crescent  City,  and  thus  obtained  funds  to  enable 
him  to  proceed  to  his  destination  in  this  county. 
He  bought  land,  and  farmed  and  carried  on  his 
trade  here  some  years.  Later,  he  removed  to 
Bureau  County,  and  there  bought  a  farm,  and 
made  his  home  there  his  remaining  days.  The 
mother  of  our  subject,  a  most  estimable  lady,  is 
now  living  in  Chilicothe,  111.  The  father  of  our 
subject  was  prospered  in  his  labors,  and  became 
one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  the  township  that 
he  had  helped  to  build  up.  His  memory  is  held  in 
repect  not  only  because  he  was  a  worthy  pioneer 
of  Woodford  County,  but  on  account  of  his  many 
virtues  and  his  solid  worth. 

Our  subject  was  the  third  of  the  eight  children 

children  born  to  his  parents.     He   was  bred  to  the 

life  of  a  farmer  on  the  old  homestead  that  was  his 

birthplace,   and  gained  his  education  in  the  public- 

;   schools.     In  his  boyhood  days,  deer,  wild  turkeys, 


454 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ami  other  kinds  of  game  were  plentiful,  and  be- 
tokened the  wildness  of  the  surrounding  country, 
and  railways  have  been  introduced  into  the  State 
within  his  rememberance.  He  resided  with  his  par- 
ents till  1K77,  affording  bis' father  a  valuable  assis- 
tance in  the  management  of  his  farming  interests. 
In  the  year  just  mentioned  he  established  a  home 
on  the  place  where  lie  now  resides. 

Mr.  Boulier  and  Miss  Louisa  Hoshor  were  united 
in  marriage  in  October,  1875.  Mrs.  Boulier  was 
born  in  Spring  Bay,  Wood  ford  County,  of  which 
her  father,  Jefferson  Hosher,  was  an  early  settler. 
He  came  of  hardy  pioneer  stock,  and  was  a  native 
of  Fairfleld  County,  Ohio.  His  father,  George 
Hoshor,  was  born  in  either  in  Pennsylvania  or  Vir- 
ginia of  German  parentage.  He  was  married  in 
Virginia,  and  moved  from  there  to  Ohio  in  pio- 
neer times,  about  1800,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  in  Fairfleld  County,  where  he  bought  a 
tract  of  land  and  established  his  home  in  a  prime- 
val forest,  clearing  a  farm  there,  which  he  made  his 
home  till  death  called  him  to  a  higher  one.  He  was 
a  gallant  soldier  of  the  War  of  1812.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  wife  was  Barbara  Mathias,  and  she  died 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Ohio  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-four  years.  •  Mrs.  Boulier's  father 
was  reared  in  his  native  county,  and  in  1833,  when 
about  twenty  years  of  age,  he  started  out  into  the 
world  to  try  life  for  himself,  and  journej'ed  west- 
ward as  far  as  Illinois  on  horseback.  He  had  fs500 
in  cash,  and  he  and  his  brother,  William,  bought 
land  in  Spring  Bay  Township,  on  which  they 
erected  a  saw  and  grist  mill,  the  first  ever  built  in 
this  section,  and  they  operated  it  together  some 
time.  At  length,  Jefferson  Hosher  sold  his  share 
in  the  mill,  intending  to  turn  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing. He  became  very  prosperous  and  accummu- 
lated  much  property,  and  owned  different  tracts  of 
land  in  Worth  and  Partridge  townships  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  on  his  farm  on  section 
11,  this  township,  Aug.  12,  1872.  The  maiden 
name  of  Mrs.  Boulier's  mother  was  Mary  Williams, 
and  she  was  a  native  of  Indiana.  Her  father,  Ben- 
jamin Williams,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Woodford  County,  locating  here  in  1829.  His 
first  settlement  was  made  in  Worth  Township,  and 
there  his  death  took  place.  The  maiden  name  of 


his  wife  was  Elizabeth  Curry.  She  was  reared  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  spent  her  last  days  in  Spring 
Bay  with  her  son.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boulier's  happy 
home  circle  is  completed  by  the  four  children  that 
have  been  born  to  them — Jessie  Winford,  Mary 
Irene,  Leslie  J.,  John  Stanhope. 

In  his  native  township  our  subject  is  well  and 
favorably  known  by  his  elders,  and  by  those  who 
have  grown  up  with  him  side  by  side  and  by  many 
others.  Having  passed  his  whole  life  here,  he  en- 
joys an  extensive  acquaintance,  and  has  many 
warm  friends,  and  all  testify  that  in  all  life's  rela- 
tions and  in  the  performance  of  its  duties,  he  has 
acted  as  becomes  a  man  of  principle.  As  a  patri- 
otic citizen  should,  he  interests  himself  in  politics, 
and  uses  his  influence  in  favor  of  the  good  old 
Democratic  party. 


JAMES  L.  HOYT,   one   of  the  enterprising 
agriculturists  of  Cruger  Township,  owns  and 
operates   an   extensive    farm  on  section  36. 
He   is  a  son  of  Vincent  Hoyt,  a  native  of 
the  State  of  New  York.     His  mother  was  Lucinda 
Nida,  a  native  of  Ohio.     They  first  settled  in  Lick- 
ing County,  Ohio,  coming   from  that  place  to  this 
county  in  1864,  and  locating  in  what    is  now  Cru- 
ger Township,  they  remained  here  until  their  forms 
were  laid  beneath  the  sod.     They  were  the  parents 
of  eight   children,   of    whom    our  subject   is   the 
fourth.     He   was   born   in  Licking    County,  Ohio, 
June  10,  1834. 

Mr.  Hoyt  passed  his  boyhood  days  in  his  native 
county,  attending  the  common  schools  and  assist- 
ing his  parents  to  the  best  of  his  ability  until  1855. 
When  he  had  reached  the  age  of  seventeen,  he  was 
apprenticed  to  a  carpenter  to  learn  the  trade  of 
carpentering,  and  followed  that  occupation  during 
the  remainder  of  his  stay  in  Ohio.  In  1855  he 
came  to  this  county  and  worked  at  his  trade  for 
several  years;  being  a  careful,  conscientious  and 
skillful  workman,  and,  moreover,  taking  good  care 
of  the  dollars  he  earned,  lie  soon  accumulated  a 
snug  sum  of  money,  with  which  he  purchased 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


455 


eighty  acres  of  land.  On  this  estate  he  has  erected 
a  beautiful  dwelling,  living  in  it  with  his  family  and 
and  keeping  his  farm  in  fine  condition,  although 
also  attending  to  all  the  demands  of  his  trade.  Be- 
sides his  homestead  he  has  erected  all  the  other 
necessary  buildings,  making  them  pleasing  to  the 
eye,  as  well  as  substantial.  From  time  to  time  he 
has  added  to  his  original  purchase  until  he  now  has 
287  acres  in  Cruger  and  Olio  townships. 

One  of  the  red  letter  days  of  his  life  was  March 
1,  1860,  on  which  date  he  was  married  to  the  lady 
of  his  choice,  Miss  Eliza  E.  Grove,  a  daughter  of 
Abraham  and  Sarah  Grove.  Mrs.  Hoyt  is  a  na- 
tive of  Olio  Township,  and  is  the  sister  of  Mrs. 
David  Grafft;  for  a  record  of  her  ancestry  see 
sketch  of  David  Grafft.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoyt  have 
seven  sons,  named  respectively:  Joseph  K.,  Calvin, 
Perry,  Daniel  T.,  Frank  W.,  Alonzo  and  James  C. 
The  neighbors  of  Mr.  Hoyt,  recognizing  his  emi- 
nent executive  ability,  have  elected  him  Road 
Commissioner,  an  office  he  has  held  for  the  last 
three  years,  giving  the  utmost  satisfaction  by  his 
prompt  and  energetic  measures.  Politically  he  is 
a  stanch  Democrat.  Mrs.  Hoyt  by  her  many  good 
deeds  has  endeared  herself  to  a  large  circle  of 
friends,  and  finds  her  religious  home  in  the  bosom 
of  the  Methodist  Church,  of  which  she  is  a  consis- 
tent member.  A  lithographic  engraving  of  Mr. 
Hoyt's  pleasant  home  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
volume. 


APT.  JOSEPH  M.  McCULLOCH.  This  gen- 
tleman, a  member  of  the  farming  community 
of  Wood  ford  County,  residing  in  Cazenovia 
Township,  is  a  veteran  of  the  late  war,  in  which  he 
won  an  honorable  military  record.  He  is  a  fine 
type  of  the  citizen-soldiers  of  this  country,  who 
after  bravely  taking  up  arms  in  her  defense,  and 
nobly  winning  her  cause  amid  the  hardships  and 
perils  of  life  on  Southern  battlefields,  returned  to 
their  old  homes,  and  quietly  resumed  the  peaceful 
pursuits  they  had  abandoned  a  few  years  before  at 
their  country's  call,  and  have  since  been  important 
factors  in  advancing  her  great  agricultural,  com- 


mercial and  financial  interests  in  every  direction. 
Our  subject  has  thus  materially  aided  in  promoting 
the  prosperity  of  Wood  ford  County,  and  has  taken 
an  active  part  in  its  civic  life,  having  ably  filled 
some  of  its  most  important  offices. 

The  Captain  comes  of  good  Pennsylvania  stock, 
and  is  himself  a  native  of  the  Keystone  State,  born 
at  Big  Spring,  Cumberland  County.  Feb.  23,  1831. 
His  father,  William  McCulloch,  was  born  in  the 
same  place,  in  the  month  of  March,  1799.  The 
paternal  great-grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a 
native  of  Scotland,  and  removed  from  thereto  Ire- 
land, whence  he  emigrated  to  America  in  Colonial 
times,  and  settling  in  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life  there.  The  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  James  McCulloch,  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky. He  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Cum- 
berland County,  where  he  secured  a  large  tract  of 
land,  and  cleared  a  fine  farm  from  the  primeval 
forests  of  Pennsylvania,  continuing  to  reside  on  it 
till  his  death  in  1825.  The  maiden  name  of  his 
wife  was  Mary  Henderson,  and  she  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky.  She  died  on  the  old  homestead  in  Big 
Spring,  some  years  after  her  husband's  decease. 
There  were  eight  children  born  to  them,  namely: 
John,  Eliza,  Sarah.  Thomas,  William,  James,  Mary 
J.  and  Margaret.  The  father  of  our  subject  was 
reared  on  the  home  farm.  There  were  no  railways 
in  that  part  of  the  country  in  those  days,  when  he 
was  a  young  man,  and  for  some  eight  or  ten  years 
he  was  employed  in  teaming  between  his  home  and 
Baltimore,  eighty  miles  distant,  and  Philadelphia, 
150  miles  distant,  driving  a  six-horse  team.  Other- 
wise he  was  always  engaged  in  farming,  having  in- 
herited a  part  of  his  father's  farm,  on  which  he 
always  made  his  home  until  his  death  in  1886.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Jane  C.  McKee,  and 
she  was  born  in  Springfield,  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa., 
in  1808.  Her  father,  Joseph  McKee,  was  born  in 
Ireland.  He  took  part  in  the  Irish  Rebellion,  and 
a  reward  was  offered  for  his  arrest,  dead  or  alive. 
He  was  secreted  for  some  weeks,  but  finally  man- 
aged to  escape  to  America.  During  the  time  he 
was  in  hiding,  he  committed  to  memory  the  metri- 
cal version  of  the  Psalms,  which  he  never  forgot. 
After  coming  to  this  country,  he  located  in  Spring- 
field, Cumberland  Co.,  Pa,,  and  there  worked  at 


450 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


his  trade  of  a  wheelright  some  years.  He  then 
bought  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of  Big  Spring,  and 
his  son  carried  on  the  farm,  while  he  worked  at  his 
trade.  lie  made  his  home  on  his  farm  till  his 
death.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Associate  Re- 
formed Church,  and  while  his  family  rode  to  church, 
he  insisted  on  walking,  although  the  house  of  wor- 
ship was  three  and  one-half  miles  distant.  One 
Sunday  morning,  while  he  was  on  his  way  to 
church  with  a  neighbor,  he  fell  dead  in  the  road. 
The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Mary  Seouler, 
and  she  was  born  in  Cumberland  County,  of  Scotch 
parentage.  The  mother  of  our  subject  died  on  the 
home  farm  in  1877.  There  were  eleven  children 
born  of  her  marriage,  ten  of  whom  grew  to  maturity 
— John  S.,  Joseph  M..  James,  Alexander  S., William 
II.,  Thomas  M.,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Jane  and  Helen. 
Captain  McCulloch  was  reared  and  educated  in 
his  native  town,  and  as  soon  as  large  enough,  com- 
menced to  assist  on  the  farm,  and  gained  a  good 
practical  knowledge  of  agriculture  in  all  its 
branches.  He  remained  on  the  old  homestead  with 
his  parents  till  his  marriage  in  1853,  and  then  three 
weeks  after  that  event  he  started  with  his  bride  for 
Illinois.  He  located  at  Low  Point,  where  he  resided 
one  year,  and  then  he  bought  the  farm  where  he 
now  lives.  It  was  a  tract  of  wild  prairie  at  the 
time  with  not  even  a  furrow  turned,  or  any  sign  of 
a  habitation  on  it.  He  immediately  erected  a  small 
frame  house,  and  at  once  commenced  the  pioneer 
task  of  developing  his  land  into  a  farm.  In  1862 
he  laid  aside  all  personal  aims,  imbued  with  the 
patriotic  desire  to  aid  his  country  in  the  hour  of  her 
greatest  need,  and  leaving  his  wife,  an  exceedingly 
capable  woman  and  a  good  manager,  in  charge  of 
his  affairs,  he  enlisted,  in  the  month  of  August,  in 
Company  C,  77th  Illinois  Infantry,  and  when  the 
company  was  organized  he  was  chosen  captain.  He 
commanded  his  company  in  the  Vicksburg  cam- 
paign and  in  the  Red  River  expedition,  and  under 
his  brave  leadership  his  men  did  good  service  on 
the  battlefield.  He  was  with  his  regiment  till  April 
8,  1864,  when  he  was  captured  by  the  Confederates, 
and  for  fourteen  months  thereafter  he  had  the  mis- 
fortune to  be  confined  in  the  rebel  prison  at  Camp 
Ford.  His  spirit  chafed  at  his  enforced  imprison- 
ment and  inactivity,  and  at  the  life  worse  than  that 


on  the  battlefield.  At  last  he  was  paroled,  and  in 
July,  1865,  he  was  discharged,  glad  that  the  cruel 
war  was  over,  but  sorry  that  he  could  not  have 
taken  part  in  its  last  battles.  He  returned  home  to 
his  brave  wife,  who  had  so  patiently  awaited  him, 
sometimes  fearful  that  the  rebel  prison  would  not 
yield  him  up  alive,  and  yet  she  had  faithfully  car- 
ried on  the  farm  work,  and  had  maintained  the 
home  in  all  its  coziness  and  comfort.  Our  subject 
resumed  the  management  of  his  farm,  and  has  now 
the  entire  tract  of  160  acres  under  fine  cultivation, 
neatly  fenced,  well  improved,  and  supplied  with  an 
excellent  set  of  substantial  frame  buildings. 

Feb.  24,  1853,  Captain  McCulloch  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Phillips,  and  thereby  se- 
cured, ns  we  have  seen,  a  devoted  wife,  who  looks 
carefully  after  the  comfort  of  her  household.  She 
was  born  in  Springfield,  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Edward  and  Jane  (Adair)  Phil- 
lips. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCulloch  have  four  children  liv- 
ing, as  follows:  Eva  J.  married  John  Hamilton, 
of  Clearfield,  Iowa,  and  they  have  three  children — 
Maud,  Minnie  and  a  baby,  Leigh  M.;  Hattie  P. 
married  John  \V.  Bean,  of  Anthony,  Kan. ;  Zilla  B. 
married  the  Rev.  William  Story,  of  Oxford,  Pa., 
and  they  have  two  children,  Russell  M.  and  Minnie 
M.;  William  E.,  the  only  son,  is  a  student  of  Mon- 
mouth  College,  111. 

Capt.  McCulloch  is  a  true,  noble-hearted  gentle- 
man, always  pleasant  and  courteous  in  his  intercourse 
with  others,  and  very  popular  among  his  associates. 
In  business  matters  he  is  wide  awake  and  keen,  and 
judicious  and  fair  in  his  dealings.  He  has  filled 
various  offices  of  trust  in  the  township  and  county, 
and  in  1865  he  was  elected  Count}'  Treasurer  on 
the  soldiers'  ticket,  and  has  the  distinction  of  being 
the  only  Republican  ever  elected  to  that  position 
in  Woodford  County.  In  1873  he  was  elected 
County  Judge,  and  so  well  did  he  discharge  the 
duties  incumbent  on  him  in  that  responsible  office 
that  he  was  twice  re-elected,  and  served  with  honor 
nine  years.  The  Captain  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Franklin  Pierce.  He,  however,  differed 
in  his  political  views  very  widely  from  the  party 
that  elected  that  gentleman  to  the  Presidency,  es- 
pecially on  the  slavery  question,  so  that  on  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


457 


formation  of  the  Republican  party  he  promptly 
joined  its  ranks,  and  was  a  strong  adherent  of  that 
party  till  after  the  second  election  of  Gen.  Grant. 
He  then  united  with  the  Greenback  party  and  voted 
with  them  till  1884.  He  had  always  been  an  advo- 
cate of  temperance,  and  in  that  year  he  cast  his 
vote  with  the  Prohibitionists,  and  in  1888  he  was 
the  candidate  of  that  party  for  the  Legislature, 
and  in  a  canvass  of  the  entire  district  polled  a  good 
many  votes.  He  and  his  family  are  among  the 
leading  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  our  subject  is  an  earnest  worker  in 
the  Sunday-school.  He  was  for  ten  years  engaged 
in  Sunday-school  mission  work  here,  and  for  many 
years  has  been  closely  identified  with  the  County 
Sunday-school  Association,  was  Secretary  of  the 
same  for  four  years,  and  is  now  its  President. 


jsz  A  -I^AXA.  A     ji  cj_ 

TO     0 p      ^rf^f     o         y     O*^ 

T          ,s>>  * 


IMON  SWAN.  This  gentleman,  who  is  a 
prominent  resident  of  Clayton  Township, 
is  the  only  member  of  his  father's  family 
who  makes  his  home  in  the  United  States. 
The  land  of  his  nativity  is  Ireland,  where  his 
mother  died.  The  father,  after  the  death  of  his 
life  companion,  removed  to  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  where  all  his  children,  with  the  exception  of 
our  subject,  are  now  living.  In  that  remote  land 
he  was  laid  to  rest,  his  grave  being  separated  from 
that  of  his  wife  by  thousands  of  miles  of  interven- 
ing waters. 

Mr.  Simon  Swan  was  born  in  the  historic  city 
of  Dublin,  that  place  so  dear  to  all  the  patriotic 
children  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  and  his  birth  is  re- 
corded as  having  occurred  Dec.  21,  1838.  His 
parents  were  Miles  and  Martha  Swan,  whose  fam- 
ily numbered  ten  children,  namely:  John,  Mary, 
Frank.  Simon  (of  this  sketch),  Sarah,  Martha. 
Essie,  Patrick,  Peter,  and  one  child,  Michael,  de- 
ceased. 

Our  subject  came  to  America  in  185G.  stopping 
first  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  where  he  worked  as 
a  teamster.  In  1857  he  followed  the  course  of. 


emigration  westward,  and  removed  to  Galesburg, 
111.,  where  he  worked  in  a  machine  shop.  He  also 
for  a  short  time  made  his  home  in  Chicago,  and 
in  the  autumn  of  1857  came  to  Woodford  County, 
remaining  in  El  Paso.  In  1858  he  made  a  perma- 
nent change  of  residence,  for  then  he  rented  land 
in  Clayton  Township,  which,  with  the  exception  of 
six  years  spent  in  Marshall  County,  has  been  his 
home  during  all  the  succeeding  years. 

When  the  Union  called  upon  patriotic  citizens  to 
uphold  the  banner  of  freedom,no  native  son  of  Amer- 
ica responded  to  the  cry  with  greater  enthusiasm 
than  Mr.  Swan.  Nor  did  this  enthusiasm  wane  when 
he  was  brought  into  conflict  with  the  enemy.  He 
was  one  of  the  bravest,  and  could  always  be  found 
in  the  front  ranks  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight.  He 
enlisted  in  1862  in  Company  G,  90th  Illinois  In- 
fantry, and  served  during  a  period  of  almost  three 
years.  His  regiment  was  in  many  of  the  fiercest 
battles  of  the  war,  besides  participating  in  various 
skirmishes.  Some  of  their  battles  were:  Coldwater, 
Vicksburg,  Jackson,  Miss.,  Colliersville,  Mission- 
ary Ridge,  siege  of  Knoxville,  Resaca,  Dallas,  Kene- 
saw  Mountain,  Atlanta  July  19,  22,  and  28,  Jones- 
boro,  Lovejoy  Station,  Rome,  Gadsden,  Jennison's 
Bridge,  Ft.  McAlister,  Savannah,  Charleston,  Co- 
lumbia, Bentonville,  and  others  of  minor  import- 
ance. He  was  mustered  out  as  a  corporal.  In  all 
these  engagements  he  participated,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Dallas,  Ga.  A  short  time  previous  to  this 
he  had  been  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Resaca, 
May  13,  receiving  a  shot  in  the  left  arm.  After 
this  accident  he  was  sent  to  the  hospital,  but  re- 
ceived no  other  severe  injuries  during  the  course 
of  the  war. 

When  the  war  cloud  disappeared  and  once  more 
peace  hovered  over  the  nation,  he  returned  to  Clay- 
ton Township,  and  began  to  farm  on  section  5. 
He  now  owns  100  acres  of  land,  all  very  nicely  im- 
proved and  in  good  condition. 

Mr.  Swan  celebrated  his  marriage  with  Miss  Jen- 
nie Whitton  on  the  the  19th  day  of  October,  1871. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Margaret  Whit- 
ton,  and  was  born  in  Scotland  Dec.  16,  1845.  Her 
parents  left  their  native  country,  and  crossing  the 
Atlantic,  settled  in  Washington,  1)1.,  where  they 
yet  reside.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitton  had  a  family  of 


458 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


seven  children,  whose  names  are  recorded  as  fol- 
lows: Lizzie,  Jennie,  Robert,  Mary,  Richard, 
Willie  and  Margaret.  Willie  is  deceased. 

Of  the  seven  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Swan  five  yet  remain,  namely:  Maggie,  born  Aug. 
15,  1876;  Mattie,  Sept.  15,  1878;  Frank.  Nov.  29, 
1880;  Elsie,  Jan.  15,  1883;  and  Emmet,  Nov.  18, 
1888.  Thus  sun-rounded  by  his  lovely  family, 
and  in  his  pleasant  home,  Mr.  Swan  may  certainly 
be  regarded  as  one  of  those  to  whom  fortune  has 
been  kind.  He,  himself,  was  prevented  from  at- 
tending school  when  he  was  young,  and  was  thus 
a  self-made  man,  but  he  has  been  very  anxious  to 
secure  the  best  possible  advantages  for  his  chil- 
dren. He  is  well  read  and  familiar  with  the  prin- 
cipal topics  of  information  and  interest,  being  also 
noted  for  his  fine  penmanship.  In  politics  he  sup- 
ports the  Democratic  party,  and  has  been  School 
Director  for  the  period  of  nine  years,  giving  uni- 
versal satisfaction  in  this  position. 

It  is  very  fitting  that  a  man  who  has  worked  his 
way  from  poverty  to  affluence,  and  has  identified 
himself  with  all  the  important  interests  of  Wood- 
ford  County,  should  be  represented  in  the  ALBUM, 
not  only  by  a  biographical  review,  but  also  by  an 
engraving  of  his  beautiful  home.  He  and  his  fam- 
ily are  highly  respected  in  the  community  in  which 
they  reside,  and  their  friends  all  trust  that  they 
may  be  spared  to  pass  many  years  of  usefulness  in 
their  home  circle  as  well  as  in  the  society  of  their 
friends. 


.  ETER  BELSLY.  Partridge  Township  has 
no  more  worthy  representative  of  its  flour- 
ishing agricultural  interests  than  this  gen- 
tleman, who  was  born  within  its  borders, 
educated  in  its  schools,  and  in  the  opening  years  of 
a  stalwart,  vigorous  manhood  took  his  place  among 
its  busy,  shrewd  farmers  and  stock-raisers,  and 
while  actively  engaged  in  laying  up  a  competence, 
has  aided  in  promoting  the  material  welfare  of  his 
native  township  and  county.  He  is  the  son  of  a 
pioneer  of  this  part  of  Woodford  County,  who  as- 


sisted in  the  development  of  the  resources  of  this 
region,  and  here  reclaimed  a  fertile  farm  from  the 
primeval  wilds. 

John  Belsly,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  France  in  the  month  of  October,  1809.  and  when 
a  young  man  he  came  to  America,  and  locating  in 
Woodford  County,  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers 
of  Partridge  Township.  Heat  once  set  about  the 
building  up  of  a  comfortable  home,  entering  a  tract 
of  Government  land  on  section  22,  on  which  he 
erected  a  log  house,  in  which  his  children  were 
born.  His  land  was  mostly  covered  with  brush  and 
timber,  but  by  hard  labor  he  cleared  it,  put  it  under 
fine  cultivation,  and  at  the  time  of  bis  death  had 
a  highly-cultivated,  well-improved  farm,  and  from 
poverty  had  arisen  to  comparative  affluence,  his 
only  capital  when  starting  out  in  life  having  been 
good  health,  willing  hands,  and  keen  common- 
sense.  When  he  came  here  to  cast  his  lot  with  the 
early  settlers  of  the  county,  the  country  round- 
about was  still  in  its  primitive  condition,  and  the 
inhabitants  of  this  sparsely-settled  region  enjoyed 
but  few  of  the  conveniences  of  civilized  life.  Pekin 
and  the  other  river  towns  some  distance  awa}'  were 
the  nearest  markets  till  the  introduction  of  rail- 
ways, when  inland  towns  sprang  up  in  their  path- 
way. The  maiden  name  of  his  wife,  the  mother  of 
our  subject,  was  Barbara  Huge,  and  she  was  like- 
wise a  native  of  France.  She  now  resides  with  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  Kamp,  in  Partridge  Township.  She 
bore  her  husband  seven  children,  five  of  whom 
whom  grew  to  maturity,  namely:  Kate,  Joseph, 
Peter,  Magdalena  and  Barbara. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  was  born 
in  this  township,  in  the  humble  pioneer  home  of 
his  parents,  Jan.  14,  1844,  and  under  the  influence 
of  its  primitive  surroundings  he  grew  to  a  health- 
ful, active  manhood,  gleaning  a  good  education  in 
the  pioneer  schools  that  were  conducted  in  rude 
log  houses,  one  that  he  attended  being  of  the 
roughest  description,  lacking  even  a  floor.  He 
continued  to  reside  with  his  parents  until  his  mar- 
riage, affording  his  father  most  valuable  assistance 
on  the  farm,  and  at  the  same  time  gaining  a 
good  practical  knowledge  of  farming  in  all  Us 
branches.  After  his  marriage  he  rented  land  five 
years,  and  then  invested  in  the  place  where  he  now 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


459 


resides.  He  has  greatly  increased  its  value  by  care- 
ful cultivation,  a  judicious  expenditure  of  money, 
and  by  the  erection  of  a  fine  and  conveniently  ar- 
ranged set  of  frame  buildings.  He  has  added  to 
his  first  purchase,  and  is  now  the  possessor  of  260 
acres  of  land  that  is  of  unsurpassed  fertility  and 
productiveness. 

Mr.  Belsly  acknowledges  that  his  present  pros- 
perous circumstances  have  been  brought  about 
partly  by  the  assistance  of  his  wife.  Her  maiden 
name  was  Lizzie  Kanive,  and  she  is  a  native  of 
Prussia.  She  came  to  America  with  hur  father, 
Valentine  Kanive,  when  quite  young.  She  is  the 
mother  of  seven  children,  of  whom  one,  Joseph, 
died  at  the  age  of  two  years.  The  others  are  John, 
Emma,  Kate,  Barbara,  Delia  and  Ida. 

Those  who  have  watched  the  course  of  our  sub- 
ject through  life,  agree  that  he  has  carried  himself 
in  every  relation  as  becomes  a  manly  man  and  an 
upright  citizen.  In  the  management  of  his  affairs 
he  has  shown  himself  to  have  a  good  knowledge 
of  his  calling,  and  to  be  endowed  with  a  clear 
head,  an  ability  to  perform  his  work  well,  and 
other  excellent  powers.  He  and  his  wife  are  people 
of  true  religious  convictions,  and  have  trained 
their  children  to  lead  Christian  lives,  the  family 
being  members  of  the  Omishor  Mennonite  Church. 
In  politics  Mr.  Belsly  uses  his  influence  in  favor  of 
the  Republican  party. 


'OHN  TYLER,  who  resides  on  section  1,  is 
numbered  among  the  prominent  and  pro- 
gressive men  of  El  Paso  Township,  where 
he  has  made  his  home  since  1858.  Through- 
out the  greater  part  of  his  life  he  has  followed 
farming  and  stock-raising,  and  is  still  engaged  in 
that  business.  He  now  owns  a  fine  farm  of  200 
acres  with  all  modern  conveniences,  which  is  con- 
sidered one  of  the  best  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Tyler  was  born  in  the  town  of  Virgil,  Court- 
land  Co.,  N.  Y.,  on  the  8th  of  January,  1831,  and 
is  a  son  of  Stephen  W.  Tyler.  His  father  was  born 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  Empire  State,  and  was 


descended  from  English  ancestry.  In  early  youth, 
he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Courtland  County, 
where  he  was  reared  to  manhood  and  married  Miss 
Margaret  Saltsman.  Mrs.  Tyler,  whose  progenitors 
were  natives  of  Holland,  was  born  in  the  Mohawk 
River  Valley,  and  also  came  with  her  parents  to 
Courtland  County  during  her  childhood.  The 
young  couple  began  their  domestic  life  upon  a  farm 
near  the  old  homes,  where  they  had  been  reared, 
and  there  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Mr. 
Tyler  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years,  his 
wife  surviving  until  July  2,  1885,  when  she,  too, 
passed  away.  Though  not  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  they  attended  religious  services  there,  and 
ranked  among  the  best  citizens  of  Courtland  County, 
where  they  so  long  made  their  home.  Their  fam- 
ily numbered  eight  children,  four  sons  and  four 
daughters,  and  with  the  exception  of  one  who  died 
in  youth,  all  lived  to  mature  years,  while  six  of 
that  number  still  survive. 

John  Tyler,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was 
reared  and  educated  in  his  native  county,  but  on 
attaining  to  man's  estate,  left  the  parental  roof  to 
try  his  fortune  in  the  West.  The  3d  of  January, 
1856,  witnessed  his  arrival  in  Woodford  County, 
111.,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  From  that 
time  he  has  been  prominently  identified  with  the 
growth  and  progress  of  the  town  and  county,  and 
is  numbered  among  its  leading  citizens.  He  first 
located  upon  a  rented  farm  in  Panola  Township, 
where  he  made  his  home  for  two  years,  then  re- 
moved to  El  Paso  Township,  and  purchased  a 
quarter  section  of  land,  comprising  a  part  of  his 
present  fine  farm.  Later  he  extended  the  bounda- 
ries of  his  land  by  adding  forty  acres  to  the  origi- 
nal tract.  Though  the  entire  amount  was  in  its 
primitive  condition,  he  was  undaunted  by  the  ardu- 
ous labors  which  would  be  necessary  to  place  it 
under  a  state  of  cultivation,  and  with  a  resolute 
will  began  the  task.  By  degrees  the  wild  prairie 
was  transformed  into  richly  cultivated  fields,  until 
now  his  fine  farm  of  200  acres  pays  a  golden  tri- 
bute to  his  care  and  cultivation,  while  its  many 
useful  and  beautiful  improvements  indicate  the 
thrift  and  enterprise  of  the  owner.  Mr.  Tyler's 
life  has  been  one  of  industry.  Indolence  or  idle- 
ness is  utterly  foreign  to  his  nature,  and  when  he 


460 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


determines  to  accomplish  any  purpose,  no  trial  or 
difficulty  can  cause  him  to  relinquish  the  end  for 
which  he  strives. 

On  his  arrival  in  this  county  v  Mr.  Tyler  was  still 
a  single  man,  but  he  here  formed  the  acquaintance 
of  Miss  Sarah  Brewer,  whom  he  wooed  and  won. 
She  was  born  in  Panola  Township,  on  the  loth  of 
February,  1839,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Re- 
becca (Cox)  Brewer,  who  were  natives  of  Ohio. 
They  were  also  reared  and  married  in  the  Buckeye 
State,  but  subsequently  removed  to  Bloomington, 
111.,  and  about  three  years  afterward  came  to  Wood- 
ford  County,  where  Mr.  Brewer  purchased  large 
tracts  of  land  from  the  Government,  in  Panola  and 
El  Paso  townships.  The  farm  on  which  our  sub- 
ject now  resides,  was  a  portion  of  the  laud  which 
he  entered  at  that  time.  He  began  life  in  this 
county  as  a  farmer,  and  ere  he  was  called  to  his 
final  home,  had  improved  a  large  amount  of  his 
land.  He  was  enterprising  and  progressive,  and 
was  recognized  as  one  of  the  prominent  and  influen- 
tial citizens  of  the  community.  He  did  not  live  to 
witness  the  entire  development  of  the  county,  for 
about  the  year  1850,  at  the  age  of  fifty  years,  his 
deatli  occurred.  His  wife  then  made  her  home 
with  her  children,  until  called  to  meet  the  loved 
one  gone  before.  She  died  at  the  home  of  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  Tyler,  in  1880,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty  years.  This  worthy  couple  were  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  were 
faithful  and  consistent  Christian  people,  who  did 
what  they  could  that  the  Master's  cause  might 
prosper. 

By  the  union  of  John  Tyler  and  Sarah  Brewer, 
three  children  were  born,  one  of  whom  is  deceased 
— Emma,  who  died  at  the  age  of  ten  months;  Lee, 
who  was  educated  in  the  schools  at  El  Paso,  is  now 
engaged  in  operating  the  home  farm ;  W.  B.,  who 
for  some  time  was  a  student  in  El  Paso,  and  later 
pursued  a  course  of  study  in  the  Chicago  Business 
College,  now  holds  the  office  of  Deputy  County 
Clerk  of  Woodford  County,  and  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing young  farmers  of  the  community.  Mr.  Tyler 
has  also  held  various  official  positions,  and  for 
twelve  years  has  served  as  Supervisor.  He  is  a 
Democrat,  in  politics,  and  his  sons  also  support  the 
same  party.  Progressive  and  public-spirited,  he  is 


a  worthy  and  valued  citizen,  and  has  ma.ny  warm 
friends  throughout  the  county,  where  he  is  so  well 
and  favorably  known. 

We  present  to  our  readers  a  fine  engraving  of 
the  residence  and  surroundings  on  the  farm  of  Mr. 
Tyler. 


,OGER  B.  DICKINSON,  the  youngest  of  a 
family  of  ten  children,  the  offspring  of  Eli- 
jah and  Mary  (Burrus)  Dickinson,  was  born 
in  Cruger  Township,  this  county,  Dec.  18, 
1840,  and  was  there  reared  to  manhood,  receiving 
his  early  education  in  the  common  school.  In  1860 
he  entered  the  law  department  of  the  Michigan 
University,  but  the  following  year  the  Civil  Wai- 
having  broken  out,  returned  home  and  enlisted  in 
Company  G,  17th  Illinois  Infantry,  in  which  he 
served  three  years,  and  fought  in  man}'  of  the  im- 
portant battles.  After  the  battle  of  Shiloli,  he  was 
promoted  from  Fifth  to  First  Sergeant,  and  during 
the  entire  time  of  his  service  suffered  neither  ill- 
ness or  wounds.  After  leaving  the  army  he  read 
law  in  Peoria  for  a  time,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1867.  He  has  not  followed  the  profession,  how- 
ever. He  was  for  a  time  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  pumps  at  Peoria,  but  in  the  fall  of  1869, 
returned  to  his  native  township,  and  settled  on  the 
old  homestead,  where  he  has  since  lived,  giving  his 
attention  to  farming. 

In  1877-78,  Mr.  Dickinson  erected  the  fine  brick 
residence  which  he  has  since  occupied.  He  is  the 
owner  of  over  400  acres  of  land.  He  was  married 
near  Eureka,  Oct.  10,  1866,  to  Miss  Annie,  daugh- 
ter of  Richard  Jones.  She  wns  born  in  Williams- 
port,  Pa.,  and  is  now  the  mother  of  six  children — 
Grace,  Jay,  Rogie  and  Eugene  (twins);  Nell  and 
Robert.  The  eldest  daughter  is  attending  the  Illi- 
nois State  University  at  Champaign;  Jay  is  a  stu- 
dent of  Eureka  College.  In  the  spring  of  1866,  Mr. 
Dickinson  was  appointed  Assistant  Assessor  in  the 
Internal  Revenue  Service  for  Woodford  County. 
He  has  taken  an  active  part  in  politics,  and  in  the 
fall  of  1888,  was  the  candidate  for  State  Senator  on 
the  Republican  ticket.  He  has  been  Secretary  of 


THOMAS  CLARK 


DELENCY  P.  CLARK  . 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


465 


Woodford  County  Central  Committee  for  several 
years,  and  has  also  officiated  as  School  Director. 
Socially,  he  belongs  to  Dan  Miles  Post  No.  270, 
G.'  A.  R. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia, whence  they  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1835, 
and  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  Cruger  Township, 
this  county,  establishing  a  homestead  in  its  eastern 
part.  The  father  entered  additional  land  and  la- 
bored upon  it  until  his'  death,  which  occurred  in 
July,  1862.  The  mother  subsequently  made  her 
home  with  her  children,  and  died  at  the  residence 
of  William  Major,  in  Olio  Township,  in  the  fall  of 
1868.  Eight  of  their  ten  children  lived  to  mature 
years,  four  sons  and  four  daughters.  The  father 
was  an  active  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  and 
one  of  the  founders  of  Eureka  College,  after  which 
he  served  several  years  as  President  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees. 


xp^EORGE  MARSHALL  CLARK,  the  son  of 
ml ,— ,  pioneer  parents  whom  he  accompanied  to 
^^Jj  Woodford  County  in  his  early  childhood, 
grew  with  the  growth  of  the  county,  and  since  at- 
taining man's  estate  has  been  one  of  its  most  pro- 
gressive and  prosperous  farmers  and  stock-raisers, 
and  has  materially  advanced  its  interests.  He  has 
a  large,  finely  improved  farm  in  Cazenovia  Town- 
ship, where  he  is  enjoying  life  in  one  of  the  most 
charming  and  cozy  homes  in  the  locality.  Mr. 
Clark  is  also  closely  identified  with  the  agricultural 
interests  of  Iroquois  County,  where  lie  owns  a 
large  tract  of  choice  farming  land,  many  acres  of 
which  are  under  tillage,  and  which  is  provided 
with  necessary  buildings  and  all  the  accessories  of 
a  good  farm. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  notice  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Nelson,  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y..  March 
13,  1841.  His  father,  Thomas  Clark,  was  of  New 
England  antecedents  and  birth,  born  in  Massachu- 
setts Jan.  7,  1805.  His  father,  Bill  Clark,  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  a  native  of  that  State,  and  was 
the  son  of  a  gallant  Revolutionary  soldier.  He 


was  bred  to  the  life  of  a  farmer,  and  moving  to 
New  York  at  some  period  of  his  life,  became  an 
early  settler  of  the  town  of  Nelson,  buying  a  tract 
of  heavily  timbered  land  there  that  formed  a  part 
of  the  primeval  forest  of  that  section  of  the  country. 
That  was  before  the  era  of  railways  and  canals  in 
that  State,  and  he  used  to  draw  his  grain  to  Albany, 
1 10  miles  distant,  to  dispose  of  it.*^  He  cleared  a 
farm,  and  made  his  home  on  it  till  death  called 
him  to  a  better  one. 

Tht  father  of  our  subject  was  but  a  boy  when 
his  parents  moved  to  New  York  State,  and  he  there 
grew  to  man's  estate,  married  and  established  a 
home.  He  rented  land  and  carried  on  farming 
there  till  1844,  when  he  determined  to  avail  him- 
self of  the  cheaper  lands  and  fairer  opportunities 
that  Illinois  offered  to  enterprising  farmers,  and  in 
the  month  of  June  he  set  out  on  his  journey  to 
this  State,  traveling  via  the  Erie  Canal  to  Buffalo, 
whence  he  came  by  boat  on  Lake  Erie  to  Cleve- 
land, and  from  there  went  by  canal  to  the  Ohio 
River,  then  continued  the  voyage  on  that  river 
and  up  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  rivers  to  the 
interior  of  this  State,  and  landed  atLacon,  whence 
he  came  on  foot  to  Cazenovia  Township.  Here  he 
bought  an  eighty  acre  tract  of  land  on  section  22, 
paying  $3  an  acre  for  it.  After  concluding  the 
purchase  of  that  bit  of  wild  prairie,  he  returned 
to  his  old  home  in  New  York,  and  in  the  fall  came 
back  to  this  place  with  a  two  horse  team,  bringing 
his  wife,  son  and  another  child,  and  accomplishing 
the  journey  in  six  weeks  and  two  days.  There 
being  no  house  on  his  place,  he  and  his  family  were 
given  shelter  in  the  dwelling  of  a  hospitable  neigh- 
bor near  by,  and  in  the  fall  of  1845  he  commenced 
the  erection  of  a  frame  house,  which  on  account 
of  sickness  he  did  not  complete  till  1846.  The 
shingles  were  from  Wisconsin,  and  were  brought 
here  by  the  roundabout  way  of  St.  Louis,  while 
the  boards  for  the  house  were  sawed  in  a  mill  in 
the  township  operated  by  horse  power.  Mr.  Clark 
continued  his  residence  here  till  his  death  in  1881, 
when  he  rounded  out  a  long  and  useful  life.  He 
was  a  man  whom  to  know  was  to  respect,  as  he 
possessed  many  sterling  qualities  of  head  and  heart, 
and  was  true  to  himself  and  to  all  with  whom  he 
had  dealings.  In  the  management  of  his  affairs  he 


466 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


displayed  wisdom  and  prudence,  thus  accumulating 
a  goodly  amount  of  property,  and  in  so  doing 
added  to  the  material  wealth  of  his  adopted  county, 
in  whose  welfare  he  was  always  interested.  His 
wife  survived  him  till  1886.  when  she  too  passed 
away  from  the  scenes  of  her  usefulness.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Delency  Fidelbra  Marshall,and  she 
was  born  in  Cazenovia  Township,  N.  Y.,  July  9, 
1807,  a  daughter  of  Simeon  and  Sarah  Marshall. 

Onr  subject  and  one  other  child  who  died  in  in- 
fancy, were  the  only  children  born  to  his  parents. 
He  was  but  three  and  one-half  years  old  when  he 
came  to  this  State  with  them,  yet  lie  still  retains 
some  recollection  of  that  memorable  journey  across 
the  country,  and  has  a  distinct  remembrance  of  the 
pioneer  life  that  obtained  here  in  his  boyhood  and 
early  manhood.  For  some  years  after  the  family 
came  here  deer  and  wild  turkeys  were  plenty,  and 
the  prairie  continued  sparsely  settled  for  a  long 
time.  His  mother,  who  was  a  notable  housewife, 
used  to  spin  and  weave  all  the  cloth  and  make  all 
the  garments  used  in  the  family.  He  being  the 
only  surviving  child,  our  subject  always  made  his 
home  with  his  parents,  and  was  their  stay  and  com- 
fort in  their  dec-lining  years.  He  has  been  very 
much  prospered  in  his  work  as  a  practical  farmer, 
and  has  acquired  a  large  amount  of  valuable  prop- 
erty. He  has  besides  his  fine,  well-appointed  farm 
in  Cazenovia  Township,  640  acres  of  land  of  ex- 
ceeding fertility  in  Iroquois  County,  250  acres  of 
which  are  under  excellent  tillage,  and  there  is  a 
set  of  frame  buildings  on  the  place  and  two  arte- 
sian wells. 

In  the  month  of  September  1880  our  subject 
took  an  important  step  in  his  life  whereby  he  se- 
cured a  good  wife  in  the  person  of  Miss  Mary  Ellen 
McFarlin,  a  native  of  Indiana,  and  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Lydia  (Davis)  McFarlin.  Her  parents 
now  reside  in  Martinton  Township,Iroquois  County. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  have  one  child,  Eva. 

Mr.  Clark  has  accumulated  wealth  by  the  exer- 
cise of  those  traits  that  mark  him  as  a  man  more 
than  ordinarily  gifted  with  tact,  force  of  character, 
strength  of  purpose,  and  business  acumen.  It  is 
to  such  men  that  Woodford  County  is  indebted  for 
its  high  standing  as  a  great  agricultural  centre. 
Our  subject  has  many  pleasant  social  qualities  that 


commend  him  to  his  neighbors  and  others,  and  he 
and  his  wife  are  highly  thought  of  in  this  commu- 
nity. In  his  political  views  he  was  formerly  a 
Republican,  and  cast  his  first  vote  for  Abraham 
Lincoln.  But  he  is  now  independent,  preferring 
not  to  be  bound  by  party  ties.  Mrs.  Clark  is  con- 
nected with  the  Baptist  Church  as  one  of  its  most 
valued  members. 

The  father  and  mother  of  our  subject  are  resting 
in  dreamless  repose,  but  have  left  behind  them 
monuments  far  more  enduring  than  even  Carrara's 
far-famed  marble  has  ever  furnished.  We  present 
to  their  many  friends  portraits  of  those  valued 
pioneers,  upon  whose  living  features  the  eye  can 
no  longer  rest. 


AVID  FILGER,  a  veteran  of  the  late  war, 
in  which  he  served  with  honorable  dis- 
tinction, was  for  many  years  prominently 
connected  with  the  business  and  agricul- 
tural interests  of  Woodford  County.  But  having 
accumulated  a  handsome  property,  he  has  retired 
from  active  business,  while  yet  scarcely  past  life's 
prime,  and  is  living  at  his  ease  in  a  beautiful  home 
in  Minonk,  in  which  city  he  established  himself 
when  he  first  came  to  Illinois  to  settle  in  1861.  and 
where  he  has  ever  since  resided  with  the  exception 
of  the  time  when  he  was  serving  his  country  on  the 
southern  battle-fields. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Worces- 
ter, Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  March  2,  1834,  to  Christo- 
pher and  Sarah  (Westenhaver)  Filger,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  of  German  parentage.  His  father 
was  a  farmer,  and  also  a  blacksmith,  and  he  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Wayne  County,  Ohio, 
where  he  cleared  and  improved  a  farm  in  the  wil- 
derness, making  his  home  on  it  the  remainder  of 
his  life,  which  was  prolonged  until  reaching  the  age 
of  seventy-four.  His  wife  survived  him  ten  years, 
dying  at  about  the  same  age.  By  a  previous  mar- 
riage he  had  two  children — Jacob  and  Mary  Ann. 
The  former  resides  in  Oregon,  and  the  latter  died  in 
1889  at  her  home  in  Summit  County,  Ohio.  The 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


467 


mother  of  our  subject  reared  eleven  children,  all  of 
whom  are  living,  viz.:  John  is  a  commission  mer- 
chant in  Chicago:  George  is  a  farmer  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Ohio;  Simon  is  a  cabinet-maker  in 
Santa  Ye,  N.  M. ;  David,  our  subject;  Susanna  is  the 
wife  of  Henry  Geary,  of  Summit  County,  Ohio; 
Lydia  is  the  wife  of  Harrison  Swigard,  of  Marion, 
Kan.;  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  William  Whit- 
tinton,  of  the  Evangelical  Church,  in  Ohio;  Eliza- 
beth is  the  wife  of  Henry  Myers,  of  Ashland,  Ohio; 
Abraham  and  Isaac  are  twins,  the  former  living  in 
Missouri  and  the  latter  in  Colorado;  and  Henry  is 
a  farmer  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio. 

Our  subject  spent  the  early  years  of  his  life  on 
the  old  homestead  in  Ohio,  where  he  was  born. 
In  1854  he  made  his  first  visit  to  this  State,  and 
after  stopping  about  eighteen  months  at  Tonica, 
he  proceeded  further  westward,  and  crossing  the 
Mississippi  River,  went  into  Iowa  to  look  after 
some  land  he  had  previously  purchased.  He  sub- 
sequently returned  to  Ohio,  and  remained  at  home 
till  1861,  when  he  came  back  to  Illinois,  and  estab- 
lished himself  in  Minonk  in  the  lumber  business. 
He  was  carrying  on  a  very  profitable  trade,  but  in 
1862  he  threw  aside  all  personal  interests  to  enlist 
in  the  defense  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  and  be- 
came a  member  of  Company  H,  67th  Illinois  In- 
fantry. For  eighteen  long  months  he  fought 
bravely  and  well,  and  was  accounted  bv  his  super- 
iors an  efficient  soldier.  At  the  expiration  of  that 
time  he  was  discharged  on  account  of  having  re- 
ceived a  severe  wound  that  rendered  him  unfit  for 
service,  he  having  been  wounded  by  a  piece  of 
shell  in  the  arm  at  the  hotly  contested  battle  of 
Arkansas  Post.  He  was  with  his  regiment  at  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg.  and  he  took  an  active  part  in 
other  important  battles. 

Returning  to  Minonk  after  his  bitter  experience 
of  military  life,  Mr.  Filger  resumed  his  interrupted 
business  as  a  lumber  merchant,  and  also  became  a 
grain  dealer,  and  one  year  later  gave  up  his  lumber 
trade  to  pay  attention  to  buying  and  selling  grain, 
and  also  dealt  in  live-stock.  He  was  successfully 
engaged  in  both  branches  of  business  till  1877, 
when  he  dropped  the  grain  trade  and  devoted  him- 
self exclusively  to  his  live-stock  dealings.  In  1887 
he  retired  from  business  entirely,  with  the  excep- 


tion of  looking  after  his  property  and  at  that  time 
built  his  present  large,  comfortable  residence.  By 
his  own  unaided  efforts  he  has  become  a  man  of 
wealth  and  influence,  and  although  he  has  met  with 
some  reverses  in  the  pursuit  of  riches,  he  has  accu- 
mulated a  handsome  fortune.  Besides  his  prop- 
erty in  Minonk  he  has  three  valuable  farms, 
aggregating  400  acres,  all  well  improved. 

Mr.  Filger  was  married  in  the  fall  of  1863  to 
Miss  Margaret  C.  Garten.  She  was  born  in  Put- 
nam County,  111.,  near  Princeton. 

Since  his  residence  here  Mr.  Filger's  fellow-citi- 
zens have  availed  themselves  of  his  well-known 
fine  business  qualifications  and  his  capacity  for 
affairs,  by  inducting  him  into  the  leading  local 
offices.  He  has  been  Mayor  of  Minonk,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Council,  and  in  both  positions  displayed 
that  disinterested  regard  for  the  welfare  of  the 
city  and  the  earnest  desire  to  promote  its  highest 
interests,  that  characterizes  any  man  of  true  public- 
spirit,  and  that  won  for  him  the  gratitude  and  re- 
spect of  the  people  without  regard  to  party,  both 
Republicans  and  Democrats  joining  in  praise  of  his 
administration.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  is  in  thorough  accord  with  his  party  on  all  the 
great  public  questions  of  the  day.  Religiously,  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
high  standing.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, and  is  a  Knight  Templar.  He  is  also  identi- 
fied with  the  G.  A.  R.  at  Minonk. 


J"  I OSEPH  REDIGER,  (deceased.)    was  form- 
i    erly  a    prominent   and    wealthy  [farmer   of 
Woodford  County.     He  was  the  proprietor 
1    of  one  of  the    largest  and  finest  farms   in 
Partridge  Township,  and   his    death   Feb.  7,   1879, 
while  yet  in  life's  prime,  was  a  severe  blow  to  the 
agricultural   interests  of  this  part  of  the    countr}'. 
He  was  the  son  of  a  pioneer  of  the  county,  one  of 
the  earliest  settlers  of  the  township  just  mentioned, 
and  as  he  had  to  develop  his  farm  from'a  wild,  un- 
cultivated tract  of  land,  he  may  be  rightly  classed 


468 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


among  the  worthy  pioneers  of  this  county,  whose 
names  and  memories  will  ever  be  held  in  deep  ven- 
eration by  the  present  and  coming  generations. 

Joseph  Rediger  was  born  in  Butler  County,  Ohio, 
May  22,  1835,  while  his  father,  who  bore  the  same 
name  as  himself,  was  a  native  of  Germany.  He  came 
to  America  when  a  young  man,  and  after  residing  in 
the  county  where  our  subject's  birth  occurred,  for  a 
few  years,  made  his  way  to  Illinois  with  his  family, 
and  settled  in  the  wilds  of  what  is  now  known  as 
Partridge  Township,  buying  a  tract  of  timber  land 
on  section  36.  Busily  engaged  in  the  hard  task  of 
clearing  away  the  forest  and  cultivating  his  land, 
he  made  his  home  here  till  death  called  him  hence. 

Our  subject  was  but  a  boy  when  his  parents 
brought  him  to  this  county,  and  here  the  remain- 
der of  his  life  was  spent.  He  was  bred  on  his 
father's  farm  to  agricultural  pursuits,  affording  his 
father  valuable  assistance  in  his  labors  as  soon  as 
he  was  large  enough.  At  the  time  of  his  marriage 
he  left  the  parental  household  and  established  a 
home  of  his  own  on  the  farm  where  his  family  now 
reside.  There  was  a  little  log  stable  on  the  place 
and  a  log  cabin,  and  in  the  latter  humble  structure, 
he  and  his  amiable  wife  commenced  the  journey  of 
life  together.  In  the  years  of  hard  labor  that  fol- 
lowed, our  subject  accomplished  as  much  as  mai^ 
men  whose  lives  are  rounded  out  to  a  good  old  age, 
and  when  death  came  to  him  he  had  accumulated 
a  large  and  valuable  property.  His  farm  of  500 
acres  was  of  exceedingly  rich  and  fertile  land,  and 
he  had  erected  a  handsome  set  of  frame  buildings, 
and  had  all  the  conveniences  for  carrying  on  a 
farm  advantageously. 

December  28,  1856,  was  the  date  of  his  marriage 
with  Miss  Ann  Eliza  Clingman,  who  was  to  him  all 
that  an  intelligent,  faithful,  devoted  wife  could  be, 
and  gave  him  the  material  aid  in  the  upbuilding 
of  a  home.  She  is  now  living  on  a  farm  with  her 
children,  enjoying  every  comfort  and  luxury  that 
heart  can  wisli  for.  She  is  also  a  native  of  Ohio, 
born  April  17,  1833.  Her  father,  John  M.  Cling- 
man, was  born  in  Northumberland  County,  Pa. 
His  father,  John  Clingman,  was,  as  far  as  known, 
born  in  the  same  State,  and  was  of  German  parent- 
age or  ancestry.  He  removed  from  there  to  Ohio, 
and  was  an  early  settler  of  that  State.  lie  fol- 


lowed agricultural  pursuits  in  both  Sciota  and  Ross 
counties,  and  spent  his  last  years  in  that  State. 
Mrs.  Rediger's  father  was  very  young  when  his 
parents  moved  to  Ohio,  and  there  he  was  reared 
and  married.  In  1835  he  started  westward  to  seek 
a  home  before  the  introduction  of  railways  in  the 
West,  and  the  journey  was  made  with  ox-teams, 
and  having  their  household  goods  along,  they 
cooked  and  camped  by  the  way.  The  family  lo- 
cated in  Woodford  County,  in  that  part  of  it  now 
included  in  Partridge  Township.  The  father  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land  there,  improved  a  farm,  and 
remained  a  resident  thereon  several  years.  He 
then  removed  to  Cazenovta  and  lived  retired 
till  his  death.  When  he  came  here,  deer,  wild 
turke3's,  prairie  chickens,  and  other  kinds  of  game 
were  very  plenty,  and  as  he  had  had  much  experi- 
ence in  hunting  in  Ohio,  he  was  one  of  the  most 
expert  riflemen  of  his  day,  and  many  a  wild  ani- 
mal was  brought  down  by  his  unerring  aim.  Mrs. 
Rediger's  mother,  Margaret  (Levis)  Clingman,  was 
born  in  Northumberland  Count3T,  Pa.  During  her 
pioneer  life  in  this  country  she  had  to  use  the 
primitive  method  of  cooking  before  an  open  fire 
in  a  rude  fireplace,  and  the  first  stove  that  she  had 
was  brought  from  Chicago  with  a  team. 

Mrs.  Rediger's  married  life  was  blessed  to  her 
and  her  husband  by  the  birth  of  five  children — 
Almeda  (wife  of  N.  C.  Ridenour,)  John,  Lewis  IX, 
George  T. :  Margaret  is  the  wife  of  William  B. 
Herndon,  who  assists  in  operating  the  home  farm 
and  resides  with  his  mother-in-law. 


ARTIN  O.  HAZEN.  This  gentleman  came 
l\\  to  Woodford  County  thirty  years  ago,  and 
Hi  establishing  himself  in  Metamora  Town- 
ship as  a  farmer,  has  been  closely  con- 
nected with  the  agricultural  interests  of  this  region 
ever  since.  He  is  a  man  of  clear  understanding, 
good,  practical  sense,  and  by  judicious  manage- 
ment has  been  prospered  in  his  calling. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  the  town  of  Plymouth, 
Vt.,  May  23, 1818i     His  father,  Lyman  Hazen,and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


469 


his  grandfather,  Solomon  Hazen,  were  natives  of 
Hartford,  Vt.,  the  latter  carrying  on  farming  there 
till  his  death.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  a 
carder  and  cloth  dresser  by  trade.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  Pomfret,  Vt,  in  1884.  The  maiden  name 
of  the  mother  of  our  subject  was  Polly  Ingra- 
liam,  and  she  was  also  a  native  of  Vermont.  When 
our  subject  was  very  young  he  had  the  sad  mis- 
fortune to  lose  the  loving  care  of  a  good  mother 
by  her  premature  death,  and  then  he  went  to  live 
with  some  uncles  in  his  native  State,  by  whom  he 
was  reared  and  educated.  He  early  displayed  a 
genius  for  mechanics,  and  his  relatives  encouraging 

O  o        o 

his  bent  in  that  direction,  he  was  set  to  learn  the 
trade  of  a  locksmith.  He  acquired  a  thorough 
mastery  of  that  calling  and  pursued  it  in  Nashua, 
and  latter  in  Lowell,  Mass.,  where  he  built  up  an 
extensive  business,  which  he  carried  on  very  profit- 
ably for  some  years,  till  he  was  obliged  to  aban- 
don it  on  account  of  ill-health,  and  in  1859  he 
sought  in  Illinois  a  change  of  climate,  and  here 
turned  his  attention  to  tilling  the  soil.  He  bought 
160  acres  of  land,  one-third  of  which  was  improved, 
located  in  Metamora  Township.  He  lived  on  that 
place  till  1878,  when  he  sold  it  at  an  advance,  and 
invested  the  proceeds  in  his  present  farm,  sixty 
acres  of  which  is  included  within  the  city  corpora- 
tion. The  location  is  exceptionally  line,  and  its 
nearness  to  a  good  market  increases  its  value.  The 
land  is  under  admirable  cultivation,  and  is  well 
improved,  with  an  excellent  set  of  buildings,  and 
every  needful  appliance  for  facilitating  the  work 
necessary  for  managing  the  fariii  properly. 

In  November,  1852,  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Hazen 
and  Miss  Martha  Searle  was  duly  solemnized,  and 
of  their  happy  union  one  child  has  been  born, 
Frank  Lynn.  Mrs.  Hazen  is  a  native  of  Maine, 
born  in  Norridgewock,  Nov.  28, 1819.  Her  father, 
Samuel  Searle,  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire, 
the  town  of  Mason  his  birthplace;  his  father  the 
Rev.  Jonathan  Searle,  having  been  pastor  of  the 
Congregational  Church  in  that  town  for  many 
years,  his  life  ending  there.  Mrs.  Ilazen's  father 
was  reared  in  Mason,  and  when  nineteen  years  old 
he  went  to  Norridgewock,  Me.,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming  several  years.  He  subsequently  bought 
a  hotel  in  Skowhegan,  and'  carried  it  on  for  some 


years.  He  finally  sold  it  and  bought  a  home  near 
by  and  was  a  resident  of  that  town  till  his  demise. 
The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Betsy  Wether- 
ell,  and  she  was  a  native  of  Maine,  and  died  there 
while  yet  a  young  woman  in  1822.  Mrs.  Hazen 
was  reared  by  a  step-mother,  and  resided  at  home 
till  she  was  grown  to  womanhood,  when  she  went 
to  live  in  Lowell,  Mass.,  and  later  in  Lawrence,  in 
that  State,  and  in  that  city  was  married.  She  is  a 
truly  good  and  kind-hearted  woman,  and  a  sincere 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

During  his  long  residence  here  Mr.  Hazen  has 
proved  himself  in  every  way  worthy  of  consider- 
ation, as  he  has  always  conducted  himself  honorably 
and  in  a  way  to  win  the  respect  and  friendship  of 
his  neighbors.  .  He  is  sagacious  and  far-sighted, 
and  tenacious  of  purpose,  and  has  displayed  sound, 
practical  skill  in  the  prosecution  of  his  calling,  so 
that  he  has  achieved  an  assured  success. 


HARSEIM,  dealer  in  furniture 
=.  at  Secor,  III.,  is  one  of  the  leading  business 
men  of  that,  city,  where  he  has  made  his 
home  since  1864.  From  that  time  until  1879  he 
engaged  in  carpentering  and  building,  and  being 
an  expert  workman,  his  services  were  generally  in 
demand.  He  did  a  good  business  in  that  line,  but 
in  1 879  established  himself  as  a  furniture  dealer, 
which  pursuit  he  has  since  followed.  He  carries  a 
large  and  well-assorted  stock,  his  prices  are  as 
low  as  anywhere  found,  and  his  goods  are  of  the 
best  quality.  By  his  courteous  and  gentlemanly 
manner,  fair  and  honest  dealing,  and  earnest  desire 
to  please  his  customers,  he  has  secured  a  liberal 
patronage,  which  he  well  deserves.  He  also  does 
repairing,  together  with  everything  in  that  line, 
and  has  an  undertaking  establishment  connected 
with  his  store. 

Mr.  Harseim  was  born  in  Saxony,  Germany,  on 
the  3d  day  of  March,  1833,  and  in  the  schools  of 
his  native  country  received  his  education.  In  his 
youth  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  and 


470 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


cabinet-maker,  and  when  eighteen  years  of  age  ac- 
companied the  family  to  America.  Bidding  good- 
by  to  his  friends  and  childhood  home,  on  the  3d 
day  of  April,  1851,  he  left  for  Bremen,  whence  he 
embarked  on  a  sailing  vessel  for  America.  The 
voyage  was  made  in  safety,  and  on  the  3d  day  of 
July  he  landed  in  New  Orleans,  whence  he  came 
up  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio  rivers  to  New  Albany, 
Ind.,  where  five  days  later  the  death  of  the  father 
occurred.  Mrs.  Harseim,  accompanied  by  her  three 
sons,  then  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  La  Salle 
County,  where  she  passed  to  her  final  rest  in  1872. 

Our  subject  followed  his  trade  for  some  years  in 
LaSalle  County,  and  there  married  Miss  Ellen 
Bellinghauscn,  the  wedding  taking  place  in  Peru. 
The  lady  was  born  on  the  banks  of  the  Rhine,  in 
Prussia,  Aug.  2,  1831,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John 
Bellinghausen,  who  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America 
in  1852.  Immediately  after  his  arrival  on  the 
shores  of  this  country  he  continued  his  journey 
until  reaching  Peru,  III.,  where  he  worked  at  car- 
pentering and  cabinet-making  for  many  years 
His  deatli  occurred  in  1880,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of 
seventy -six  years.  He  was  three  times  married, 
his  last  wife  still  surviving  him. 

Seven  children  have  been  born  of  the  union  of 
Godfred  Harseim  and  Ellen  Bellinghausen,  but 
only  two  are  now  living;  Matilda,  who  is  the 
wife  of  William  Zink,  a  resident  farmer  of  Greene 
Township,  by  whom  she  has  eight  children,  seven 
sons  and  a  daughter;  and  Mary,  wife  of  John 
Becker,  who  resides  in  El  Paso.  Mr.  Becker  is  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  and  his  wife  is  a  seamstress. 
They  have  three  children.  The  deceased  members 
of  the  family  are  August,  Godfred,  Ellen,  Lenora 
and  John  W. 

After  residing  for  some  years  in  La  Salle  County, 
Mr.  Harseim  removed  with  his  family  to  Chicago, 
and  started  in  business,  remaining  in  that  city  for 
a  period  of  about  ten  years.  In  the  year  1864  he 
came  to  Sccor  and  engaged  in  business,  as  elsewhere 
stated.  In  connection  with  his  other  interests,  for 
the  past  twelve  years  he  has  given  considerable 
attention  to  the  raising  of  bees,  and  now  has  over 
300  colonies.  Few  men  have  been  more  promi- 
nently identified  with  I  he  history  and  progress  of 
Secor  than  Godfred  Harseim,  He  manifests  a  deep 


interest  in  all  its  public  affairs,  is  ever  ready  to  aid 
in  the  promotion  of  any  enterprise  for  the  general 
welfare,  and  has  liberally  responded  to  all  calls 
made  upon  him  for  social,  educational  or  moral 
interests.  He  and  his  wife  are  active  members  of 
the  German  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which 
he  now  holds  the  office  of  Trustee  and  Steward, 
and  is  Vice-president  of  the  County  Sunday-school 
Convention.  In  political  sentiment,  he  is  a  stal- 
wart supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  and  for  a 
number  of  terms  has  been  city  alderman. 


E  C.  HOGELUCHT,  one  of  the  exten- 
sive land-owners  of  Wood  ford  County, 
and  a  prominent  and  progressive  farmer, 
residing  on  section  18,  Greene  Township,  is  num- 
bered among  the  early  settlers  of  the  county,  where 
he  has  made  his  home  since  1855.  He  commands 
and  receives  the  respect  of  his  fellow-citizens,  who 
esteem  him  highly  for  his  standard  worth  and  in- 
telligence as  well  as  his  genial  and  kindly  nature. 
He  was  born  in  Oest,  Friesland,  in  the  Kingdom 
of  Hanover.  Germany,  on  the  5th  day  of  October, 
1830,  and  is  a  son  of  a  German  farmer,  Karl  Wilke 
Hogelucht,  who  afterwards  came  to  this  country. 
His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Taetiey  A.  Raden- 
ius,  and  she,  like  her  husband,  was  a  native 
of  Oest,  Friesland.  She  died  when  our  sub- 
ject was  eighteen  years  old,  he  being  the  only 
child  of  the  family  left  to  mourn  the  loss  of  a 
mother  by  death.  Mr.  Hogelucht  was  a  second 
time  married,  and  had  five  children  by  that  union 
who  are  now  living  in  America,  principally  in  the 
Central  States.  When  about  fifty-eight  years  of 
age  he  left  his  native  land  and  crossed  the  water 
to  make  his  home  with  his  son.  He  died  on  a  farm 
in  Livingston  County,  Illinois,  in  1869,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-five  years,  respected  by  all  who  knew 
him. 

Our  subject  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  in  his  native  country  and  was  reared  to 
manhood  upon  his  father's  farm.  He  received  his 
primary  education  in  the  German  "Allgemein 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


471 


Schule,"  and  afterwards  pursued  a  course  in  a 
higher  school.  On  attaining  his  majority  he  de- 
termined to  try  his  fortune  in  the  New  World,,  but 
for  some  time  was  prevented  from  carrying  out  his 
resolution,  being  detained  as  "  reserve "  in  the 
king's  service  for  three  years.  However,  in  1854, 
lie  bade  good-by  to  home  and  friends,  and  on  the 
8th  day  of  September,  embarked  from  Broke  in 
the  sailing  vessel  "  O.  Teen."  One  month  later 
the  ship  dropped  anchor  in  the  harbor  at  New  Or- 
leans, whence  Mr.  Ilogelucht  proceeded  up  the 
Mississippi  River  to  Quincy,  and  from  that  city 
traveled  overland  to  Peoria,  where  he  arrived  Jan. 
10,  1855.  He  had  no  capital  with  which  to  begin 
life  in  his  new  home  but  was  dependent  upon  his 
own  resources.  In  a  short  time  he  had  secured 
work  as  a  farm  laborer  and  continued  to  serve  in 
that  capacity  for  some  time,  though  in  1856  he 
purchased  land  in  this  county.  He  was  able  to 
read  and  speak  the  English  language  on  his  arrival 
in  America,  and  it  was  thus  less  difficult  for  him  to 
obtain  employment.  His  life  has  been  one  of  in- 
dustry and  toil,  and  being  sagacious  and  possessed 
of  good  business  ability,  he  has  been  successful  in 
his  efforts  to  make  a  home. 

In  1861  Mr.  Hogelucht  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Mrs.  Gertie  (Johnson)  Rodenius,  daughter  of 
John  Johnson,  and  a  native  of  Oest,  Friesland. 
At  the  time  of  her  marriage  with  our  subject  she 
was  the  widow  of  Harm  Rodenius,  and  had  a  fam- 
ily of  four  children,  who  remained  with  their 
mother  until  they  were  married  and  went  to  homes 
of  their  own.  Helen,  the  eldest,  is  now  the  wife  of 
H.  Layman,  a  resident  of  Greene  Township,  by 
whom  she  has  seven  children  :  John,  who  married 
Rexta  Falcus,  and  now  has  a  family  of  four  chil- 
dren, is  a  farmer  of  Roanoke  Township;  Hannah 
became  the  wife  of  Albert  Sotthoff.  a  resident 
farmer  of  Kansas,  and  they  have  six  children; 
Harm,  residing  in  Greene  Township,  married 
Wilmke  Flor,  and  five  children  grace  their  union. 

The  same  year  in  which  he  wedded  Mrs.  Ro 
denius,  Mr.  Hogelucht  purchased  125  acres  of  land 
on  section  18,  which  constituted  the  nucleus  of  his 
present  large  farm.  Since  that  time  he  has  added 
to  his  possessions  until  he  now  owns  300  acres.  285 
of  which  is  arable  land,  the  remaining  fifteen  being 


a  timber  tract  in  Roanoke  Township.  His  property 
has  all  been  secured  since  he  came  to  this  country, 
and  is  the  result  of  his  industry,  perseverance, 
good  management  and  fair  dealing.  He  has  made 
good  improvements  upon  his  land,  has  divided  his 
his  farm  into  fields  of  convenient  size  by  well-kept 
fences,  has  built  a  large  and  commodious  barn  and 
lias  erected  a  neat  frame  dwelling.  He  has  en- 
dured the  trials  and  hardships  incident  to  life  on 
the  frontier  and  has  borne  his  part  in  the  work  of 
upbuilding  and  progress.  In  1860  he  became  a 
naturalized  citizen,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a 
stanch  Democrat  in  politics.  He  manifests  a  deep 
interest  in  all  the  affairs  of  (he  country,  is  a  great 
reader,  and  is  well  informed  on  all  the  leading 
questions  of  the  da}',  both  State  and  National. 
For  many  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  Church  of  Linn  Township,  and  is  a 
faithful  and  consistent  Christian,  who  performs 
cheerfully  every  duty  by  which  he  can  promote  the 
Master's  cause.  Mr.  Hogelucht  is  generous  and 
benevolent,  warm-hearted  and  sincere,  and  posses- 
ses a  vein  of  humor  in  his  nature  which  makes  him 
an  interesting  and  pleasant  companion.  He  has 
won  a  host  of  friends  throughout  the  county  where 
he  is  so  widely  known. 

We  invite  the  attention  of  our  numerous  readers 
to  a  handsome  lithographic  view  of  the  farm,  resi- 
dence and  commodious  out-buildings  of  Mr.  Hoge- 
lucht, on  another  page  of  this  volume. 


WILLIAM  II.  GROVE.  It  is  a  blessing 
which  comes  not  to  all,  to  have  a  father 
of  whom  his  children  may  be  proud,  and 
with  just  pride  speak  of  him  as  a  model  by  which 
they  may  shape  their  own  lives.  It  is  a  matter  of 
pride  with  William  H.  Grove,  that  he  is  the  son  of 
a  man  who  wields  snc-li  an  influence  with  his  fel- 
low men.  Although  lie  is  a  young  man,  he  already 
bids  fair  to  become  a  lit  successor  to  his  father  in 
all  his  relations  of  life. 

William  H.  Grove  is  the  son  of  Benjamin  Grove, 
whose  biography  is  given  in  connection   with  that 


472 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


of  his  son.  He  resides  on  section  25,  and  conducts 
the  farm  of  his  father  with  marked  success.  He 
received  a  good  common  school  education,  and 
thus  was  excellently  prepared  for  his  life  work. 

Mr.  William  Grove  was  especially  fortunate  in  the 
selection  of  a  life  partner,  his  wife  being  Miss  Mary 
Ann  Lindenfelser,  a  native  of  Tazewell  County, 
III.  She  is  of  German  ancestry,  her  parents  hav- 
ing emigrated  to  America  from  their  old  home 
in  Baden.  To  them  have  been  born  two  children. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grove  are  held  in  high  esteem  among 
all  the  people  who  have  the  pleasure  of  their  ac- 
quaintance, and  are  welcomed  in  the  best  circles 
of  society. 


Vl'OHN  F.  VAN  FOSSEX.  It  is  said  that 
every  man  has  his  hobby,  and  were  it  not 
for  this  quality  of  character  many  ideas  and 

1>)J  pursuits  would  remain  practically  unde- 
veloped. We  can  scarcely  call  to  mind  any  more 
important  calling  or  profession  than  the  breeding 
and  training  of  horses,  that  animal  upon  which  so 
many  industries  depend,  and  which  practically  is 
the  only  source  of  income  fo;  a  vast  number  of 
people — aside  from  his  strength,  beauty  and  sym- 
metry,which  are  so  pleasant  to  the  eye,  and  which  is 
utilized  as  a  great  source  of  pleasure  to  the  human 
race.  In  this  as  in  all  other  pursuits  there  are  men 
who  seem  particularly  adapted  to  it,  and  who  have 
the  proper  view  of  its  importance,  making  of  it  an 
art  and  a  science,  and  in  order  to  make  of  it  a 
success  they  must  have  for  it  a  genuine  love  and  a 
pride  in  it. 

As  a  breeder  of  fine  horses  Mr.  Van  Fossen 
stands  probably  second  to  no  man  in  Woodford 
County,  and  his  efforts  in  this  direction  have 
gained  him  an  enviable  reputation.  Up  to  1881  he 
had  since  early  manhood  been  engaged  in  general 
agriculture,  although  always  interested  in  the 
equine  race,  but  this  3'ear  he  turned  his  attention 
particularly  to  the  breeding  of  fine  horses,  and  it 
has  lii'en  his  pride  and  pleasure  to  become  owner 
of  some  very  valuable  animals.  Among  these  is 


the  Royal  Kentucky-bred  coach  stallion  known  as 
"Black  Harp,"  and  acknowledged  to  approach  as 
near  perfection  in  his  line  as  is  to  be  seen.  He 
has  been  driren  a  mile  in  2:40  without  any  jockey 
training,  flying  over  the  ground  without  any  effort, 
and  apparently  delighting  in  the  exercise.  This 
beautiful  animal  stands  seventeen  hands  high  and 
weighs  1,400  pounds,  while  his  value  is  away  up  in 
the  thousands.  His  companions  of  the  stable  are 
all  blooded  animals,  and  the  source  of  a  handsome 
income  to  their  owner.  Mr.  Van  Fossen  has  a  pri- 
vate track  and  every  other  convenience  for  the  de- 
velopment of  the  best  points  in  horse  flesh,  train- 
ing not  only  his  own  property  but  horses  belong- 
ing to  other  parties. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Licking  County,  Ohio, 
Feb.  5,  1834.  His  father,  \Villiam  Van  Fossen, 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  married  Miss  Mary 
Fishburn,  also  born  and  reared  in  the  Old  Dominion. 
They  emigrated  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Woodford 
County  early  tin  the  forties,  and  spent  most  of 
their  days  thereafter  in  Olio  Township.  The 
mother  departed  this  life  in  February,  1887.  The 
father  is  still  living,  making  his  home  with  Mr. 
Van  Fossen.  John  F.  was  a  youth  of  eighteen  years 
when  coming  to  this  county,  of  which  he  has  since 
been  a  resident.  In  1840  he  formed  the  acquaint- 
ance of  Miss  Millie  A.  Foster,  to  whom  he  was 
married  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  Sept.  15,  1849. 
This  lady  is  the  daughter  of  Willis  and  Nancy 
Foster,  who  were  natives  of  Virginia,  and  emi- 
grated to  Licking  County,  Ohio,  at  an  early  daj\ 
Mrs.  Van  Fossen  was  born  in  the  latter  county 
Oct.  3,  1840.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  no 
children.  Both  ace  members  of  the  Christian 
Church,  and  Mr.  Van  Fossen,  politically,  gives  his 
sup[x>rt  to  the  Democratic  party.  His  farming 
operations  have  engrossed  the  greater  part  of  his 
time  and  attention,  and  aside  from  holding  the 
office  of  Highway  Commissioner,  he  has  had  very 
little  part  in  public  affairs.  His  farm  comprises 
256  acres  of  choice  land,  and  upon  it  have  been 
erected  first-class  buildings,  which  with  their  sur- 
roundings form  a  very  attractive  and  desirable 
home.  Each  year  adds  something  to  the  beauty 
and  value  of  the  premises.  The  farm  is  the  source 
of  a  handsome  income,  and  Mr.  Van  Fossen  like- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


475 


wise  realizes  generously  from  his  operations  as  a 
breeder  of  fine  horses.  He  lias  built  up  for  himself 
an  enviable  reputation  in  this  line,  and  has  reason 
to  look  upon'the  result  of  his'eflorts  with  pride  and 
satisfaction. 

An   elegant    lithographic  engraving  of  Mr.  Van 
Fossen's  home  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


'  OHN  W.  TOMB.  By  birth  a  native  of 
Ohio,  this  gentleman  was  reared  in  Illinois, 
and  since  attaining  manhood  has  been  asso- 
ciated with  the  most  wide-awake  and  en- 
lightened agriculturists  of  Wood  ford  County.  Since 
he  was  brought  here  an  infant  he  has  always  made 
his  home  in  Metamora  Township,  although  he  has 
traveled  quite  extensively  elsewhere,  and  he  is  the 
owner  of  one  of  its  most  valuable  farms,  compris- 
ing 320  acres  of  highly  improved  land,  with  a  com- 
modious residence  on  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  25. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  the  year  1849  in  Brown 
County,  Ohio.  His  father,  Matthew  Tomb,  was  a 
native  of  County  Derry,  Ireland,  and  was  the  son 
of  Andrew  and  Jane  (Wiley)  Tomb  (see  sketch  of 
Andrew  Tomb,  8r.)  He  was  reared  in  his  native 
county  and  early  learned  the  baker's  trade.  When 
he  was  a  young  man  he  came  to  America,  and 
worked  at  his  trade  in  New  York  City  for  a  time. 
He  then  went  to  Brown  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
married,  and  purchased  a  farm  on  which  to  make 
a  home.  But  the  title  proved  defective  and  he 
lost  all  that  he  had  put  into  it.  In  1 849  he  started 
for  Illinois  with  a  wagon  drawn  by  three  horses, 
accompanied  by  his  wife  and  three  children,  and 
bringing  along  the  household  goods  so  that  the 
little  family  cooked  and  camped  by  the  way  in  the 
heat  of  the  day,  or  when  night  overtook  them. 
When  they  arrived  in  Tazewell  County,  Mr.  Tomb's 
entire  outfit  consisted  of  his  team,  his  household 
goods  and  twenty-five  cents  in  cnsh.  He  traded 
his  team  for  a  tract  of  land,  comprising  eighty 
acres  of  grub  land.  There  was  no  house  on  the 


place,  and  he  rented  a  log  cabin  for  a  temporary 
shelter,  and  then  began  to  work  by  the  day  to  earn 
money  to  support  his  family,  receiving  thirty  cents 
and  one  meal  a  day  for  his  labor.  He  was  a  very 
hard-working  man  and  used  to  employ  all  his 
spare  time  clearing  his  own  land,  and  finally  built  a 
log  cabin  on  it,  chinking  it  with  mud.  He  was  a 
resident  there  till  1854  or  1855,  when  he  traded 
his  farm  for  a  tract  of  wild  prairie  land  in  Meta- 
mora Township.  There  were  no  buildings  on  it, 
and  he  erected  a  temporary  habitation  for  his  fam- 
ily by  placing  forked  stakes  in  the  ground,  and  ex- 
tending a  pole  from  one  to  the  other,  and  with 
boards  standing  on  end,  the  top  reaching  against 
the  pole.  He  and  his  wife  and  children  lived  in 
that  rude  dwelling  from  March  till  the  following 
May,  when  he  had  completed  a  small  frame  house, 
into  which  they  removed.  He  sold  half  of  his 
land  at  $12  an  acre  to  raise  money  to  improve  the 
remainder.  Being  a  man  of  extraordinary  indus- 
try, and  possessed  of  good  judgment  he  was  suc- 
cessful in  his  farming  operations,  and  came  to  be 
numbered  among  the  men  of  wealth  in  the  town- 
ship, owning  at  the  time  of  his  death  461  acres  of 
fine  land,  besides  a  house  and  five  lots  in  the  city 
of  Eureka.  His  death  occurred  March  21,  1888, 
and  his  memory  is  now  cherished  as  that  of  a<pio- 
neer  of  the  county,  who  did  his  best  to  promote  its 
interests  and  prosperity.  He  was  a  man  of  true 
Christian  principles,  and  although  reared  in  the 
Episcopal  Church,  his  wife  being  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  he  usually  worshiped  with 
her  at  that  shrine.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife 
was  Mary  Tomb,  and  she  was  born  in  Louisville, 
Ky.,  a  daughter  of  Matthew  Tomb,  a  native  of 
County  Derry,  Ireland.  She  died  in  the  month  of 
November,  1873.  Two  of  her  children  survive, 
our  subject  and  his  brother  Andrew,  who  holds  a 
Government  position  as  store  keeper  in  the  bonded 
warehouse  at  Pekin,  but  has  his  residence  in 
Eureka. 

As  before  related,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
reared  in  Metamora  Township,  having  been  brought 
here  when  an  infant,  and  he  gleaned  a  sound  edu- 
cation in  the  local  public  schools.  He  commenced 
to  assist  his  father  in  the  farm  work  when  he  was 
but  eleven  years  old.  He  has  traveled  since  quite 


476 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


extensively,  but  has  always  made  his  home  here. 
He  pays  strict  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  has  met  with  more  than  ordinary  success  in 
the  prosecution  of  his  favorite  calling,  having  ac- 
quired quite  a  large  landed  estate,  and  built  up  a 
very  desirable  home.  He  has  erected  a  fine  set  of 
frame  buildings,  and  has  all  the  conveniences  for 
carrying  on  agriculture  profitably. 

Mr.  Tomb  was  married  in  the  month  of  March, 
1875,  to  Miss  Lydia  Crow,  who  has  made  him  an 
excellent  wife,  and  has  cordially  seconded  him  in 
all  his  work.  She  was  born  sixteen  miles  east  of 
Wheeling,  West  Va.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Abra- 
ham and  Mary  Crow.  The  attractive  home  of  our 
subject  and  his  wife  is  blessed  by  the  two  children 
that  have  been  born  to  them,  Lavinia  Aurella  and 
Charles  Nelson. 

Mr.  Tomb  is  in  every  sense  a  live,  wide-awake 
man,  with  quick,  keen  intelligence,  and  a  good  in- 
sight into  the  best  methods  of  conducting  agricul- 
ture to  the  best  advantage.  lie  and  his  wife  are 
people  of  high  standing  in  this  community,  and 
their  generous  hospitality  and  genial  traits  of  char- 
acter have  secured  them  hosts  of  friends. 


AMUEL  STUMBADGH  an  old  settler  and 
a  well-to-do  farmer,  late  of  Montgomery 
Township,  departed  this  life  at  his  home, 
Jan.  18,  1880.  He  was  born  in  Columbus, 
Pa.,  March  25,  1812,  of  German  ancestry,  being 
the  son  of  Frederick  and  Eva  (Baker)  Stumbaugh, 
the  former  a  Pennsylvania  farmer.  They  were  in- 
dustrious, economical  people,  and  succeeded  in  se- 
curing a  fair  living  in  Pennsylvania,  but  when  our 
subject,  who  was  the  youngest  of  their  children, 
was  about  six  months  old,  the}'  turned  their  faces 
Westward,  and  with  all  their  children,  settled  near 
Columbus,  Ohio,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1812. 
Neighbors  were  scarce  in  those  days,  and  the  land 
which  they  purchased  was  wholly  unimproved,  but 
by  never  ceasing  toil  they  made  it  a  pleasant,  com- 
fortable and  convenient  home.  They  were  good 
people,  and  kind,  obliging  neighbors,  and  were 


quite  aged  when  their  deatli  occurred  on  the  farm 
they  had  originally  purchased.  Their  last  days 
were  soothed  by  the  consolations  of  religion,  they 
being  worthy  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Our  subject  grew  to  manhood  on  the  parental 
farm ,  and  obtained  a  fair  common  school  education 
and  a  thorough  training  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
In  1832  at  the  age  of  twenty  years  he  was  presented 
with  a  horse,  bridled  and  saddled,  and  in  company 
with  some  friends,  made  a  journey  to  Illinois,  rid- 
ing horseback  all  the  way.  They  stopped  for  a 
short  time  in  Tazewell  County  then  pursued  their 
journey  to  Peoria,  where  our  subject  remained  two 
years,  then  returned  to  his  home  in  Ohio,  but  again 
in  1838,  started  back  to  Peoria.  When  he  arrived 
in  that  place,  then  only  a  small  village,  he  pur- 
chased a  piece  of  land  in  what  is  now  the  best  part 
of  the  city  on  Main  Street.  He  bought  it  for  a 
nominal  sum  and  selling  it  in  1846  at  a  good  profit, 
invested  the  proceeds  in  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
the  Township  of  Morton,  Tazewell  County.  When 
he  secured  this  land  it  was  not  improved,  but  care 
and  cultivation  soon  made  it  a  pleasant  home, 
where  he  resided  with  his  family  several  years.  In 
the  meantime  he  increased  the  size  of  the  estate, 
until  he  had  doubled  the  original  purchase.  In 
1855  he  bought  160  acres  of  partially  improved 
land,  on  section  1,  Montgomery  Township,  Wood- 
ford  County,  removing  there  in  1857.  He  gave 
his  Tazewell  County  farm  to  the  two  children  of 
his  first  wife,  Levi,  and  Sarah  E.  After  locating 
in  Montgomery  Township,  he  began  operating 
largely  as  a  stock  dealer  and  farmer,  which  proved 
a  fortunate  venture  for  him,  as  he  claimed  that  his 
large  fortune  was  accumulated  thereby.  It  was  no 
idle  boast  of  his  to  speak  of  his  fortune  being 
large,  for  at  the  time  of  his  decease  he  was  the 
owner  of  more  than  1300  acres,  nearly  all  highly 
improved,  well  stocked  with  fine  cattle,  superior 
horses  and  other  first  class  animals,  and  supplied 
with  plenty  of  good  water,  and  large,  convenient 
farm  buildings,  beside  fruit  and  shade  trees,  etc. 
The  family  residence  is  a  comfortable,  convenient 
and  commodious  dwelling,  and  is  situated  in  the 
midst  of  well  kept  lawns  and  gardens.  The  readers 
of  this  volume  will  gain  a  clear  impression  of  the 
neat  appearance  and  pleasant  surroundings  of  this 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


477 


rural  home,  by  the  engraving  which  is  presented 
on  another  page. 

Mr.  Stumbaugh  was  a  man  of  energy  and  enter- 
prise, and  enjoyed  a  first-class  reputation  as  a  busi- 
ness man.  Socially,  he  was  an  agreeable  companion, 
generous,  charitable  and  upright.  He  adhered  to 
the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  but  never 
accepted  office,  preferring  the  quiet  of  domestic 
life,  unruffled  by  public  cares.  In  1840  Mr.  Stum- 
baugh took  an  important  step  in  life  by  his  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mary  A.  Barcus,  a  native  of  Ohio, 
where  she  was  also  reared  and  married.  Her  par- 
ents were  natives  of  Maryland.  She  and  her  hus- 
band were  married  in  Columbus  and  took  their 
wedding  trip  to  his  farm  in  Morton  Township. 
Tazewell  County,  JH1.,  coming  overland  in  a  wagon. 
Mrs.  Stumbaugh  was  a  good  woman,  a  kind  neigh- 
bor and  an  affectionate  wife  and  mother,  and  her 
death  at  the  birth  of  her  fourth  child  was  a  griev- 
ous blow  to  her  husband,  who  was  thus  left  with 
two  little  children  to  be  cared  for,  two  others  hav- 
ing preceded  their  mother  to  the  unknown  world. 

Mr.  Stumbaugh  was  married  a  second  time  in 
Morton  Township,  Tazewell  Count}',  to  Mrs.  Mary 
,T.  Merrick,  nee  Baucher,  who  came  to  Illinois  in 
the  early  days.  She  was  first  united  in  marriage 
with  Dr.  Charles  Merrick,  by  whose  death  in  Taze- 
well County  she  was  left  a  childless  widow.  She 
made  her  home  in  that  county  until  her  death, 
which  occurred  in  1854,  leaving  to  her  second 
husband,  Mr.  Stumbaugh,  one  child,  Mary  E.  The 
little  one's  advent  cost  its  mother  her  life,  but  al- 
though deprived  of  maternal  love  and  care,  she 
grew  up  a  charming  young  woman,  and  is  now 
Mrs.  William  Phillips,  of  Dodge  County,  Neb. 

Our  subject  was  married  the  third  time  in  Mont- 
gomery Township,  July  7,  1857,  to  Miss  Nan^y  J. 
McPeak,  a  native  of  Tazewell  County,  111.,  where 
she  was  born  in  Fremont  Township,  Dec.  29,  1835. 
Mrs.  Stumbangli  is  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  and 
Delila  (Sparrow)  McPeak,  the  former  a  native  of 
Montgomery,  Va.,  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky.  Mr. 
McPeak  when  a  young  man  of  eighteen  years, 
(nine  to  Illinois  with  a  drove  of  sheep  and  remained 
in  Tazewell  County,  making  his  home  with  a  sister, 
Elizabeth  Hodgens.  In  a  couple  of  years  he  had 
sufH  lent  money  saved  to  purchase  a  farm  of  120 


acres,  which  he  at  once  commenced  operating  and 
had  brought  it  under  good  cultivation  at  the  time 
of  his  marriage.  Miss  Delila  Sparrow  was  a  child 
of  twelve  years  when  her  parents  removed  from 
Kentucky  in  1825  and  located  in  Tazewell  County, 
being  among  the  first  settlers  of  the  place.  After 
marriage,  Jonathan  McPeak  and  wife  began  life  on 
his  farm,  which,  except  for  the  improvements  he 
had  previously  made,  was  a  region  of  unbroken 
prairie.  Sometime  after  the  birth  of  their  young- 
est child  in  Tazewell  County,  Mr.  McPeak  and 
family  removed  to  Montgomery  Township,  this 
county,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  on  which  he 
resided  until  near  the  close  of  his  useful  and  active 
life,  his  death  occurring  in  Eureka,  March  11,1887, 
at  the  residence  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Stumbaugh. 
He  was  born  April  25,  1812,  and  followed  the  oc- 
cupation of  a  fanner  all  his  life,  in  the  pursuit  of 
which  he  found  both  pleasure  and  profit.  He  ac- 
cumulated a  good  property  in  this  State,  but  he 
afterwards  sold  it  and  purchased  for  each  one  of 
his  children  a  large  farm  in  Bates  County,  Mo. 
lie  was  an  honest,  upright  man,  a  good  neighbor 
and  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  where  his 
wife  and  all  his  children  found  their  religious 
home.  Mrs.  McPeak  bade  farewell  to  the  cares  of 
this  life  in  Olio  Township,  Jan.  26,  1870,  leaving 
behind  her  a  good  name,  which  the  good  Book  as- 
sures us,  is  better  than  great  riches.  She  was  the 
mother  of  nine  children;  the  deceased  are:  Minerva, 
Fleming,  Elias  E.,  Amos,  and  Levi,  who  died  in 
childhood  or  youth.  The  surviving  members  of 
the  family  are:  Mrs.  Stumbaugh,  James  G.,  Louisa 
A.,  and  James  L.  James  G.,  an  attorney  at  Foster, 
Mo.,  married  Miss  Fanny  West.  His  education 
was  commenced  in  the  Eureka  schools  and  com- 
pleted in  Chicago,  111. ;  Louisa  A.  is  the  wife  of 
William  Ramsey,  and  resides  in  Bates  County,  Mo., 
on  a  good  farm;  James  L.  is. married,  and  lives  in 
Bates  County,  Mo.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was 
Maiy  Smith. 

Since  the  death  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Stumbaugh 
has  resided  on  a  portion  of  his  homestead,  which 
she  now  owns  and  operates.  She  also  owns  a  good 
property  of  five  acres  within  the  city  limits  of 
Eureka,  besides  other  real  estate  in  the  city.  She 
became  the  mother  of  two  children-  Delila  was 


478 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  wife  of  J.  W.  Barber,  and  died  leaving  one 
child,  Mabelle.  Mr.  Harber  has  a  large  agricultural 
implement  manufactory  in  Bloomington,  111.  The 
other  child  of  Mrs.  Stumbaugh.  is  a  daughter,  Isa- 
belle,  who  is  the  wife  of  L.  W.  Myers,  a  stock  and 
horse  breeder  of  Eureka.  Mrs.  Stunabaugh  is  an 
amiable  and  -intelligent  lady,  an  agreeable  com- 
panion and  a  worthy  leader  in  all  good  works. 


«OSEPH  SCHROCK,  a  well-to-do  and  suc- 
cessful farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  Mont- 
•  gomery  Township,  is  located  on  section  22. 
The  village  of  Congerville,  which  was  be- 
gun in  the  spring  of  1888,  is  situated  on  a  portion 
of  his  farm.  He  owns  about  320  acres  of  land, 
which  is  divided  into  two  farms.  Some  of  this 
land  was  bought  in  1864,  in  which  year  he  first 
came  to  this  county,  buying  wild  land  and  improv- 
ing it  with  fences,  trees,  buildings,  etc.,  and  as 
fortune  smiled  upon  him,  purchasing  more  land, 
which  he  also  improved  until  he  is  now  very  com- 
fortably situated.  Before  coming  to  Montgomery 
Township,  he  resided  some  seven  years  in  Roanoke 
Township,  which  was  the  second  place  in  which  he 
had  located  after  coming  to  the  State  of  Illinois  in 
1850.  He  was  a  native  of  France,  and  on  coming 
to  America,  resided  for  a  time  in  Pennsylvania, 
then  moved  to  Ohio,  and  in  1850  reached  Illinois, 
in  which  Slate  he  remained. 

Our  subject  was  born  March  17,  1828,  in  the 
Province  of  Lorraine,  which  at  that  time  belonged 
to  France,  but  has  since  been  ceded  to  Germany. 
His  father,  John  Schrock,  a  native  of  Lorraine,  was 
of  German  ancestry,  but  was  educated  in  French, 
which  lie  spoke  like  a  native.  He  was  wedded  to 
a  lady  of  Lorraine,  Miss  Catherine  Saltsman,  and 
when  the  couple  were  the  parents  of  two  children, 
Joseph  and  his  sister  Catherine,  they  came  to 
America  in  1841,  leaving  the  port  of  Havre  in  the 
spring.  The  passage  across  the  boisterous  Atlantic 
consumed  forty-four  days.  They  at  length  disem- 
barked in  Baltimore.  Md.,  very  much  fatigued 
from  the  hardships  they  had  endured  during  the 


long  journey.  From  there  they  went  to  Lancaster, 
Pa.,  and  a  year  later,  in  1832,  removed  to  Ohio, 
and  located  on  a  farm,  which  the  father  operated, 
and  in  connection  with  it  rented  a  mill,  which  he 
managed  very  successfully,  it  being  the  business  in 
which  he  was  most  proficient.  While  living  in 
Butler  County,  Ohio,  the  family  was  increased  by 
the  addition  of  three  children,  namely:  John, 
Peter  and  Magdalena,  who  were  bright  and  intelli- 
gent, and  their  mature  years  have  not  disappointed 
the  fond  expectations,  which  their  parents  con- 
ceived of  the  little  French-Americans.  In  the 
autumn  of  1850,  Mr.  Shrock  and  his  family  re- 
moved to  Tazewell  County,  111.,  and  located  near 
Pekin,  taking  up  wild  land,  but  subduing  it  by  pa- 
tient industry  until  at  their  decease  they  were  sur- 
rounded by  numbers  of  broad  acres  well  cultivated 
and  supporting  numerous  fine  domestic  animals. 
During  life  they  were  members  of  the  Old  Omish 
Church,  and  died  in  that  communion.  The  father 
entered  into  his  rest  in  his  seventy-fourth  year  and 
the  mother  in  her  fifty-seventh. 

Our  subject  was  the  eldest  of  the  five  children 
born  to  his  parents.  They  are  all  living  and  mar- 
ried and  residents  of  Illinois.  Our  subject  was 
reared  in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  and  attended  the 
common  schools  of  the  district  through  the  winter, 
and  in  the  summer  assisted  on  the  farm  and  in  the 
mill,  thus  acquiring  a  practical  knowledge  of  agri- 
cultural matters,  and  getting  a  good  insight  into 
business  transactions  while  an  employe  in  his 
father's  mill.  He  was  of  legal  age,  but  unmarried, 
when  he  came  to  this  State.  While  a  resident  of 
Tazewell  County,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
the  lady  of  his  choice,  Miss  Magdalena  Guingrich, 
a  country-woman  of  his,  she  having  been  born  in 
Lorraine  in  1830,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Magdalena  (Gadder)  Guingrich,  also  natives  of 
Lorraine.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Schrock  were  mar- 
ried in  their  native  country  and  resided  there  until 
their  family  was  increased  to  six  children.  About 
that  time  the}7  concluded  they  could  do  better  in 
the  United  States,  and  especially  secure  a  better 
place  for  their  children  to  grow  up  and  prosper  in, 
so  in  1830  they  embarked  at  Havre  and  after  a 
prosperous  voyage  landed  in  New  York  City.  They 
went  directly  West  as  far  as  Ohio,  where  they  re- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


479 


sided  on  a  farm  for  a  number  of  years.  About 
the  year  1837  they  once  more  gathered  up  their 
worldly  effects  and  following  the  setting  sun  at 
length  settled  in  Farnisville,  Wood  ford  Count}'. 
They  purchased  land  on  the  Mackinaw  River  and 
industriouslj"  set  to  work  to  make  a  comfortable 
home,  but  the  unavoidable  hardships  incident  to  a 
pioneer  life,  proved  too  much  for  Mrs.  Guingrich, 
and  she  quietly  fell  asleep  and  was  laid  to  rest  far 
away  from  her  childhood's  home.  She  was  a  good 
Christian  woman  and  in  the  prime  of  life,  but  was 
unable  to  longer  endure  the  trials  which  befell  the 
brave  pioneers. 

In  1848  Mr.  Guingrich  went  to  Oregon  Terri- 
tory, following  the  overland  route,  crossing  the 
plains  and  mountains,  he  at  length  reached  his  des- 
tination and  took  up  a  claim,  which  he  soon  after- 
ward relinquished  and  removed  to  Stockton,  Cal., 
where  he  engaged  as  a  carrier  of  goods  across  the 
mountains.  After  following  this  occupation  for 
some  time  he  returned  ii\  1851  to  Illinois,  coming 
via  water  and  land.  Shortly  after  his  arrival  in 
Tazewell  County  he  purchased  a  farm,  erected  a 
dwelling,  and  made  other  improvements,  and  re- 
sided there  with  his  family  until  his  children  were 
all  married.  He  then  ceas'fed  active  work  on  his 
farm  and  made  his  home  with  one  of  his  children 
in  McLean  County,  until  death  removed  him  finally 
from  life's  activities  in  1875.  He  was  then  seventy- 
two  years  old  and  died  as  he  had  lived,  a  consistent 
member  of  the  old  Mennonite  Church. 

Mrs.  Schrock  is  the  second  child  of  her  parents, 
but  losing  her  mother  when  still  youthful,  her  edu- 
cation and  training  devolved  upon  her  father,  with 
whom  she  made  her  home  the  greater  part  of  her 
time  until  marriage.  Since  her  marriage  to  Mr. 
Schrock  she  has  become  the  mother  of  nine  chil- 
dren, all  except  one  of  whom  are  still  living: — 
Lyda  was  the  wife  of  Samuel  Roth,  and  died  when 
twenty-six  years  old,  leaving  one  child ;  John  mar- 
ried Miss  Rosa  Witmer,  and  resides  in  Iowa,  on  a 
farm  near  Elgin;  Catherine  is  the  wife  of  John 
Zimmerman,  a  farmer  in  Kansas  Township,  this 
County;  Joseph  married  Miss  Minnie  Iron  and 
lives  on  a  farm  in  Montgomery  Township;  Jona- 
than is  yet  at  home;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Nathan 
Goodeman,  a  farmer  of  Roanoke  Township;  Mag- 


dalena  is  the  wife  of  John  Suter,  and  resides  on 
a  farm  in  this  township;  David  resides  in  Nemeha 
County.  Kan. ;  Susan  is  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Schrock  are  good,  intelligent  German  people,  in- 
dustrious, thrifty  and  provident,  and  although  not 
mingling  in  political  matters,  yet  make  excellent 
citizens,  and  are  worthy  members  of  the  New  Omish 
Church. 


ATTHEW  CRAWFORD,  deceased,  was  an 
honored  pioneer  of  Woodford  County.  He 
was  actively  interested  in  the  development 
of  the  agricultural  resources  of  Cazenovia 
Township,  and  was  a  factor  in  otherwise  promoting 
its  material  welfare.  Here  he  reclaimed  and  im- 
proved a  valuable  farm,  and  established  one  of  the 
coziest  of  homes,  attractive,  and  replete  with  all 
the  modern  comforts  and  conveniences  that  make 
life  worth  living.  His  widow,  with  their  son,  now 
occupies  the  homestead.  She  is  possessed  of  those 
characteristics  that  mark  a  good  and  true  woman, 
and  is  held  in  high  regard  for  her  many  excellent 
qualities  of  head  and  heart. 

Mr.  Crawford  was  born  in  County  Galway,  Ire- 
land, in  the  year  1828,  a  sou  of  John  and  Pollen 
Crawford.  He  was  a  child  of  but  five  or  six  years 
when  he  came  to  America  with  his  father  and  step- 
mother. The  family  resided  in  Chicago  for  a  time 
when  that  city  was  nothing  more  than  a  village, 
with  no  indications  of  its  present  size  and  import- 
ance as  the  second  city  in  the  Union.  Later,  they 
moved  to  Ottawa,  where  the  father  became  a  sub- 
contractor in  the  construction  of  the  Illinois  Canal. 
After  the  death  of  the  father,  our  subject  came  to 
Woodford  County  and  commenced  life  for  himself 
by  working  on  a  farm  by  the  month,  till  his  mar- 
riage. He  then  went  to  live  on  the  Garrison  home- 
stead that  his  wife's  father  had  reclaimed  from  the 
wild  prairies.  Three  years  and  a  half  later  he  lo- 
cated on  the  farm  which  remained  his  home  the 
rest  of  his  life,  and  which  is  still  occupied  by  his 
widow  and  son.  At  the  time  of  his  purchase  it  was 
a  tract  of  wild  land,  with  not  a  furrow  turned  or 
any  habitation  upon  it.  But  by  the  quiet  force  of 


480 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


persistent  and  wisely  directed  labor  he  transformed 
it  into  a  beautiful  and  highly  productive  farm, 
placing  the  land  under  fine  cultivation,  erecting 
good,  substantial,  roomy  buildings,  and  living  here 
surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  of  an  Eastern  home 
till  his  earthly  career  was  cut  short  by  his  lamented 
death  Sept.  5,  1888.  Thus  passed  from  the  scene 
of  his  labors  a  truly  good  man,  one  whose  life  was 
guided  by  sound  principles,  and  when  it  was 
rounded  out  he  left  a  high  reputation  as  a  man  of 
honor,  truthfulness  and  unimpeached  integrity.  He 
was  a  man  of  clear  understanding,  good  capacity, 
and  a  diligent  toiler,  knowing  well  how  to  carry  on 
his  work  to  good  advantage,  and  by  fair  methods 
accumulating  a  comfortable  property. 

A  record  of  Mr.  Crawford's  life  would  be  in- 
complete without  more  extended  reference  to  the 
faithful  and  true  hearted  woman  who  was  so  much 
to  him,  and  to  whom  he  was  partly  indebted  for 
his  success.  Mrs.  Crawford's  maiden  name  was 
Margaret  J.  Garrison,  and  she  was  born  in  Greene 
County,  Pa.,  March  1,  1829.  Her  father,  George 
Garrison,  was  born  in  the  same  county,  and  was  a 
son  of  Jacob  and  Margaret  (Six)  Garrison,  natives 
of  Germany,  who  came  to  America  and  spent  their 
last  years  in  Pennsylvania.  Mrs.  Crawford's  father 
grew  to  a  stalwart  manhood  in  his  native  count}-, 
married  and  continued  to  live  there  '.ill  1835.  In 
that  year  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  family,  the 
removal  being  made  with  teams  as  there  were  no 
railways  in  this  part  of  the  country  then,  and  they 
took  their  household  goods  with-  them,  and  cooked 
and  camped  by  the  way.  Mr.  Garrison  became  a 
pioneer  of  Woodford  County,  which  then  formed 
a  part  of  Tazewell  County,  and  was  an  early  settler 
of  Cazenovia  Township.  In  those  early  days  the 
settlements  were  confined  to  the  timber,  the  people 
thinking  it  would  be  impossible  to  live  on  the  open 
prairie,  which  was  left  for  the  home  of  the  deer, 
wolves  and  other  wild  game,  which  continued  to 
be  plentiful  for  several  years.  The  land  had  been 
opened  for  settlement  by  the  Government,  and 
was  for  sale  at  $1.25  an  acre.  Mr.  Garrison  en- 
tered a  tract  of  land  in  Cazenovia  Township,  and 
at  once  commenced  the  improvement  of  a  farm. 
He  remained  a  resident  here  till  his  death  Aug.  10, 
1851,  when  the  township  lost  one  of  its  most  trust- 


worthy citizens.  He  was  also  the  leader  in  estab- 
lishing the  first  frame  school  house  in  Cazenovia 
Township.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was 
Ma^  Buckingham,  and  she  was  likewise  a  native 
of  Greene  County,  Pa.  (For  the  history  of  her 
parents,  Isaac  and  Sarah  (Jones)  Buckingham,  see 
sketch  of  Morgan  Buckingham).  She  survived 
her  husband  only  a  few  weeks,  dying  on  the  home- 
stead Sept.  3,  1851.  They  were  the  parents  of  six 
children,  namely:  Margaret  J.  (Mrs.  Crawford), 
Sarah.  Isaac  B.,  Hannah  F.,  Jacob,  and  George. 
Mrs.  Crawford  was  but  six  years  old  when  her 
parents  brought  her  to  this  county,  so  it  may  well 
be  said  that  she  grew  up  with  the  county,  the  most 
of  whose  development  she  has  witnessed.  She 
attended  the  pioneer  schools,  and  was  carefully 
trained  by  her  good  mother  in"  all  the  household 
duties  so  that  she  became  in  time  an  accomplished 
housewife,  fully  capable  of  taking  charge  of  a  home 
of  her  own.  She  was  taught  to  spin  and  weave, 
and  aided  her  mother  in  the  manufacture  of  all  the 
cloth  used  for  making  clothes  by  the  family.  She 
remained  an  inmate  of  the  parental  household  till 
the  death  of  her  father  and  mother.  Her  marriage 
with  Mr.  Crawford  was  blessed  to  them  by  the 
birth  of  three  children,  Mary  E..  Charles  Oscar, 
and  George  A.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Oscar  Shugart, 
of  whom  see  sketch  on  another  page  of  this  volume. 
George  A.,  a  capable,  wide-awake  young  man,  is 
managing  the  home  farm  with  marked  success. 
He  married  Clara  M.  Hoffrichter  Oct.  22,  1888. 


ELA  M.  STODUARD,  an  influential,  pros- 
perous and  leading  business  man  of  Minonk, 
li  holds  high  rank  among  the  substantial  and 
representative  citizens  of  Woodford  County. 
He  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State,  born  in  Chau- 
tauqua  County,  Sept.  10,  1840,  being  a  son  of  Si- 
meon A.,  and  Nancy  M.  (Merrill)  Stoddard,  natives 
respectively  of  Connecticut  and  Maine. 

His  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  when 
a  young  man,  left  his  native  State,  and  going  into 
the  adjacent  State  of  New  York,  met  and  married 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


481 


in  Wayne  County,  the  mother  of  our  subject.  He 
afterward  settled  in  Chautauqua  County,  whence, 
in  1857,  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  settling  in  McLean 
County,  bought  160  acres  of  land  in  Cropsey 
Township.  He  was  among  the  earliest  settlers  in 
that  place,  and  the  first  election  in  the  township  was 
held  in  his  house,  a  sugar  bowl,  into  which  sixteen 
or  seventeen  votes  were  cast,  being  used  as  a. re- 
ceptacle for  the  ballots.  Mr.  Stoddard  remained 
in  Cropsey  until  1875,  when  he  removed  with  his 
family  to  Chats  worth,  where  the  death  of  his  wife 
occurred  in  1882.  She  bore  her  husband  eleven 
children,  eight  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  the  fol- 
lowing being  their  record:  Nathaniel  is  a  farrier 
in  Rockville,  Mo.;  Charlotte  married  Nelson  Brig- 
ham,  of  Chicago;  George  lives  in  Trinidad,  Co'lo. ; 
Mahala  is  the  wife  of  Alonzo  Straight,  of  Chats- 
worth;  Julia,  who  married  D.  S.  Thomas,  subse- 
quently died  in  Carthage,  Mo.;  B.  M.;  Simeon 
Avery,  who  enlisted  in  the  129th  Illinois  Infantry, 
was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek;  Nancy 
is  the  wife  of  John  T.  Wickersham,  of  Clinton, 
Mo.  Mr.  Stoddard  is  yet  living  on  his  homestead 
in  Chatsworth,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-eight 
years,  revered  and  respected  by  all.  He  is  a  promi- 
nent member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Bela,  of  whom  we  write,  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  received  a  common-school  education,  af- 
terward supplementing  it  by  study  and  reading, 
until  he  acquired  a  substantial  business  education. 
When  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  came  with  the  fam- 
ily to  Cropsey,  remaining  at  home  until  after  the 
breaking  out  of  the  late  Civil  War,  when,  in  1862, 
he  enlisted  for  three  months  in  Company  K,  7th 
Illinois  Infantry.  At  the  end  of  the  term  of  en- 
listment, our  subject  returned  home  and  resumed 
farming  until  1865,  when  he  came  to  Minonk.  and, 
in  company  with  D.  S.  Thomas,  opened  a  store  of 
geneial  merchandise.  The  following  year  the  firm 
was  changed  to  Stoddard  &  Newton,  and  to  their 
other  business  they  added  that  of  dealing  in  grain, 
gradually  increasing  it,  and  continued  thus  until 
1876,  when  the  firm  dissolved,  Mr.  Newton  taking 
the  business  of  the  store,  and  our  subject  taking 
charge  of  the  grain  trade.  Mr.  Stoddard  carries 
on  an  extensive  business,  having  two  elevators  in 
Minonk,  and  one  at  Stoddard's  Siding,  near  Chats- 


worth,  and  was  for  sometime  interested  in  the  Mi- 
nonk flouring-mills.  He  has  accumulated  all  of  his 
property  since  living  here,  and  has  invested  largely 
in  real  estate,  owning  about  4,000  acres  of  some  of 
the  most  valuable  land  in  Woodford  and  Livino-. 

o 

ston  counties.  In  1868  Mr.  Stoddard  was  united  in 
marriage,  to  Miss  Sarah  Bell,  daughter  of  Reuben 
P.  Boll.  For  further  parental  history,  see  sketch 
of  R.  P.  Bell  on  another  page  of  this  volume. 

To  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born  four 
children — Reuben  B.,  Bertel  M.,  Zadel  M.,  and 
Melite  E.  Though  our  subject  pays  but  little  at- 
tention to  politics,  his  sympathies  are  with  the  Pro- 
hibition party.  He  never  seeks  office,  preferring 
to  give  his  time  and  attention  to  his  business,  al- 
though some  years  ago  he  served  in  many  of  the 
local  offices.  Mr.  Stoddard  is  a  man  of  high  char- 
acter, unblemished  reputation,  and  is  considered 
perfectly  honorable  in  every  regard,  being  held  in 
universal  esteem.  He  has  a  pleasant  home,  beauti- 
fully furnished,  over  which  his  amiable  wife  pre- 
sides most  gracefully,  and  where  their  numerous 
friends  are  ever  hospitably  welcomed. 


£/  OSHUA  F.WIIEEL WRIGHT,  Postmaster  at 
Roanoke,  engaged  as  a  druggist  here,  is  one 
of  the  foremost  business  men  of  the  place. 
He  is  derived  from  an  old  New  England 
family,  and  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  Rev.  John 
Wheelwright,  a  native  of  England,  who  came  to 
America  in  the  early  settlement  of  the  colonies,  and 
secured  the  title  to  a  large  tract  of  land  in  New 
England.  That  celebrated  divine  was  the  founder 
of  the  town  of  Exeter.  Joseph  Wheelwright,  one 
of  his  descendants,  great-grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  on  the  old  colonial  homestead  in 
\Vells,  York  Co.,  Me.,  and  there  his  son  Aaron, 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  and  his  grandson  James, 
father  of  our  subject,  were  born  and  reared.  The 
two  first  spent  their  entire  lives  in  their  birthplace, 
peacefully  engaging  in  agricultural  pursuits.  The 
old  homestead  is  still  in  possession  of  the  family. 


482 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Moses  F.  and  Aaron  Wheelwright  own  the  place, 
and  Moses  F.  occupies  it.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  reared  and  married  in  the  home  of  his 
birth,  and  always  engaged  in  farming.  Ho  and  his 
brother  built  a  sawmill  there,  which  they  operated 
together  for  many  years.  His  death  occurred  on 
the  old  homestead,  Jan.  25,  1841,  and  a  most 
worthy  man,  a  good  citizen,  and  an  exemplary  hus- 
band and  father  was  removed  from  the  scenes  of 
his  labors,  leaving  as  a  heritage  to  his  children  and 
children's  children  the  legacy  of  a  life  well  spent. 
His  wife  likewise  closed  her  eyes  in  death  on  the 
spot  where  her  entire  wedded  life  had  been  passed, 
dying  in  1859.  Her  maiden  name  was  Achsah  Fur- 
bish, and  she  was  also  a  native  of  Wells,  Me.,  a 
daughter  of  Moses  and  Sally  Furbish.  She  was 
the  mother  of  four  children — Aaron,  Rebecca, 
Moses  F.  and  Joshua  F.,  who  hold  her  memory  in 
respect  and  reverence. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  the  home  that  had  shel- 
tered his  ancestors  for  so  many  generations  in  the 
pretty  and  quaint  old  town  of  Wells,  by  the  sea  in 
Maine,  April  27,  1830.  He  remained  an  inmate  of 
the  parental  household  till  1856,  gleaning  in  the 
meantime  a  substantial  education,  he  being  a 
thoughtful,  studious  lad,  with  a  craving  for  book 
learning,  inherited  doubtless  from  his  clerical  an- 
cestor aforementioned.  He  attended  the  excellent 
academy  at  Thetford,  Vt.,  a  year,  and  was  still  fur- 
ther equipped  for  the  teacher's  profession,  which 
he  had  entered  at  the  youthful  age  of  seventeen. 
After  that  he  engaged  in  teaching  in  Maine,  Ver- 
mont, New  Hampshire  and  Massachusetts  till  1856, 
and  then,  well  fortified  with  experience,  he  came  to 
Illinois,  and  his  services  as  a  teacher  were  gladly  ac- 
cepted at  Pana,  in  Christian  County,  where  he 
taught  a  year,  and  was  then  similarly  employed 
at  Mattoon,  in  Coles  County,  for  six  months,  whence 
he  came  to  Woodford  County,  and  taught  in  Wash- 
burn  a  year.  In  1859  he  returned  to  his  old  home 
in  Maine,  and  was  employed  at  his  profession,  and 
also  in  farming  the  ensuing  five  years.  .  After  that 
he  came  back  to  Illinois  during  the  war,  and  lo- 
cated at  Minonk,  teaching  there  one  term,  and  then 
taking  charge  of  the  post-office  at  that  point  for 
some  years.  In  1873  he  came  to  Roanoke,  and  es- 
tablished himself  in  the  drug  business,  which  helms 


continued  very  successfully  ever  since.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1873,  he  was  appointed  Postmaster,  and 
held  the  office  till  1885,  when  he  was  removed  on 
account  of  offensive  partizanship,  as  he  had  pre- 
ferred to  lose  his  position  rather  than  remain  silent 
regarding  his  political  sentiments,  and  not  use  his 
influence  for  the  party  that  he  believed  to  be  in 
the  right.  In  April,  1889,  to  the  general  satisfaction 
of  all  concerned,  he  was  re-instated  as  Postmaster  of 
Roanoke,  and  is  managing  the  affairs  of  the  office 
impartially  and  in  the  best  possible  manner. 

Mr.  Wheelwright  was  married  in  1874  to  Miss 
Maria  T.  Thompson,  a  native  of  Locust  Ridge, 
Ohio.  Their  happy  household  circle  is  completed 
by  the  presence  of  the  two  children  born  of  their 
marriage,  Eddie  Newton  and  Ivy  Gertrude.  Mrs. 
Wheelwright's  father,  Isaac  Thompson,  was  born  in 
Greenbriar  County,  Va.,  in  1805,  and  his  father, 
William  Thompson,  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  na- 
tive of  the  same  State.  In  1822,  the  latter,  ac- 
companied by  his  family,  emigrated  to  Ohio,  and 
casting  his  lot  with  the  pioneers  of  Brown  Count}', 
he  purchased  land  there  and  engaged  in  farming 
till'  his  death.  Mrs.  Wheelwright's  father  was 
seventeen  years  old  when  the  family  removed  to 
Ohio,  and  he  bought  a  tract  of  wild  land  at  Locust 
Ridge,  equi-distant  between  Bethel  and  Williams- 
burg.  He  continued  to  engage  actively  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  till  his  death.  The  maiden  name  of 
his  wife  was  Mary  Karhart,  and  she  was  a  native  of 
Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  and  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Martha  Earhart.  She  died  on  the  home  farm  at 
Locust  Ridge.  Mrs.  Wheelwright  was  carefully 
trained  by  her  parents,  and  was  given  the  advan- 
tage of  a  good  education,  attending  first  the  public 
schools  of  Brown  County,  and  then  advancing  by 
attendance  at  a  select  school  in  Clermont  County. 
She  was  thus  well  qualified  for  the  teacher's  pro- 
fession, which  she  entered  at  the  age  of  twenty-one, 
and  was  thus  engaged  in  Brown  and  Clermont 
counties,  Ohio,  till  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Wheel- 
wright. She  is  a  woman  of  innate  refinement,  and 
an  earnest  Christian,  being  a  consistent  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Wheelwright  possesses  finetactand  excellent 
business  qualities,  and  inherits  from  his  New  Eng- 
land ancestry  those  sterling  traits  of  character  that 


(TUCC^^L^^^ 

'  f 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


485 


have  won  him  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the 
entire  community.  He  and  his  wife  are  people  of 
true  culture,  occupying  a  high  position  among  the 
best  people  of  the  town,  and  the.ir  home  is  rendered 
attractive  to  their  many  friends  or  to  the  stranger 
that  happens  beneath  its  sheltering  roof,  by  the 
genial  courtesy  and  warm  hospitality  of  the  host 
and  hostess.  It  is  needless  to- say  that  our  subject 
is  as  stanch  a  Republican  as  in  the  clays  when  to 
stand  by  his  party  meant  the  loss  of  office. 


1  AMES  RAMSEY,  who  resides  on  section  15, 
Montgomery  Township,  is  a  prominent 
farmer  and  early  settler  of  this  county. 
Since  1843  he  has  resided  upon  the  farm 
where  he  still  makes  his  home,  and  has  thus  wit- 
nessed the  entire  growth  and  development,  the 
progress  and  advancement,  which  have  taken  place 
since  that  time.  He  has  nobly  borne  his  part  in 
the  work  of  transforming  the  wild  prairie  into  cul- 
tivated farms,  and  for  more  than  forty-five  years 
has  been  identified  with  the  county's  history.  To 
the  men  who  came  to  the  West  in  the  early  days 
and  shared  in  the  trials  and  hardships  of  pioneer 
life,  the  country  owes  her  present  prosperity,  and 
to  them  is  due  a  debt  of  gratitude  which  can 
never  be  repaid.  They  laid  the  foundation  upon 
which  this  vast  structure  has  been  reared  and  in- 
fused the  entire  work  with  their  strength.  Not  the 
least  among  that  honored  band  is  James  Ramsey, 
find  it  is  witli  pleasure  that  we  record  his  sketch  in 
the  volume  of  his  county's  history. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Ohio, 
on  the  14th  day  of  December,  1817,  and  is  the  eld- 
est in  a  family  of  ten  children,  whose  parents  nru 
William  and  Hannah  (Cox)  Ramsey.  For  several 
generations  past  the  ancestry  have  been  natives  of 
Virginia.  James  Ramsey,  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  that  State,  where,  on  reaching 
maturity  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Ik- 
was  descended  from  Scotch-Irish  parentage,  and  in 
the  Old  Dominion  married  Miss  Ruth  Van  Meter, 
whose  ancestors  were  of  the  Pennsylvania  Dutch. 


They  removed  to  Ohio  in  1805  and  settled  in 
Franklin  Count}-,  near  the  present  site  of  Colum- 
bus, though  the  city  had  not  then  been  platted. 
In  the  community  where  they  located,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ramsey  both  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
lives  and  died  at  an  advanced  age.  They  are  num- 
bered among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  Buckeye 
State,  for  the  country  was  a  wild  and  almost  un- 
settled wilderness  when  they  left  their  Virginian 
home  and  located  within  its  borders.  They  were 
highly  respected  citizens  and  Mrs.  Ramsey  was  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

William  Ramsey,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Virginia,  April  23,  1793,  and  when  twelve  years 
of  age  removed  with  his  parents  to  Franklin 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood, 
and  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Hannah  Cox,  a 
native  of  the  county  in  which  their  wedding  was 
celebrated.  They  began  their  domestic  life  in  that 
community  and  four  children  were  born  unto 
them.  In  1827,  accompanied  by  his  family,  Mr. 
Ramsey  removed  to  the  West,  locating  in  Downs 
Township,  McLean  County,  III.,  where  he  made 
his  home  for  one  year,  thence  removing  to  Taze- 
well  County  and  purchasing  a  farm  near  Tremont. 
He  became  the  owner  of  a  large  amount  of  land  in 
that  county  and  was  numbered  among  its  well-to- 
do  citizens.  He  made  his  home  upon  his  farm  in 
that  communitjr  until  called  from  the  busy  scenes 
of  life,  his  death  occurring  July,  20,  1862.  He 
was  an  industrious  and  energetic  man,  and  though 
he  had  to  contend  with  the  trials  and  difficulties  of 
pioneer  life  he  secured  a  comfortable  property  for 
himself  and  family. 

Since  his  tenth  year  James  Ramsey,  whose  name 
heads  this  sketch,  has  been  a  resident  of  Illinois. 
He  removed  with  his  father's  family  to  McLean 
County,  and  one  year  later  came  with  his  parents 
to  Tazewell  County,  where  he  was  reared  to  man- 
hood. The  educational  advantages  which  he  re- 
ceived were  such  as  the  district  schools  afforded. 
He  conned  his  lessons  in  the  typical  log  school- 
house,  with  its  rude  seats  made  of  slabs,  while  an 
immense  fire-place  occupied  one  end  of  the  build- 
ing. As  soon  as  old  enough  to  handle  a  plow  he 
assisted  his  father  in  the  farm  work,  and  from  that 
time  has  been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 


486 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


He  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  1841, 
and  shortly  afterward  came  to  this  county,  then  an 
almost  unbroken  wilderness.  Its  wild  and  uncul- 
livated  prairies  were  still  covered  with  rank  grass, 
many  of  the  towns  and  villages  had  not  yet  sprung 
into  existence  and  the  few  settlements  that  had 
been  made  were  widely  scattered.  Mr.  Ramsey 
could  ride  for  miles  across  the  country  without 
coming  across  a  fence  to  obstruct  his  way  and  im- 
pede his  progress.  The  change  since  that  time  is 
indeed  great.  Even  those  gifted  with  a  seemingly 
prophetic  instinct  could  not  have  imagined,  much 
less  realized,  the  transformation  which  was  soon  to 
be  brought  about  and  which  has  placed  Wood  ford 
County  in  the  front  rank  in  this  vast  common- 
wealth. On  his  arrival  our  subject  at  once  gave 
hia  attention  to  farming,  and  is  now  the  owner  of 
some  of  the  most  valuable  land  to  be  found  in  this 
section  of  the  country.  His  fine  farm  situated  on 
section  15,  Montgomery  Township,  comprises  420 
acres  of  land,  and  he  also  owns  an  80-acre  tract 
in  Tazewell  County.  The  entire  amount  is  highly 
cultivated,  many  useful  and  beautiful  improve- 
ments have  been  made,  his  barns  and  outbuildings 
are  mode's  of  convenience,  and  his  home  is  a  neat 
and  substantial  residence.  His  life  has  been  one  of 
industry  and  toil.  He  possesses  good  business 
ability  and  has  the  necessary  energy  and  persever- 
ance which  are  so  essential  to  success.  The  pros- 
perity which  has  attended  him  is  due  entirely  to  his 
own  efforts,  and  he  is  numbered  among  the  self- 
made  men  of  the  community. 

After  coming  to  Woodford  County,  Mr.  Ramsey 
formed  the  acquaintance  of  Miss  Ann  M.  Harding, 
who  on  March  27,  1844,  became  his  wife.  She 
was  born  in  Leicestershire,  England,  on  the  llth 
day  of  January,  1818,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Sarah  (Cragg)  Harding,  also  natives  of  the 
same  shire.  Her  father  was  a  contractor  and 
builder  and  during  the  greater  part  of  his  life  fol- 
lowed that  occupation.  The  children  of  the  family, 
eight  in  number,  were  all  born  in  England,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1832  accompanied  their  parents  to  the 
United  States.  The  party  embarked  from  Liver- 
pool in  the  sailing  vessel  "  St.  John,"  and  after  six 
weeks  spent  upon  the  water  landed  in  New  York 
City.  For  four  years  they  resided  in  Uticn.  N.Y., 


when  in  1836  they  emigrated  to  the  then  wild 
West,  locating  in  Tazewell  County,  111.,  where  Mr. 
Harding  purchased  a  farm.  Some  years  later  he 
removed  with  his  family  to  Peoria  and  retired  from 
active  life.  He  died  at  his  home  in  that  city  at 
the  age  of  seventy-five  years,  and  his  wife,  who 
was  a  member  of  the  Church  of  England,  was 
called  to  her  final  rest  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty  years. 

Mrs.  Ramsey  came  to  America  in  her  girlhood 
days  and  had  not  yet  attained  to  maturity  when 
the  family  came  to  Illinois.  By  her  marriage,  she 
became  the  mother  of  four  children,  three  of  whom 
are  yet  living:  Julia  A.  is  now  the  wife  of  William 
H.  Moobery,  a  resident  farmer  of  Olio  Township; 
Caroline  E.  wedded  Charles  J.  Gibson,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Cruger  Township;  Walter  C., 
who  married  Irene  Osborn,  resides  upon  a  farm  in 
Montgomery  Township,  comprising  a  part  of  the 
old  homestead;  Frances  M.  died  at  the  age  of  five 
years.  Mr.  Ramsey  and  his  wife  are  consistent 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  are  act- 
ive workers  for  its  intersts.  They  have  a  pleasant 
home  in  Montgomery  Township,  where  hospitality 
and  good-will  abounds,  and  have  reared  a  family 
of  children  who  do  honor  to  their  name.  In  the 
social  world  they  hold  a  high  position  and  are 
greatly  respected  by  all  who  know  them.  In  po- 
litical sentiment,  Mr.  Ramsey  is  a  supporter  of  the 
Republican  party  and  has  held  various  local  offices 
of  trust. 

A  lithographic  portrait  of  Mr.  Ramsey  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


ALV1N  S.  MILLER.  Woodford  County  has 
no  better  representative  of  its  native-born 
citizens,  who  are  to-day  actively  promoting 
its  highest  interests,  educational,  moral,  and  ma- 
terial, than  the  subject  of  this  biography.  A  young 
man.  gifted  with  tine  mental  attributes  and  good 
physical  powers,  for  some  years  classed  among  the 
educators  of  his  native  county,  he  is  meeting  with 
encouraging  success  in  the  prosecution  of  his  lion- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


487 


orable  calling  as  a  farmer,  and  his  farm  on  section 
16,  Panola  Township,  compares  favorably  in  all 
points  with  others  in  its  vicinity.  The  parents  of 
our  subject,  John  T.  and  Mary  M.  (Foutz),  natives 
of  Virginia,  were  well-known  among  the  early  pio- 
neers of  Woodford  County,  and  are  still  numbered 
among  its  honored  residents,  having  been  wit- 
nesses of  almost  the  entire  growth  of  the  county, 
and  prominent  factors  in  promoting  its  agricult- 
ural development.  They  have  accumulated  a  very 
handsome  property,  and  are  spending  life's  decline 
in  ease  and  comfort  in  their  cozy  home  in  Greene 
Township,  of  which  they  were  very  early  settlers, 
and  where  they  eliminated  a  large  farm  from  the 
wild  prairies  and  tracts  of  forest.  They  came  to 
this  count}'  in  the  fall  of  1854,  in  the  vigor  and 
prime  of  young  manhood  and  womanhood.  For 
a  while  after  his  arrival  Mr.  Miller  worked  out  by 
the  day  or  month  on  a  farm,  being  employed  by  a 
fellow  pioneer.  He  subsequently  bought  a  small 
tract  of  unimproved  land  in  Greene  Township. 
But  before  he  had  prepared  much'of  it  for  cultiva- 
tion, he  disposed  of  it  at  good  advantage,  and  pur- 
chased the  farm  on  which  he  has  ever  since  made 
his  home.  He  bought  at  first  120  acres  of  raw 
prairie  land,  on  which  a  furrow  had  never  been 
turned,  or  any  attempt  made  to  improve  it.  He 
built  a  small  frame  house,  16x18  feet,  which  forms 
a  part  of  his  present  residence,  he  having  made  ad- 
ditions to  it,  and  made  of  it  a  more  roomy  dwell- 
ing. He  has  increased  the  original  acreage  of  his 
farm,  and  it  now  comprises  300  acres  of  land  of 
exceeding  fertility,  and  is  classed  among  the  best 
farms  in  that  region.  He  and  his  wife  experienced 
many  of  the  trials  and  privations  of  a  pioneer  life, 
had  in  their  early  years  to  sacrifice  much,  and  had 
to  work  hard  to  maintain  their  children,  to  educate 
them,  and  make  of  them  intelligent  and  useful 
members  of  society.  But  that  life  had  its  compen- 
sations and  pleasures. 

Some  one  has  said  that  those  who  endured  it 
were  '-better  fitted  for  the  cares  and  responsibilities 
of  after-life,"  that  it  made  them  "have  a  warmer 
side  for  their  fellow-men,  and  created  a  willingness 
to  lend  a  hand  to  those  in  distress."  They  and 
their  fellow-pioneers  were  drawn  together  by  the 
strong  tie  of  mutual  sufferings  and  hardships  en- 


countered together,  and  they  made  many  warm  and 
lasting  friends  in  those  early  years  of  their  settle- 
ment, and  they  still  have  a  wide  acquaintance 
throughout  the  county,  and  are  known  and  hon- 
ored as  representatives  of  the  old  pioneers,  so 
many  of  whom  have  passed  to  their  reward  beyond 
the  grave.  Mr.  Miller  has  borne  a  part  in  the 
management  of  public  affairs  in  his  township,  and 
served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  several  years, 
and  has  in  every  way  sought  to  promote  the  high- 
est good  of  his  adopted  county.  He  and  his  wife 
have  had  eight  children,  of  whom  seven  are  living: 
Charles  E.,  in  Greene  Township:  Calvin  S.,  our 
subject;  Milus  L.,  in  Greene  Township;  Clemen- 
tine J.,  wife  of  Charles  McCauley,  in  Panola  Town- 
ship; Melissa  B.,  deceased ;  Dora  A.;  Zua  S.;  and 
Clara  D. 

Calvin  Miller  was  born  in  Greene  Township,  Oct. 
19,  1857.  His  paternal  ancestors  were  of  German 
blood.  He  received  the  basis  of  a  liberal  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  place,  and 
at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he  entered  the  North- 
ern Illinois  Normal  School,  at  Normal,  one  of  the 
most  excellent  literary  institutions  in  the  North- 
west, and  pursued  with  credit  the  prescribed  course 
for  two  years,  and  became  well  fitted  for  the  pro- 
fession of  teacher,  which  he  adopted  after  finishing 
his  studies,  and  for  some  nine  years  was  success- 
fully engaged  as  an  instructor  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  State.  He  was  regarded  as  an  able 
and  skillful  teacher,  by  those  in  authority,  his 
methods  were  commended,  he  stood  high  among 
his  fellow-instructors,  and  his  withdrawal  to  turn 
his  attention  to  agriculture  was  considered  a  loss  to 
the  educational  profession  in  this  county.  He  had 
been  reared  to  the  life  of  a  farmer,  and  it  still  had 
its  allurements,  and  resolving  to  return  to  it,  in 
1882  he  settled  on  his  present  farm,  which  contains 
eighty  acres  of  valuable  land,  well-improved,  and 
supplied  with  the  necessary  buildings,  machinery, 
and  other  desirable  appointments.  He  has  been 
prospered  in  his  enterprise,  and  is  managing  his 
farm  very  profitably,  so  as  to  secure  a  good  in- 
come. 

Dec.  29,  1885,  Mr.  Miller  and  Miss  Leta  Boyd 
were  united  in  marriage.  Mrs.  Miller  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  George  and  Eliza  J.  (Pierce)  Boyd,  early 


488 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


settlers  of  the  county,  now  living  near  Eureka,  111. 
For  further  particulars  concerning  them,  see  sketch 
of  their  son-in-law  Horace  Major,  on  another  page 
of  this  volume.  Mrs.  Miller  is  a  lady  of  true  cul- 
ture, and  was  finely  educated  at  Eureka  College. 
She  is  an  earnest  and  consistent  member  of  the 
Christian  Church.  Both  she  and  her  husband  take 
an  active  interest  in  social  matters  in  their  neigh- 
borhood, and  are  popular  with  all.  Mr.  Miller  is 
a  generous,  high-minded  young  man,  of  liberal  and 
progressive  views,  and  as  such  is  a  desirable  addi- 
tion to  the  citizenship  of  this  community.  He  is 
now  serving  as  one  of  the  School  Trustees  of  the 
township,  and  is  doing  what  lies  in  his  power  to 
promote  the  cause  of  education. 


HRISTIAN  ENGEL.  Among  the  promi- 
nent  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  Panola 
Township,  perhaps  none  have  labored  with 
better  results  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who 
has  a  finely  improved  homestead  on  section  3. 
One  of  the  leading  elements  of  his  character  has 
been  that  of  a  persevering  industry,  which  is  con- 
tent with  nothing  else  than  excellence,  and  it  must 
be  admitted  that  he  has  very  nearly  approached 
the  standard  which  he  set  up  for  himself  when 
first  locating  upon  his  farm,  then  merely  a  tract  of 
wild  land.  A  native  of  what  was  then  the  French 
province  of  Alsace,  he  was  born  Aug.  11,  1830, 
and  is  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Barbara  Engel,  who 
were  natives  of  the  same  province. 

Our  subject  came  to  America  with  his  parents 
when  a  child  of  five  years,  taking  passage  at 
Havre  on  a  sailing  vessel,  and  being  about  thirty- 
tive  days  on  the  ocean.  Landing  in  New  Orleans, 
they  lived  there  about  eleven  months,  during 
which  time  the  greater  part  of  their  means 
was  spent  in  providing  for  their  wants,  and  the 
father  after  some  difficulty  finally  secured  enough 
for  the  removal  of  his  family  to  Illinois.  Soon 
after  their  arrival  they  settled  on  a  tract  of  new 
land  in  Worth  Township,  sheltering  themselves 
in  ;i  log  shanty,  around  which  two  or  three  acres  of 


ground  had  been  broken.  The  father  had  secured 
160  acres,  a  large  portion  of  which  was  covered 
with  an  undergrowth  of  brush,  and  the  task  of  pre- 
paring the  soil  for  cultivation  was  by  no  means  a 
light  one.  He  persevered,  however,  and  in  due 
time  met  with  his  reward.  He  spent  his  last  days 
at  the  homestead  he  had  built  up,  his  death  occur- 
ring in  1863. 

To  the  parents  of  our  subject  there  were  born 
five  children,  four  of  whom  are  living,  viz:  Katie, 
Mrs.  Plank,  a  widow,  and  living  in  Wood  ford 
County;  Magdalena,  Mrs.  Peter  Naffzner;  Mary 
and  Christian.  The  elder  Engel  was  a  Democrat, 
politically,  and  in  religious  matters  a  member  of 
the  Mennonite  Church.  His  name  is  worthy  of 
mention  as  one  who  endured  many  hardships,  and 
who  persevered  through  many  difficulties,  while 
watching  and  assisting  in  the  growth  and  develop- 
ment of  his  adopted  county. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boy  hood  and 
youth  under  the  parental  roof,  assisting  in  the  de- 
velopment of  the  homestead,  and  receiving  a  lim- 
ited education  in  the  log  cabin  school  house,  under 
a  system  of  instruction  far  inferior  to  that  of  the 
present  day.  In  order  to  obtain  this  he  was  obliged 
to  walk  four  or  five  miles.  He  grew  up  with  a 
stout  and  rugged  frame,  and  imbued  with  those 
principles  of  honesty  which  have  won  him  the  res- 
pect of  his  fellow-citizens.  The  5th  of  December, 
1853,  marked  an  eventful  era  in  his  life,  as  upon 
that  day  he  was  married  to  Miss  Magdelena,  sister 
of  Christian  Donner,  who  is  a  resident  of  Panola 
Township,  and  who  is  represented  elsewhere  in 
this  work.  This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  a 
large  family  of  children,  and  the  survivors  are  re- 
corded as  follows :  Joseph  and  Lizzie(4he  wife  of 
Joseph  Gingridge)  are  residents  of  Clay  County, 
Kan.;  Frank  is  the  telegraph  operator  and  station 
I  agent  at  Hoanoke,  111.;  Barbara  is  the  wife  of  Dan- 
iel Roth,  of  this  county ;  Kdward  remains  at  home 
witli  his  parents;  Emma  is  the  wife  of  J.  Grin- 
gridge,  of  Livingston  County;  Mattie,  Peter, 
Minnie  and  Matilda  are  at  home  with  their  parents. 

Mr.  Engel  is  the  owner  of  land  to  the  extent  of 
320  acres,  the  whole  of  which  he  has  accumulated 
by  his  own  unaided  industry  and  good  manage- 
ment. His  cozy  residence  is  represented  by  an 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


489 


engraving  to  be  found  on  another  page,  and  the  in- 
terior arrangement  displays  the  same  taste  and 
liberality  as  is  noticeable  without.  Having  located 
upon  his  present  farm  in  the  spring  of  1856,  he  is 
thus  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  in  Panola  Township, 
in  whose  local  affairs  he  has  been  quite  prominent, 
officiating  as  Road  Commissioner  and  School  Trus- 
tee, and  has  served  in  the  latter  position  for  a 
period  of  nearly  nine  years.  Politically,  he  is  a 
straightforward  Democrat,  and  in  his  religious 
views  he  is  a  Mennonite. 


R.  JAMES  S.  WHITMIRE  is  one  of  the 
most  distinguished  members  of  the  medi- 
cal profession  as  represented  in  Woodford 
County.  He  was  the  first  graduate  of  a 
medical  college  to  establish  himself  in  the  county, 
and  for  forty-three  years  his  home  has  been  in 
Metamora.  In  many  a  household  his  presence  has 
brought  healing  or  stayed  the  hand  of  death,  and 
its  inmates  regard  him  as  a  well-beloved  physician 
and  a  true  friend. 

The  doctor  was  born  in  the  town  of  Sidney, 
Shelby  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  13,  1821.  His  father,  John 
Whitmire,  was  born  in  Rockingham  County,  Va. 
His  father  was  of  German  birth  and  parentage,  and 
accompanied  his  parents  to  America  in  Colonial 
times.  The  family  located  in  Virginia,  and  the 
father  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  spent 
his  last  years  in  Rockingham  County.  The  grand- 
father of  our  subject  was  but  a  boy  when  he  left 
his  native  Germany  for  America,  and  he  was  reared 
and  married  in  Virginia,  and  during  his  life  time 
carried  on  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker.  He  died  in 
Rockingham  County.  The  father  of  our  subject 
learned  the  trade  of  a  tanner  and  currier  in  his  youth, 
and  at  the  age  of  twenty -one  left  his  early  home  in 
Virginia,  and  crossing  the  mountains  into  Ohio,  he 
became  a  pioneer  of  Licking  County,  and  there 
married  Elizabeth  (Robinson)  Harris,  who  was  like 
himself,  a  native  of  Virginia.  Her  father,  Stephen 
Robinson,  was  also  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  was  of 
Scotch-Irish  descent.  He  removed  from  the  Old 


Dominion,  to  Licking  County,  Ohio,  and  was  one 
of  the  pioneers  there,  purchasing  a  large  tract  of 
land,  and  improving  a  farm,  on  which  he  resided 
until  death  called  him  hence.  The  maiden  name 
of  his  wife  was  Sarah  Odecker.  She  is  supposed  to 
have  been  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  she  spent  her 
last  years  in  Licking  County,  Ohio.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  Bulgaria,  who  on  becoming  con- 
verted t,o  Christianity,  were  greatly  persecuted  on 
account  of  their  belief,  and  sought  religious  free- 
dom in  America,  and  locating  in  Virginia,  there 
quietly  passed  their  remaining  years.  After  mar- 
riage the  parents  of  our  subject  removed  to  Shelby 
County,  and  there  the  father  established  himself  as 
a  tanner  and  currier  at  Sydne3r,*nnd  carried  on  the 
business  there  upwards  of  twenty  years.  He  then 
sold  his  property  in  Ohio,  and  packing  his  house- 
hold goods  in  a  wagon,  started  with  his  family  in 
1840,  for  the  wilds  of  Illinois.  After  his  arrival 
he  bought  land  in  Virginia  Township,  Cass  County, 
and  engaged  in  farming.  In  1854  he  removed  to 
Johnson  County.  Tex.,  where  he  bought  land,  and 
carried  on  agricultural  pursuits,  passing  the  rest  of 
his  life  there,  his  death  occurring  in  1873,  four  days 
before  he  was  eighty  years  old.  His  wife  had 
passed  to  eternal  rest  many  years  before,  dying  in 
Ohio  in  1837. 

Dr.  Whitmire  lived  with  his  father  in  Ohio  until 
1840,  and  then  accompanied  him  to  this  State. 
At  that  time  Northern  and  Central  Illinois  wore 
sparsely  settled,  and  deer  and  other  kinds  of  game 
roamed  over  the  uncultivated  prairies  and  through 
the  timber.  Our  subject's  chances  for  obtaining  an 
education  were  very  limited,  the  only  schools  be- 
ing taught  on  the  subscription  plan,  and  his  father 
being  in  reduced  circumstances,  probably  could  not 
afford  to  pay  the  fee,  so  our  subject  had  to  work  to 
assist  in  supporting  the  family.  At  the  age  of  six- 
teen he  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker. 
But  the  ambitious  lad  was  very  desirous  to  obtain 
an  education,  and  all  the  books  he  could  get  hold 
of  were  found  on  his  bench,  and  he  often  snatched 
a  bit  of  time  to  study,  and  in  that  way  gleaned  the 
preliminaries  of  a  liberal  education.  Soon  after  the 
removal  of  the  family  to  Illinois,  he  made  the  ac- 
quaintance of  W.  H.  H.  Carpenter,  a  Yale  graduate, 
and  Clerk  of  the  County  Court.  That  gentleman 


490 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


took  quite  an  interest  in  the  thoughtful,  studious 
youth,  and  encouraged  him  in  his  studies  by  lend- 
ing him  books,  and  hearing  him  recite  two  lessons 
a  week  without  charge.  He  studied  with  Mr.  Car- 
penter three  3'ears,  and  then  his  friend  advised  him 
to  go  to  Beardstown,  and  apply  for  the  school  at 
that  place.  Taking  Mr.  Carpenter's  wise  counsel, 
our  subject  borrowed  fifty  cents  from  him,  and  then 
walked  to  Beardstown,  a  distance  of  ten  miles.  On 
his  arrival  he  found  twelve  other  applicants,  fresh 
from  the  Illinois  College.  He  ascertained  when 
the  examination  was  to  be,  and  then  went  home  to 
await  the  day,  and  on  its  arrival  he  returned  to 
Beardstown,  passed  the  examination  successfully, 
and  secured  the  school  over  his  competitors,  who 
although  they  had  been  more  favored  than  he  in 
some  respects  in  educational  advantages,  had  not 
had  the  good  fortune  to  be  drilled  in  their  studies 
as  he  had  been.  He  taught  a  six-months  term  in 
Beardstown,  and  then  went  to  Macomb,  where  he 
taught  nearly  a  year  and  a  half.  In  that  way  he 
earned  the  money  with  which  to  secure  a  medical 
education,  he  having  a  decided  taste  for  that  pro- 
fession. He  began  his  studies  for  that  purpose 
while  teaching,  and  after  that  for  some  time  devoted 
his  entire  attention  to  it  under  the  direction  of  doc- 
tors James  B.  Kyle,  of'  Macomb,  and  M.  H.  L. 
Schooley,  of  Virginia,  Cass  County  as  preceptors. 
In  1846  he  located  in  Metamora,  and  commenced 
to  practice.  In  the  winter  of  1846-47  he  attended 
medical  lectures,  and  was  graduated  from  the  medi- 
cal department  of  the  Illinois  College  at  Jackson- 
ville, in  the  spring  of  1847.  In  1850  he  entered 
Rush  Medical  College,  and  received  an  ad  eundem 
for  a  thesis  and  original  investigation  with  regard 
to  the  antidotal  properties  of  iodine  to  the  venom 
of  the  rattlesnake.  He  resumed  practice  in  Meta- 
mora; but  he  was  still  desirous  to  increase  his 
knowledge  of  medicine,  and  in  1855  he  became 
a  student  in  the  Jefferson  Medical  College  at  Phil- 
adelphia, which  celebrated  institution  has  sent  out 
many  famous  physicians.  He  was  graduated  with 
honor  in  the  spring  of  1856,  and  returning  to  Meta- 
mora, was  actively  engaged  in  practice  here  until 
1861.  In  that  year  the  breaking  out  of  the  war 
offered  a  wider  field  of  usefulness  for  many  of  our 
talented  physicians,  and  in  September  our  subject 


joined  the  army  as  assistant  surgeon  of  the  6th  Illi- 
nois Cavalry,  serving  in  that  position  eight  months, 
and  then  receiving  the  appointment  to  the  ser- 
geantcy  of  the  56th  Illinois  Infantry,  serving  with 
distinction  in  that  position  until  July,  1863,  when 
he  resigned,  and  returning  to  Metamora,  re-estab- 
lished himself  in  practice.  He  has  witnessed  with 
great  satisfaction  almost  all  the  growth  of  this  city 
and  of  the  county,  as  when  he  came  here  many 
years  ago  a  great  deal  of  the  land  was  owned  by 
the  Government,  and  was  for  sale  at  $1.25  an  acre, 
and  deer  and  other  wild  animals  abounded.  There 
were  no  railwa3's  here,  arid  all  transportation  was 
done  by  stage  for  several  years.  He  has  lived  to 
see  the  country  well-developed  and  wealthy.  Large 
cities  and  towns  have  sprung  up  on  every  hand  on 
the  once  wild  prairies,  and  prosperity  is  every- 
where apparent. 

The  doctor  was  married  in  1846,  to  Miss  Sidnah 
Robinson.  She  was  born  in  Morgan  County,  111., 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Joel  and  Elizabeth  (Greene) 
Robinson,  who  were  born  respectively  in  Licking 
and  Knox  counties,  Ohio.  They  emigrated  to  Mor- 
gan County,  111.,  in  1821,  where  they  remained  on 
the  farm  on  which  the}'  first  settled,  until  their 
death.  The  doctpr  and  his  wife  have  had  six  chil- 
dren, of  whom  four  are  living:  Mary  Melinda  mar- 
ried D.  D.  Fairchild,  of  Peoria,  and  they  have  three 
children — Gracie,  Gertha,  and  Reuben;  Joe  Wal- 
lace, a  physician  in  Forest,  111.,  married  Laura  L. 
Northcut,  and  they  have  one  child,  June;  Clarence 
Leonard,  a  physician  in  Waverly,  Iowa,  married 
Mary  Barrett;  Zackie  L.  is  a  student  at  Rush  Medi- 
cal College.  Doctor  Whitmire  enjoys  a  high  per- 
sonal standing  throughout  the  county  as  a  physician 
of  fine  mental  endowments,  possessing  a  profound 
knowledge  of  medicine,  and  of  exceptional  skill 
and  wide  experience.  He  is  a  whole-souled,  big- 
hearted  man,  and  above  all  things  charitable  and 
kind  to  the  suffering  and  needy,  and  out  of  pure 
benevolence  has  practiced  gratis  among  the  poor, 
calling  down  their  devoted  affection  and  blessing  on 
his  head.  He  is  a  man  of  large  public-spirit,  and 
has  exerted  a  marked  influence  in  advancing  the 
highest  interests  of  Metamora.  He  has  token  a 
prominent  part  in  the  civic  life  of  his  town,  was 
one  of  the  first  members  of  the  Town  Board,  and  has 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


491 


served  several  terms.  Politically,  he  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Republican  party,  and  has  been  con- 
nected with  it  since  its  formation,  having  been 
Chairman  of  the  first  Central  Committee  in  the 
count}'.  In  early  days  he  was  a  Whig,  and  cast  his 
first  Presidental  vote  for  Henry  Clay.  He  is  iden- 
tified with  the  G.  A.  R.,  as  a  member  of  Bogardus 
Post  No.  474.  He  is  an  honored  member  of  the 
Woodford  County  Medical  Society,  with  which  he 
has  been  connected  since  its  organization,  when  he 
was  appointed  the  first  President  of  the  society.  He 
also  belongs  to  the  North  Central  Illinois  Medical 
Society,  of  which  he  was  the  first  President.  He 
joined  the  State  Medical  Society  when  it  was  organ- 
ized in  1850,  and  it  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  he 
has  missed  but  four  meetings  of  the  society  since  its 
formation,  two  of  those  meetings  occurring  while 
he  was  in  the  army.  The  doctor  first  discovered 
the  use  of  carbolic  acid  in  the  treatment  of  erysipe- 
las, and  reported  the  same  to  the  State  Medical  So- 
ciety in  1871-72. 


I OHN  SADLER,  who  is  residing  on  a  farm 
near  Eureka,  is  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
this  county,  having  come  to  Illinois  as  early 
as  1847.  He  was  born  near  Richmond,  Va., 
Sept.  16,  1815,  and  where  he  lived  until  ayouth  of 
sixteen  or  eighteen  years.  He  then  went  into 
Augusta  County,  Va.,  where  he  sojourned  until 
starting  out  for  the  West.  He  was  then  married, 
and  settled  in  due  time  upon  the  land  which  he 
now  owns  and  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  was 
married  in  this  county  to  Miss  Eliza  Meek,  and  to 
them  there  were  born  three  children — Joseph,  John 
and  Jackson.  The  mother  of  these  children  died, 
and  he  then  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Park,  and  to 
them  was  born  a  daughter,  Sophia.  His  third  wife 
was  Martha  M.  Swareus,  who  was  born  in  Indiana 
in  1831.  Of  this  union  there  are  ten  children  liv- 
ing, namely :  Sarah,  Emma,  Martha,  Anna,  Flor- 
ence, Clara,  Warren,  Lee,  McClellan  and  Charles 
E.  One  daughter,  Nancy  E.,  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years;  Elmira  and  Cinderella  died  in  early 


childhood.  Mr.  Sadler,  politically,  is  a  stanch 
Democrat,  while  all  the  family  belong  to  the  Chris- 
tian Church.  Our  subject  owns  farm  property  to 
the  extent  of  272  acres  of  land,  and  has  good 
buildings  on  his  homestead. 


ARWIN  A.  WARD.  This  gentleman 
stands  well  to  the  front  among  the  active 
young  farmers  of  Woodford  County,  who 
are  intelligently  and  skillfully  carrying 
on  agricultural  pursuits  within  (her  borders,  and 
they  are  the  ones  to  whom  she  will  one  day  look 
as  the  main  support  of  her  great  farming  interests. 
Although  not  a  native  of  the  county,  a  son  of  pio- 
neer parents,  he  was  reared  within  her  borders,  has 
witnessed  much  of  her  growth,  and  since  attaining 
man's  estate  has  identified  himself  with  one  of  her 
principal  industries.  He  owns  and  is  managing 
with  good  judgment  a  farm  in  Greene  Township, 
that  compares  in  cultivation  and  improvement 
very  favorably  with  others  in  its  vicinity,  and  a 
successful  future  is  predicted  for  him  by  those  who 
have  watched  his  career  from  boyhood. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  is  a 
native  of  West  Virginia,  born  in  Marshall  County, 
Jan.  19,  1856.  His  parents  are  John  and  Jane 
(Bryson)  Ward,,  natives  of  West  Virginia  and 
Ohio  respectively  (for  parental  history  see  biogra- 
phy of  John  Ward). 

When  his  parents  brought  him  to  Woodford 
County  in  1857  our  subject  was  only  a  year  old, 
and  he  can  therefore  have  no  recollection  of  the 
home  of  his  birth.  His  boyhood  and  youth  were 
passed  here  on  the  paternal  homestead,  and  from 
his  father  he  gained  a  sound  practical  knowl- 
edge of  agriculture  in  all  its  branches,  which  has 
been  of  inestimable  value  to  him  in  his  after  career 
as  a  farmer.  He  attended  the  public  schools  and 
gleaned  the  basis  of  a  sound  education,  and  when 
about  twenty  years  of  age,  ambitious  to  have  more 
learning,  he  became  a  student  at  the  Wesleyan 
University  at  Bloomington,  111.,  and  was  in  attend- 
ance there  a  year,  pursuing  an  excellent  course  of 


492 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


study  and  taking  good  rank  in  his  classes.  After 
[raving  college  he  returned  home  and  assisted  his 
father  in  the  management  of  his  agricultural  inter- 
ests till  he  was  twenty-three  years  old,  when  he 
began  farming  on  his  .own  account  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides.  He  owns  271  acres  of  land 
exceedingly  fertile  and  highly  productive,  pleas- 
antly located  in  Greene  Township,  provided  with 
suitable  buildings  and  good  machinery  for  carry- 
ing on  agriculture  to  the  best  advantage.  In  the 
management  of  his  farm  he  shows  himself  to  be  a 
competent  and  intelligent  agriculturist  and  bids 
fair  to  one  day  place  himself  among  the  most  sub- 
stantial and  wealthy  farmers  of  Greene  Township. 
He  is  possessed  of  good  mental  endowments  that 
have  been  developed  by  education,  and  he  is  one 
of  onr  most  cultured  and  well  informed  young 
men.  His  personal  character  is  unblemished,  his 
habits  excellent  and  his  standing  in  the  commu- 
nity high.  In  his  political  views  he  is  an  ardent 
Republican.  Public-spirited,  he  is  eager  to  do 
what  he  can  to  promote  the  highest  interests  of 
the  county  where  he  has  had  his  home  nearly  all 
his  life. 


<  OSEPH  HAAS,  a  fine  representative  of  the 
I  native  born  citizens  of  Wood  ford  County, 
who,  by  sheer  force  of  energy  and  persever- 
ance,  have  made  themselves  prominent  fac- 
tors in  developing  and  sustaining  its  agricultural 
interests,  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  pleasantly  lo- 
cated on  section  27,  Panola  Township,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising. 

Joseph  Haas  is  of  German  parentage,  born  near 
Spring  Bay,  Sept.  9,  1843.  The  parents  of  our  sub- 
ject, John  and  Anne  Haas,  were  born  and  reared 
in  Bavaria,  Germany,  emigrating  from  there  to  the 
I'nited  States  in  1836.  They  took  passage  in  a 
sailing-vessel,  and  had  a  long  and  tedious  voyage 
of  five  months  before  landing  in  New  York  City. 
On  arriving  there,  Sir.  Haas  had  only  $3  in  money, 
but  he  procured  work  at  his  trade  of  shoemaking, 
and  as  soon  as  he  had  earned  a  sufficient  sum,  came 


to  Woodford  County.    He  located  near  Spring  Bay, 
where  he  bought  a  farm  of  160  acres,  ten  of  which 
were  broken,  and  a  rude  log  cabin  had  been  built. 
The  land  was  covered  with  timber,  but  by  dint  of 
hard  labor  and  courageous  industry,  he  succeeded 
in  improving  a  fine  farm.     The  task   of  clearing 
the  land  was  no  sinecure,  but  required  unceasing 
toil  and  perseverance.     His  tools  and  farming  im- 
plements were  the  most  simple,  and  he  has  cut  many 
a  huge  log  in  two  with  a  cross-cut  saw.     In  those 
early  days,  ere  the  construction  of  railways,  facili- 
ties for  transportation  were  limited,  and  much  time 
was  consumed  in  traveling  a  short  distance.     Chi- 
cago being  the  nearest  grain  market,  Mr.  Haas  had 
to  convey  his  wheat  to  that  city  in  an  ox-team,  it 
taking  him  two  weeks  to  make  the  round  trip;  while 
the  price  received  for  the  grain  was  only  thirty-six 
cents  a  bushel.     His   wagon   was   home-made;  the 
wheels,  which  were  sawed  from  a  log,   were   about 
three  feet  in  diameter,  six  inches  wide,  and  had  a 
hole  bored   in    the   center.     Notwithstanding   the 
lack  of  machinery  and  implements  that  render  farm- 
ing a  pleasure  as  well  as  a  profit  in  these  days,  Mr. 
Haas,  like  many  another  of  the    pioneers,  was  en- 
abled to  keep  his   family  in  comfort,  and  accumu- 
late some  property.     He  was  a  warm-hearted,  pub- 
lic-spirited  man,   generous  and    charitable  in  his 
disposition,  always  ready  to  aid  the  suffering  and 
the  destitute.     He  was  well  and   favorably  known 
throughout  the  county,  and  his   death,   whicli  oc- 
curred July  6,  1857,  was  mourned  by  all.     In  him 
the  Catholic  Church  lost  one  of   its  most  esteemed 
members.     Mr.    Haas  was  twice  married,  and  the 
father  of  a  large  family  of  children,  of  whom   the 
following  are  yet  living,  namely:  Mary,   wife  of 
Peter    Beneman,  of   Peoria  County,  111.;    Joseph; 
Peter,  of  El  Paso,  111.;  Maggie,  wife  of  John  Miller, 
of  Woodford  County.     Of  those  who  are  deceased, 
three  were  accidentally  drowned  in  Partridge  Creek, 
this  county,  the  misfortune  occurring  while  the  pa- 
rents, accompanied  by  their  children  and  a  hired 
man,  were    returning    fiom   a  visit  to  a  relative. 
During  their  absence  a  heavy  rain   had   fallen,  and 
on  the  way  home,  when  the  hired  man  drove  through 
the  ford,  the  water  was  so   high   that  it  lifted  the 
wagon-box  off  the   wheels,  and    the  whole  family 
were  thus  thrown  into  the  stream  at  a  point  where 


RESIDENCE  OF  JACOB  RICH,  SEC.  35.   CRUGERTOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCE  OF  JOSEPH  HAAS, SEC. 27.  PANOLATOWNSHI p 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


495 


the  water  was  ten  feet  deep.  Three  of  the  children 
were  engulfed  by  the  cruel,  raging  waters,  and  at 
last  exhausted,  sank  to  rise  no  more.  The  happy 
family  circle  was  broken,  and  their  joyous  home 
changed  to  a  house  of  mourning. 

Joseph  Haas,  the  subject  of  this  brief  personal  nar- 
rative, was  reared  to  manhood  in  his  native  county, 
amid  the  busy  scenes  of  pioneer  life,  and  did  his 
full  share  in  assisting  his  father  on  the  farm.  He 
has  taken  an  active  part  in  promoting  the  rapid 
growth  and  progress  of  the  county,  and  has  watched 
with  a  proud  interest  its  transformation  from  a 
wild  and  uncultivated  country,  to  one  of  the  rich- 
est and  most  prolific  agricultural  regions  of  the 
State.  He  began  his  education  in  the  log  school- 
house  of  that  day,  and  has  since  been  continually 
adding  to  it  by  systematic  reading,  and  is  now  pos- 
sessed of  a  large  amount  of  general  information, 
and  is  well  posted  on  the  topics  of  the  day. 

As  soon  as  well  established  in  life,  and  able  to 
maintain  a  family,  our  subject  took  upon  himself 
the  cares  of  a  household,  being  united  in  marriage, 
Nov.  22,  1865,  to  Miss  Mary  Simon,  a  native  of 
Germany.  Her  father,  John  B.  Simon,  emigrated 
to  America  with  his  family,  when  Mrs.  Haas  was 
about  four  years  of  age,  and  became  one  of  the 
original  settlers  of  Worth  Township.  There  were 
eight  daughters  born  to  him  and  his  wife,  of  whom 
two,  Magdalena  and  Osina  are  deceased,  the  follow- 
ing being  recorded  of  the  six  living:  Elizabeth  is 
the  wife  of  Conrad  Kerker,  of  Worth  Township; 
Catherine  is  the  widow  of  Lorrenz  Schneider;  Annie 
married  Charles  Theobald,  of  Worth  Township; 
Efh'e  is  the  wife  of  Adam  Staub,  of  Worth  Town- 
ship; Maggie  is  the  wife  of  Peter  Heininger,  of 
Peoria  County ;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  our  subject. 

The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haas  has  been  blessed 
with  eleven  children,  seven  of  whom  are  living, 
namely:  Joseph  P.,  Emma  R.,  Angie  E.,  Andrew 
F.,  Theresa  L.,  Archibald  S.,  and  Ralph  B.  Mr. 
Haas  removed  to  his  present  farm  in  1864,  and  has 
been  a  continuous  resident  here  since.  It  contains 
240  acres  of  arable  land,  under  a  good  state  of  cul- 
tivation, on  which  he  has  erected  ample  and  sub- 
stantial buildings.  lie  pays  much  attention  to 
stock-raising,  and  annually  feeds  and  ships  large 
numbers  of  hogs  and  other  stock.  lie  has  a  herd 


of  fine  Durham  cattle,  and  three-quarter  blooded 
Norman  horses,  that  compare  with  the  best  in  this 
vicinity.  He  has  made  nearly  all  the  improvements 
on  his  homestead,  and  has  erected  a  residence  which 
is  a  credit  to  himself,  and  an  ornament  to  his  town- 
ship, and  which  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this 
volume  by  a  fine  engraving. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Haas  is  not  confined 
within  any  party  lines,  but  reserves  the  right  to 
support  the  men  whom  he  considers  best  qualified 
to  fill  the  offices,  having,  however,  a  leaning  toward 
the  Democratic  party.  He  is  deeply  interested  in 
educational  matters,  and  has  served  several  terms 
as  School  Director.  Being  a  man  of  sound  com- 
mon-sense, strict  integrity,  and  an  able  business 
man,  his  opinions  are  uniformly  respected,  and  he 
is  held  in  high  regard  throughout  the  community. 
In  religion,  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haas  and  children, 
are  valued  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church 
of  El  Paso,  and  contribute  liberally  toward  its 
support. 


ACOB  RICH,  one  of  the  prominent  farmers 
of    this    county,    and    whose    farm    is    lo- 
cated on  section  35,  and   township  26,  Cru- 
ger  Township,  is  the  son  of  Joseph  Rich,  a 
native  of  France.     The  father  of  our  subject  came 
to  America  when  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  set- 
tling in  New  York  State,  where  he   remained  for 
three  years.     Thence  he   removed  to  Ohio,  where 
he  resided  two  and  a  'half  years.     With  the  view 
of  bettering  his  condition   he  thence  emigrated  to 
Illinois,  making  the  journey  by  horse  and  buggy. 
Arriving  in  Illinois,  he  settled  in  Tazewell  County, 
about  the  year   1835.      Here  he  has  prospered  to 
such  an  extent  that  at  one   time  he  was  the  owner 
of  nearly  1,000  acres  of  land  in  that  and  Woodford 
counties.      Having  achieved  a  competence  he  has 
retired   from  active    life,  and  is  spending  his  last 
years  in  rest  and  the  enjoy inent  to  which  his  years 
of  labor  entitle  him.      He  resides  in  the  village  of 
Washington,    and    has  attained    the  age  of  sixty- 
eight   years.      He    has  been   twice  married.      The 
first  marriage  took  place  in   Tazewell  County,  the 


496 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


bride  being  Miss  Catherine  Rich,  who,  though  she 
bore  the  same  name,  was  no  blood  relation  of  his. 
She  died  when  our  subject  was  seven  years  of  age. 
To  Mrs.  Rich  were  born  five  children,  viz:  David, 
Jacob  (our  subject),  Mary,  Lydia  and  Daniel. 
Mary  became  the  wife  of  Peter  Schertz,  of  Meta- 
mora,  and  departed  this  life  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
seven.  In  due  time  Mr.  Rich  contracted  a  second 
marriage  with  Catherine  Zimmerman,  of  Johnson 
County,  Iowa.  She  bore  her  husband  two  sons, 
Joseph  and  Christian. 

Jacob  Rich  was  born  in  Tazewell  County,  111., 
March  15,  1853,  where  he  grew  to  man's  estate  on 
his  father's  farm,  attending  the  district  school  dur- 
ing his  youth  and  employing  the  intervals  in  such 
work  as  his  strength  permitted  him  to  perform. 
In  the  spring  of  1878  he  left  the  parental  roof  and 
settled  in  Cruger  Township,  where  he  has  300 
acres  of  land,  on  which  he  has  erected  a  fine  dwell- 
ing and  all  the  other  necessary  buildings.  Being 
an  intelligent  business  man,  and  believing  that 
farming  should  'pay,  he  gives  close  attention  year 
by  year  to  raising  such  crops  as  the  market  seems 
to  indicate  will  be  the  most  remunerative.  He  also 
has  some  fine  stock,  consisting  of  Poland-China 
hogs  and  Norman  horses,  in  the  latter  of  which  he 
takes  special  delight.  As  a  consequence  he  is  pros- 
perous and  able  to  entertain  generously  all  whom 
his  large  heart  prompts  him  to  receive  under  his 
roof. 

Mr.  Rich  was  married  in  Tazewell  County,  111., 
on  the  5th  of  February,  1878,  to  Miss  Sommer, 
a  daughter  of  John  and  Barbara  (Schertz)  Sommer, 
who  were  natives  of  France.  They  came  to  Amer- 
ica with  their  parents  when  quite  young.  Growing 
up  as  friends,  they  became  lovers,  and  after  mar- 
riage followed  the  Star  of  Empire  westward,  set- 
tling in  Tazewell  County.  There  were  bo'rn  to 
them  eight  children:  Catherine,  Joseph!,  Mary, 
John.  Maggie  (Mrs.  Rich),  Lizzie,  Davis  and  Annie. 
Of  these  the  last  two  died  in  infancy.  Mrs  Rich 
is  a  native  of  this  county,  having  been  born  March 
8,  1852. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rich  are  the  parents   of  two  chil- 
dren— Silas  G.  and  Alvin  J.     Beyond  attending  to   : 
his  duty  in   the  matter  of  voting,   Mr.    Rich  gives 
very  little  attention  to  political  questions.     Never- 


theless, being  held  in  high  esteem  by  his  neighbors, 
he  has  accepted  some  of  the  minor  offices  in  the 
township  when  urged  to  do  so  by  his  friends.  In 
voting  he  supports  the  Democratic  candidates.  He 
and  his  wife  are  both  consistent  members  of  the 
Mennonite  Church.  A  lithographic  view  of  the 
elegant  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rich  appears  else- 
where in  this  work. 


AMUEL  LYBARGER,  one  of  the  substan- 
tial, well-to-do  farmers  of  Cazenovia  Town- 
ship, where  he  has  a  pleasant  hospitable 
home  on  section  20,  has  been  connected 
with  the  agricultural  interests  of  Woodford  County, 
several  years,  and  has  shown  himself  to  be  in  all 
points  a  desirable  citizen  and  a  good  neighbor.  He 
comes  of  a  long  line  of  honorable  Pennsylvania  an- 
cestry, among  whom  were  some  of  the  first  settlers 
of  that  State.  He  was  born  in  Londonderry  Town- 
ship, Bedford  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  9,  1827,  that  part  of 
the  country  having  been  the  home  of  his  progeni- 
tors for  many  years,  he  being  one  of  the  eighth 
generation  in  America.  His  grandfather,  Henry 
Lybarger,  was  a  millwright  by  trade,  and  always 
followed  that  calling,  and  spent  his  entire  life  in 
Bedford  County.  His  son  Anthony,  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  and  reared  on  a  farm,  and  after 
marriage  went  to  Ohio,  and  became  a  pioneer  of 
Knox  County,  buying  a  tract  of  land  in  the  midst 
of  the  primeval  forests  that  at  that  time  covered 
Monroe  Township.  There  were  thirty-five  acres 
of  his  land  cleared,  and  he  erected  a  hewed-log 
house  on  the  place,  and  began  the  cultivation  of 
his  land,  and  set  about  clearing  the  remainder.  He 
reclaimed  the  greater  part  of  it  from  the  wilder- 
ness, and  resided  thereon  till  1864,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Shelby  County,  III.,  and  bought  land  in 
Flat  Branch  Township.  He  resided  there  eighteen 
months,  and  then  closed  with  a  good  offer  to  sell  his 
farm  at  quite  an  advance  on  the  price  that  he  paid 
for  it,  and  returned  to  Ohio,  and  bought  a  farm  and 
one-half  interest  in  a  mill  in  Knox  County',  and 
from  there  to  Richland  County,  where  he  bought  a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


497 


farm,  on  which  he  resided  till  his  death,  in  1884, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-two  years.  He  was 
a  man  of  considerable  enterprise,  a  hard  worker, 
possessed  solid  common  sense,  and  was  just  and 
honest  to  a  high  degree,  and  was  almost  contin- 
uously in  office.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was 
Elizabeth  Geller,  and  she  was  a  native  of  the  same 
county  as  himself,  as  was  also  her  father,  Andrew 
Geller,  who  spent  his  whole  life  there.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  died  in  1836,  while  yet  a  young  wo- 
man, and  left  five  children,  as  follows:  William, 
now  deceased;  Samuel,  our  subject;  Mary,  and 
Ann  Eliza,  residing  in  Richland  County;  Job,  liv- 
ing in  Effingham  County,  111.  The  latter  married 
a  second  time,  Marjory  McKinney  becoming  his 
wife.  She  died,  in  1888,  without  issue. 

Samuel  was  a  child  of  three  years  when  his  par- 
ents moved  to  Ohio,  and  under  the  influence  of  the 
pioneer  life  that  prevailed  there  in  that  early  day 
he  was  reared  to  a  manly,  stalwart  manhood.  There 
were  no  railways  in  the  West  in  those  days,  and 
the  removal  had  been  made  with  teams.  He  was 
bred  to  a  farmer's  life,  and  remained  an  inmate  of 
the  parental  household  till  his  marriage,  at  which 
time  he  bought  land  adjoining  the  town  of  Gambia, 
and  later  traded  it  for  a  large  tract  a  mile  and  a 
half  out.  In  1867  he  sold  his  property  in  Ohio, 
and  coming  to  Shelby  County,  this  State,  bought 
eighty  acres  of  improved  land  in  Flat  Branch 
Township,  and  240  acres  in  Fayette  County.  He 
lived  in  Shelby  County  about  eighteen  months,  and 
then  took  advantage  of  a  good  opportunity  to  sell 
his  land  at  a  large  advance,  and  returned  to  Ohio, 
where  he  turned  his  attention  to  milling,  and  where 
he  remained  the  ensuing  three  years.  He  afterward 
came  back  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Woodford 
County,  buying  land  near  Metamora.  He  resided 
there  about  eight  years,  and  then,  after  spending 
the  winter  in  Ohio,  bought  a  home  in  the  town  of 
Metamora,  which  he  traded  two  years  later  for  a 
farm  in  Wayne  County,  Iowa.  He  removed  to 
Warsaw,  in  that  county,  and  lived  there  a  few 
months,  and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  came 
back  to  Illinois  once  again,  and  in  the  following 
spring  bought  his  present  desirable  place  on  section 
20.  Cazenovia  Township,  and  has  ever  since  dwelt 
in  peace  and  quietude,  enjoying  all  the  comforts  of 


a  well-ordered  dwelling,  which  he  and  his  amiable 
wife  have  made  the  centre  of  a  genuine  hospitality, 
of  which  all  of  their  friends  »re  glad  to  be  the  re- 
cipients, and  strangers  crossing  the  threshold  are 
immediately  made  to  feel  at  home. 

Mr.  Lybarger  has  been  twice  married.  He  was 
united  to  Miss  Rebecca  Hess  April  1,1856.  She 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  near  Pittsburgh. 
Her  brief  but  happy  wedded  life  closed  in  two 
years  time,  she  dying  leaving  one  child,  Winfield, 
now  living  in  Effingham  County,  111.  Mr.  Lybar- 
ger was  married  to  his  present  wife,  formerly  Mary 
J.  (Ayer)  Trickle,  in  1865.  She  was  born  in 
Wayne  County,  Ohio,  and  is  the  mother  of  seven 
children — Ann,  Fanny,  Jennie,  May,  Jay,  Ray  and 
Clay.  Jennie  died  at  the  age  of  three  years,  and 
May  died  in  infancy.  Ann  married  Washington 
Mundell;  they  reside  in  Pasadena,  Cal.,  and  have 
three  children — Charlie,  Fanny  and  Mary  M. 
Fanny  'married  Will  Mundell;  they  live  in  San 
Diego,  Cal.,  and  have  one  child — Eleanor. 

By  a  well-conducted  life  Mr.  Lybarger  has  won 
a  high  reputation  on  the  score  of  morality  and  up- 
rightness, and  by  the  judicious  management  of  his 
affairs  he  is  conceded  to  be  a  shrewd,  practical, 
business-like  farmer.  He  is  an  honored  supporter 
of  the  Democratic  party,  and  is  thoroughly  con- 
vinced that  its  policy  in  regard  to  the  management 
of  the  Government  is  better  than  that  of  an}'  other 
political  party.  Mrs.  Lybarger  is  a  devoted  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  Church,  and  follows  its  teach- 
ings in  her  daily  life. 


IIRISTIAN  MILLER,  a  prosperous  and 
progressive  farmer  of  Palestine  Township, 
residing  on  section  31,  is  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, his  birth  having  occurred  in  the  Kingdom  of 
Wurtemberg.  on  the  1st  day  of  February,  1832. 
He  is  the  youngest  of  a  familj'  of  three  sons  born 
to  JohnS.  and  Anna  M.  (Biser)  Miller.  His  father 
was  a  mason  and  stonecutter  by  trade  and  followed 
that  business  throughout  the  greater  part  of  his 
life.  He  died  in  the  land  where  his  entire  ife  was 


498 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


passed,  and  his  wife  also  was  called  to  her  final 
home  in  1835,  while  residing  in  Wurtemberg. 
They  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church  and 
were  highly  esteemed  by  those  who  knew  them. 

Christian  Miller,  the  subject  of  this  notice, 
passed  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  his 
native  country  and  in  the  schools  of  the  neighbor- 
hood received  his  education.  He  was  but  three 
years  of  age  when  the  death  of  his  mother  occurred, 
and  he  was  thus  deprived  of  her  loving  care  and 
counsel.  He  remained  under  the  parental  roof 
until  attaining  his  twentieth  year,  when  he  deter- 
mined to  try  his  fortunes  in  the  New  World.  Bid- 
ding good-by  to  home  and  friends  he  crossed  the 
broad  Atlantic  in  1852,  and  settled  in  Germautown, 
Pa.,  near  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  A  brother  of 
our  subject  had  emigrated  to  America  in  1849, 
and  a  third  one  came  in  1872.  John  C..  the 
youngest  brother,  passed  his  entire  life  in  German- 
town.  He  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years, 
leaving  a  wife  and  two  children,  George  J.  and 
Lena,  to  mourn  his  loss.  John  G.,  the  eldest 
brother,  is  married  and  has  a  family  and  resides  in 
Germantown,  where  he  is  employed  in  a  brewery. 

Like  his  brothers,  Christian  also  settled  in  Ger- 
mantown, Pa.  He  had  previously  learned  the 
cooper's  trade  in  his  native  land  and  for  some  time 
followed  that  occupation  for  a  livelihood.  He 
removed  to  Norristown,  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa., 
in  1853,  and  later  became  a  resident  of  New  York 
City,  whence  he  went  to  Scranton,  Pa.,  where  he 
made  his  home  until  coming  to  Woodford  County. 

After  his  arrival  in  Illinois  Mr.  Miller  formed 
the  acquaintance  of  Mrs.  Mary  P.  Phaster,  whom 
he  wooed  and  won.  She  was  born  in  Virginia,  on 
the  25th  day  of  November,  1827,  and  when  nine 
years  of  age,  in  1836,  came  with  her  parents  to  this 
county,  where  she  was  reared  and  married.  Mrs. 
Phaster  was  the  mother  of  three  children  by  her 
first  husband,  as  follows:  Barbara,  who  is  now  the 
wife  of  George  Scougle,  a  farmer  residing  in 
Tazewell  County;  Henry,  who  married  Sophia 
Esselman,  and  is  now  engaged  in  farming  in  Phelps 
County,  Neb.;  and  Sarah  A.,  wife  of  John  Fel- 
lows, who  is  also  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
in  Phelps  County.  No  children  were  born  to  Mr. 
Miller  by  this  union.  In  1887  Mr.  Miller  was 


called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  Church  and  a  most  estimable 
lady,  who  died  at  her  home  in  Palestine  Township, 
on  the  1 3th  day  of  December.  He  was  "again  mar- 
ried, his  second  union  being  with  Elizabeth  Slack, 
a  native  of  this  county,  born  in  1866.  They  have 
one  child,  a  little  daughter,  Lena. 

Mr.  Miller  has  made  farming  his  principal  occu- 
pation through  life  and  has  been  quite  successful 
in  the  undertaking.  He  has  made  his  home  in  Pal- 
estine Township  since  1855  and  has  resided  upon 
his  present  farm  for  about  thirty  years.  It  was 
his  first  purchase  of  land  and  comprises  200  acres 
situated  on  section  31.  He  has  made  it  what  it  is. 
The  entire  amount  is  now  highly  improved  and  cul- 
tivated, and  the  barns  and  outbuildings  are  all 
that  are  necessary  to  a  model  farm,  while  the  stock 
which  he  raises  is  of  the  best  grades.  Upon  the 
homestead  he  has  erected  a  comfortable  residence, 
which  is  represented  on  another  page  by  a  litho- 
graphic engraving.  Though  he  began 'life  in  lim- 
ited circumstances,  he  is  now  numbered  among  the 
well-to-do  farmers  of  the  county,  having  by  his 
own  efforts  of  industry,  perseverance  and  energy, 
supplemented  by  good  business  ability,  secured  a 
comfortable  competency.  As  a  citizen  Mr.  Miller 
is  public-spirited  and  progressive  and  is  one  of  the 
representative  men  of  the  township.  He  has  been 
honored  with  various  local  offices  of  trust,  includ- 
ing that  of  Commissioner  of  Highways,  which  he 
held  for  seven  years,  and  in  all  the  offices  he  dis- 
charged the  duties  devolving  upon  him  with  the 
same  promptness  and  fidelity  which  has  character- 
ized his  entire  business  career. 


ACOB  HOLLENBACK  has  lived  in  this 
section  of  the  State  for  over  half  a  century, 
and  was  for  many  years  prosperously  con- 
nected with  its  agricultural  interests  as  pro- 
prietor of  over  300  acres  of  land  in  Linn  Township, 
which  he  reclaimed  from  its  original  wildness  and 
transformed  into  one  of  the  most  valuable  town- 
ships of  the  county.  He  has  accumulated  a  hand- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


some  competence  and  is  now  living  in  retirement  in 
his  last}-  and  commodious  residence  in  the  village 
of  Washburn. 

Born  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Rehobeth,  Perry 
Co.,  Ohio,  July  14,  1827,  our  subject  is  the  son  of 
Daniel  Hollenbaek,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  The 
grandparents  of  Jacob  Hollenbaek  removed  at  an 
early  day  to  Perry  County,  Ohio,  where  they  spent 
the  declining  period  of  their  lives.  Their  son  Dan- 
iel was  reared  under  the  parental  roof  in  Ohio,  and 
upon  reaching  manhood  married  Martha  Thralls, 
a  native  of  Maryland.  He  and  his  young  wife  lived 
on  a  farm  until  1835,  then  starting  across  the  coun- 
try to  Illinois,  they  made  the  journey  after  the 
pioneer  style  of  those  times,  cooking  and  camping 
by  the  way  when  night  came  on.  The  father  of 
our  subject  first  located  at  the  head  of  Crow  Creek 
in  Marshall  County,  where  he  bought  a  tract  of 
partly  improved  land  with  a  log  cabin  standing  on 
it,  which  became  the  home  of  his  family.  In  1860 
he  sold  that  place  and  removing  to  Minonk  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  life  there,  dying  Jan.  13,  1868, 
when  a  little  more  than  seventy-two  years  of  age. 
His  wife  had  died  prior  to  his  decease,  her  death 
occurring  March  19,  1864,  aged  sixty-nine  years 
and  four  months.  To  her  and  her  husband  were 
born  eight  children,  all  of  whom  were  reared  to 
maturity.  Daniel  Hollenbaek  was  a  man  of  good 
abilities,  and  by  thrift,  toil  and  good  investments 
accumulated  a  goodly  amount  of  property.  As  a 
pioneer  of  Marshall  County,  he  did  his  share  in  pro- 
moting its  development,  while  his  name  and  mem- 
or_y  are  held  in  reverence  and  honor,  as  are  those 
of  his  noble,  self-sacrificing,  courageous  contem- 
poraries. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  eight  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents,  and  he 
has  a  clear  remembrance  of  the  journey  thither  and 
of  the  incidents  of  pioneer  life  thai  followed. 
There  were  no  railways  here  for  years  after  the 
family  removed  to  their  new  home,  and  his  father 
used  to  carry  grain  to  Lacon  to  market.  As  soon 
as  our  subject  was  large  enough  to  shoulder  a  gun 
he  commenced  to  hunt,  and  killed  many  deer  and 
wolves  and  used  to  supply  the  family  larder  with 
choice  game.  He  lived  under  the  parental  roof 
until  he  attained  his  majority  and  then  established 


a  home  of  his  own,  taking  unto  himself  a  wife  in 
the  person  of  Margaret  McCune,  who  was  born  in 
Cumberland  County,  Pa.,  August  31,  1830.  Her 
father,  William  McCune,  was  also  a  native  of  the 
same  county,  and  was  there  reared  and  married.  In 
the  year  1833  he  removed  to  Ohio,  and  settling 
south  of  Columbus  lived  there  four  years.  At 
the  expiration  of  that  time  he  came  to  Illinois 
with  teams  and  located  on  a  tract  of  land  that  he 
had  bought,  situated  eight  miles  southeast  of  Lacon. 
Later  he  returned  to  Ohio  to  settle  some  business 
matters,  and  on  the  journey  the  stage  was  over- 
turned and  he  received  injuries  from  which  he 
never  recovered,  dying  soon  after  he  came  back 
to  his  home.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was 
Eleanor  Culbertson,  and  she  was  also  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  born  there  in  1813.  She  lived  on 
the  old  McCune  homestead  until  their  removal,  in 
1833,  to  Ohio,  when  she  accompanied  them  hither. 
By  her  union  witli  William  McCune  she  became  the 
mother  of  eight  children,  viz:  Samuel  C.,  Mary 
Jane,  Emily,  John,  Eleanor,  Elizabeth,  William 
and  Margaret.  Samuel  C.  became  a  minister  of  the 
Gospel,  and  labored  in  the  service  of  the  Master 
for  fifty  years;  he  married  Lettie  Clark,  of  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1838,  and  moved  to  Illinois  in  1839. 
Of  their  children,  the  eldest,  Alexander,  died  dur- 
ing the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  in  which  he  was 
engaged  in  the  Union  army.  He  was  in  his  twenty- 
fourth  year  when  he  passed  away.  Another  son, 
Harold,  is  practicing  medicine  in  Iowa;  Charles  is 
farming,  and  is  yet  unmarried.  Samuel  C.  and 
his  wife  live  in  Oskaloosa,  Iowa,  being  now  past 
their  threescore  and  ten.  The  second  child  born 
to  William  and  Eleanor  McCune  was  Mary  Jane, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Thompson  Clemens,  of 
Marshall  County,  111.,  by  whom  she  had  two  chil- 
dren, sons — Chalmers  and  Thompson.  Mrs.  Clem- 
ens died  suddenly  when  about  thirty-five  years  of 
age;  Emily  married  William  Spangler  in  Ohio, 
but  afterward  removed  to  Illinois  in  1837,  where 
they  reared  a  large 'family  and  were  prospered. 
They  died  in  1885,  within  three  mouths  of  each 
other.  John  died  in  infancy ;  Eleanor  became  the 
wife  of  Harry  Scott,  who  passed  to  rest  in  1885, 
leaving  Mrs.  Scott  with  six  orphaned  children,  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  father  and  husband;  Elizabeth 


500 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


married  A.  S.  Sherwood,  and  passed  away  while 
yet  in  the  prime  of  life,  leaving  a  large  family; 
William  died  in  Illinois  at  the  home  of  his  sister 
Margaret  in  the  twenty-fourth  year  of  his  age.  He 
had  gone  to  California  during  the  gold  excitement, 
returning  thence  about  the  year  1851;  Margaret 
married  our  subject,  and  has  been  a  faithful  wife 
for  more  than  forty  years. 

Tracing  the  ancestry  of  Mrs.  Hollenback  a  few 
generations  back,  we  find  that  her  grandfather. 
John  McCune,  was  born  in  County  Ulster,  North 
of  Ireland,  about  1725,  He  was  educated  in  the 
teachings  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  after 
the  death  of  his  wife  emigrated  to  America,  with 
his  two  daughters,  about  1760,  settling  in  Cumber- 
land County,  Pa.  He  died  about  the  beginning  of 
the  present  century,  while  his  daughters  married 
men  named  respectively,  McCune,  and  Barr.  On 
her  father's  side  the  grandmother  of  Mrs.  Hollen- 
back was  Mary  Sharpe,  a  native  of  Scotland,  and 
who  first  married  James  Fullerton.  After  his  death 
she  came  to  America  with  her  brothers  and  her 
three  sons — James,  Alexander  and  Adam.  About 
1761  their  mother  married  John  McCune,  and  with 
him  joined  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Four  chil- 
dren were  born  of  this  second  marriage — Robert, 
John,  William  (father  of  Mrs.  Hollenback)  and 
Mary. 

Passing  the  years  of  her  girlhood  in  the  home 
of  her  sister,  Mrs.  Clemens,  Margaret  McCune  left 
it  only  to  enter  one  of  her  own,when  she  became  the 
wife  of  our  subject.  To  her  and  her  husband  four 
children  were  born,  all  living  and  in  prosperous 
circumstances.  They  are:  Margaret  Ellen,  wife  of 
Josiah  Kerrick,  Mayor  of  Minonk;  Jacob  Henry, 
a  resident  of  Gage  County,  Neb. ;  Clara  Belle,  wife 
of  Frank  Combes  of  this  county;  Charles  C.,  at 
home  with  his  parents. 

After  their  marriage,  which  occurred  in  the 
month  of  October,  1848,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hollenback 
began  housekeeping  in  the  log  cabin  near  the  old 
homestead,  his  father  having  given  him  154  acres 
of  land  in  Linn  Township.  He  was  actively  en- 
gaged in  its  improvement  and  cultivation  until 
1887,  when  he  retired  to  Washburn  to  his  present 
handsomely  fitted-up  dwelling.  During  the  years 
of  his  labors  he  added  to  his  real  estate,  until  he 


now  owns  nearly  a  half-section  of  land  in  a  body, 
on  which  he  erected  a  neat  set  of  frame  buildings, 
and  which  is  supplied  with  machinery  and  all  the 
conveniences  for  carrying  on  agriculture. 

A  sober-minded,  just  and  open-hearted  individ- 
ual, our  subject  has  been  an  influence  for  good  in 
his  community,  and  is  justly  regarded  with  esteem 
by  all  who  know  him.  He  and  his  good  wife  are 
faithful  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
and  are  true  defenders  of  the  faith. 


ARCELLUS  W.  WILSON  represents  the 
agricultural  interests  of  Metamora  Town- 
ship, as  one  of  its  prominent  and  success- 
ful farmers  and  stock-raisers.  He  owns 
one  of  the  most  valuable  farms  in  this  vicinity, 
whose  rich  harvest  fields  are  the  source  of  a  desir- 
able income,  and  its  neat  and  tasty  buildings  show 
to  advantage  amid  their  pleasant  surroundings,  the 
fine  residence  that  he  has  erected,  forming  a  most 
attractive  home. 

Mr.  Wilson  was  born  among  the  granite  hills  of 
New  Hampshire  in  the  pretty  town  of  Gilmanton, 
Jan.  12,  1830.  His  father,  Samuel  T.  Wilson,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Barnstead,  N.  H.,  a  son  of 
Nathaniel  Wilson,  a  native  of  New  England.  The 
latter  was  for  some  years  engaged  in  keeping  a  ho- 
tel, and  also  in  the  mercantile  business,  and  in  con- 
nection operated  a  (arm.  Before  the  advent  of 
railways  in  that  part  of  New  England,  he  had 
teams  on  the  road,  carrying  goods  from  the  coast  to 
the  interior  towns.  His  busy  life  was  brought  to  a 
close  on  his  home  farm  in  Barnstead.  The  father 
of  our  subject  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  na- 
tive State,  and  was  a  resident  there  till  1844.  In 
that  year  he  sought  the  wilds  of  Illinois  with  his 
family,  a  team  conveying  them  to  Durham,  N.  H., 
thence  they  went  by  rail  to  Albany,  where  they 
embarked  on  that  great  highway  of  pioneer  travel, 
the  Erie  Canal,  and  at  Buffalo  they  took  passage  on 
a  boat  and  voyaged  on  the  lakes  to  Chicago.  Friends 
met  them  there  with  teams,  and  conveyed  the  family 
and  goods  to  Metamora.  After  their  arrival  here 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


501 


the  father  bought  a  tract  of  wild  prairie  land  on 
section  16,  his  wife  and  children  continuing  to  live 
in  the  town  till  the  fall  of  the  year,  when  he  had 
completed  a  log  cabin  on  his  place  for  their  habi- 
tation. In  the  busy  years  that  followed  he  ener- 
getically engaged  in  the  pioneer  task  of  developing 
his  land  from  its  primitive  condition  into  a  fine, 
highly  productive  farm^  on  which  he  resided  till 
death  rounded  out  his  long  and  honorable  life,  in 
January,  1875.  He  had  erected  a  good  set  of  frame 
buildings,  and  made  many  other  valuable  improve- 
ments on  his  homestead.  His  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Laurana  W.  Robinson,  was  born  in  New 
Hampton.  N.  H.,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
Robinson,  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  She  was  the 
mother  of  several  children,  nine  of  whom  were 
reared  to  maturity. 

He  of  whom  we  write  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  New  Hampshire,  and  when  a 
lad  of  fourteen  years,  left  the  hills  of  his  native 
State  to  accompany  his  parents  to  their  new  home 
on  the  wide  and  boundless  prairies  of  Illinois.  He 
remembers  well  the  appearance  of  the  surrounding 
country  when  he  first  came  to  this  county,  which 
was  at  that  time  still  in  the  hands  of  the  pioneers, 
and  had  scarcely  emerged  from  its  primitive  wild- 
ness.  Deer,  wolves,  wild  turkeys  and  other  game 
were  very  plentiful  here  for  some  years  after  that, 
and  there  were  no  railways  for  some  time  to  con- 
nect the  county  with  the  outside  world.  His  father 
was  compelled  to  go  with  a  team  to  Chicago,  150 
miles  distant,  to  market,  and  the  principal  part 
of  the  lumber  for  his  frame  house  was  drawn  from 
that  city.  Our  subject  lived  with  his  parents  till 
he  was  seventeen  years  old,  and  then  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed  till  he  was 
twenty-three  years  old.  At  that  time  he  invested 
his  money  in  the  farm  on  which  he  still  lives,  pay- 
ing $6.25  an  acre  for  it,  and  since  his  marriage  he 
has  devoted  himself  exclusively  to  farming.  He 
bought  an  old  schoolhouse,  and  moving  it  onto  his 
land,  remodeled  it  into  a  comfortable  dwelling,  and 
he  and  his  family  occupied  it  some  years.  In  1879 
he  erected  a  more  commodious  and  substantial  resi- 
dence, in  which  the  family  have  since  made  their 
home. 

Jan.  9,  1856  Mr.  Wilson  took  a  step  that  had  an 


important  bearing  on  his  after  life,  as  on  that  date 
he  secured  a  good  wife  in  the  person  of  Miss  Pa- 
tience H.  Fairchild.  They  have  one  child  living, 
Emma,  the  wife  of  Smith  S.  Robinson,  of  whom 
see  sketch  on  another  page.  Mrs.  Wilson  was  born 
near  Woodstock,  Champaign  Co.,  Ohio.  Her  fa- 
ther, Harmon  Fairchild,  was  born  in  the  same 
county,  and  was  there  reared  and  married,  and 
there  spent  his  entire  life.  The  maiden  name  of 
his  wife  was  Phoebe  Franklin.  She  was  a  native  of 
Vermont,  and  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Patience 
(DeLong)  Franklin.  They  removed  from  Ver- 
mont to  Ohio  with  teams  in  1813,  and  settled 
among  the  pioneers  of  Greene  County.  Two  or 
three  years  later  they  removed  to  Champaign 
County,  and  there  passed  their  last  days.  Mrs. 
Wilson's  mother  is  living  at  a  venerable  age,  and 
makes  her  home  with  her  daughter. 

Mr.  Wilson  is  well  known  throughout  this  part 
of  Woodford  County,  where  so  many  years  of  his 
life  have  been  passed,  and  it  is  the  united  testimony 
of  all,  that  his  personal  character  is  above  reproach. 
In  him  are  exemplified  the  sagacity,  thrift  and 
cool,  well-balanced  mind  that  are  conspicuous 
traits  of  the  sturdy  New  England  stock.  In  early 
years  Mr.  Wilson  was  a  Democrat  in"  his  political 
views,  but  on  the  formation  of  the  Republican 
party,  sympathizing  with  the  sentiments  of  its 
founders,  he  joined  their  ranks,  and  has  been  an 
advocate  of  Republican  principles  ever  since.  He 
and  his  wife  are  people  of  true  religious  feeling, 
and  as  members  of  the  Union  Church  at  Metamora, 
do  all  they  can  to  advance  the  spiritual  interests  of 
the  community. 


EV.  J.  G.  ZINSER.  It  is-  always  a  pleas- 
ant sight  to  witness  the  happy  old  age  of 
those  who  have  lived  pure  and  spotless 
lives,  and  who  wait  patiently  for  the  call 
of  the  Master  to  cease  from  their  labors.  With 
them,  though  they  rest  after  the  labors  of  life,  yet 
their  works  do  follow  them.  The}'  are  remem- 
bered for  years  after  their  death,  as  representing 


502 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  noblest  and  best  of  earth.  Such  an  one  was  the 
Rev.  J.  G.  Zinser,  who  sleeps  peacefully  after  the 
tumult  of  life,  from  which  he  passed  Oct.  1,  1883. 
He  was  doomed  to  much  suffering  before  his  soul 
was  freed  from  its  tenement  home,  being  for  three 
years  prior  to  his  death  totally  blind,  and  not 
able  to  witness  the  changing  scenes  around  him, 
or  the  faces  of  friends  and  children  so  devoted  to 
him.  He  anxiously  awaited  his  final  rest  with  a 
feeling  expressed  by  the  prophet  Isaiah,  "Return 
unto  me.  I  have  redeemed  thee." 

During  the  greater  part  of  a  long  life  Dr..  Zinser 
was  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  and  belonged  to  the 
Evangelical  Association,  in  whose  interests  he  ac- 
complished much  good.  He  was  a  logical,  fluent 
speaker,  able  to  hold  the  attention  of  an  intelli- 
gent audience  for  a  long  time,  and  to  sow  seed  in 
their  hearts  which  bore  abundant  harvests.  Not 
only  was  he  a  power  in  the  pulpit,  but  in  his  pas- 
toral work  he  was  always  kind,  sympathetic  and 
gentle.  He  was  ever  ready  to  sacrifice  his  interests 
for  the  good  of  others,  and  to  contribute  of  his 
substance  to  succor  the  needy. 

While  a  resident  of  Pennsylvania  Mr.  Zinser  be- 
came of  age,  and  about  that  time  began  to  preach. 
Although  young  at  the  time,  he  was  enabled  to  ac- 
complish much  good  both  in  that  State  and  afterward 
when  he  removed  West  to  Pickaway  County,  Ohio. 
In  the  latter  place  he  built  up  a  church,  which  was 
live,  energetic,  and  consisted  of  a  large,  influential 
membership.  In  March,  1869,  he  located  near  El 
Paso  City,  where  he  purchased  200  acres  of  land. 
But  he  did  not  desist  from  his  efforts  to  spread  the 
Kingdom  of  Christ.  He  continued  until  his  death 
a  hard,  earnest  worker  in  the  Association,  and  was 
probably  the  last  of  that  noble  band  of  pioneers  of 
the  Evangelical  Association,  whose  heroic  labors 
extended  from  ocean  to  ocean,  and  from  the  haunts 
of  the  savages  to  the  highest  civilization  of  the 
East.  Under  the  most  discouraging  circumstances 
and  untold  self-denials,  they  established  the  cause 
of  Christ,  and  spread  the  word  of  God. 

Mr.  Zinser  was  a  native  of  Gaertingen,  Wurtem- 
burg,  and  was  born  Nov.  28,  1806,  being  thus  at 
the  time  of  his  death  only  a  few  weeks  less  than 
seventy-seven  years  of  age.  At  a  very  early  age 
he  accompanied  his  parents  to  America,  settling 


with  them  in  New  York  City.  After  remaining 
there  several  years  they  removed  to  Pennsylvania, 
where  our  subject  grew  to  manhood.  At  the  time 
they  settled  in  that  State,  only  a  few  cabins  stood 
where  now  are  large  cities  and  pleasant  villages. 
Here  Mr.  Zinser  grew  to  manhood,  and  assisted  hia 
father  in  the  cares  of  the  farm.  He  again  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  when 
they  became  residents  of  that  county  in  1837,  and 
there  remained  until  1869,  as  before  stated,  when 
he  sought  the  new  West,  making  his  home  in  El 
Paso  Township,  on  section  9,  where  the  remainder 
of  his  life  was  passed  and  where  his  death  occurred. 

The  faithful  assistant  of  Mr.  Zinser  in  all  his 
labors,  and  his  comforter  in  trouble,  was  his  noble 
wife.  She  was  in  her  youth  Miss  Rebecca,  daugh- 
ter of  Abraham  and  Barbara  (Smith)  Ferner.  She 
was  born  in  Somerset  County,  Pa.,  Nov.  25,  1817, 
and  there  grew  to  womanhood  and  was  married. 
Her  parents,  like  herself,  were  natives  of  Somerset 
County,  Pa.,  being  of  German  ancestry  and  parent- 
age. The  greater  part  of  their  lives  was  spent  in 
Pennsylvania,  where  Mr.  Ferner  was  a  farmer,  but 
later  in  life  they  removed  to  make  their  home  in 
Pickaway  County,  Ohio.  In  that  county  they 
lived  until  their  death,  the  father  dying  at  the  age 
of  sixty-three  years;  but  his  wife  survived  him 
many  years,  and  died  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty- 
two  years.  They  had  been  consistent  members  of 
the  Evangelical  Church,  as  were  also  their  children, 
of  whom  they  had  seven,  three  daughters  and  four 
sons.  Mrs.  Zinser  was  the  fourth  child  in  order  of 
birth,  and  lived  under  the  parental  homestead  until 
her  marriage. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zinser  were  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  but  three  have  preceded  their  remaining 
parent  to  rest.  These  are:  Sarah,  who  died  in  the 
spring  time  of  life,  when  a  maiden  of  twenty  years ; 
Sophia,  the  wife  of  Noah  Dondore,  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty-eight  years;  and  Ezra,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  one  year.  Those  who  remain  are  as  follows: 
Abraham,  a  farmer  in  El  Paso  Township,  and  whose 
wife  was  formerly  Miss  Mary  Measey;  Isaac,  who 
married  Miss  Louisa  Snearer,  and  lives  in  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  printing 
business;  Jacob,  who  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Tina  Wilkinson,  and  is  a  resident  of  Juniata. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


505 


Neb.;  Levi,  who  became  the  husband  of  Miss  Sarah 
Meyers,  and  clerks  in  a  store  in  El  Paso;  Joel,  who 
manages  the  home  farm,  where  he  and  his  wife 
formerly  Martha  Tobias,  make  their  home;  and 
George,  who  also  lives  with  his  mother.  The 
family  usually  attend  the  services  of  the  Evangelical 
Association,  while  politically,  the  sons,  as  well  as 
their  father,  have  always  maintained  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party. 

Our  subject  was  the  son  of  Solomon  Zinser,  who 
was  also  a  native  of  Wurtemburg,  and  by  trade  a 
tailor.  He  married  a  lady  who  was  a  native  of  the 
same  province  as  himself,  and  who  was  in  youth 
Miss  Catherine  Worldboldt.  In  1817  the  parents 
took  their  four  children  and  their  most  important 
worldly  possessions  with  them,  and  removed  to  the 
New  World.  Several  weeks  were  consumed  in  the 
passage  across  the  ocean  and  upon  their  arrival 
the  father  began  work  at  his  trade.  This  he  fol- 
lowed during  the  remainder  of  a  long  life,  and  at 
his  death  left  his  children  the  example  of  honesty 
and  noble  deeds.  Both  he  and  his  wife  lived  to  be 
past  three  score  and  ten  years,  and  were  objects  of 
constant  affection  and  solicitude  on  the  part  of  their 
children,  who  felt  that  to  them  they  owed  all  that 
was  pure  and  good  in  their  life-records. 


ANIEL  H.  DAVISON,  an  expert  mathe- 
matician and  surveyor,  is  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  1857,  at  which  date  he  settled  on 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  10,  Clay- 
ton Township,  where  he  still  resides  and  divides 
his  attention  between  farming  and  surveying.  He 
is  a  New  Yorker  by  birth,  having  opened  his  eyes 
to  the  light  of  day  May  25,  1826,  in  Grafton, 
Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  being  a  son  of  Daniel 
P.  M.  and  Melinda  (Maxon)  Davison,  who  were 
natives  of  the  same  county  as  their  son.  TheDavi- 
sons  are  descendants  of  Nicholas  Davison,  who 
was  born  in  England  in  1611,  and  came  to  Charles- 
ton, Mass.,  as  carry  as  1639,  as  the  agent  of  Mat- 
thew Craddock,  a  merchant  of  London,  and  the  first 
nominal  governor  of  Massachusetts.  The  grand- 


father of  our  subject,  Ezra  D.  Davison,  was  a  hero 
of  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  in  that  terrible 
conflict  he  was  encouraged  by  the  example  of  his 
father,  Asa  Davison,  who  also  served  gallantly 
throughout  the  war.  Asa  Davison  not  only  served 
his  country  in  its  war  for  independence,  but  was 
engaged  with  the  brave  colonists  in  their  struggle 
against  the  French  and  Indians,  throughout  the 
long  period  of  those  troublesome  wars.  The  grand- 
father of  our  subject  was  reared  in  New  York 
State  on  his  father's  homestead,  but  was  born  in 
Nova  Scotia,  whither  his  parents  had  removed 
from  Preston,  Conn.,  the  birth  place  of  the  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject.  The  Davisons  are  not 
only  of  heroic  blood,  but  are  generous,  upright, 
intelligent  and  persevering.  They  are  simple  and 
unostentatious  in  their  manner  of  living,  and  as  a 
result  of  their  temperate  habits  are  generally  long- 
lived. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  one  of  eight  sons 
to  grow  to  manhood.  There  were  also  two  daugh- 
ters in  the  family.  His  early  training  and  educa- 
tion were  secured  on  his  father's  farm,  but  when  a 
young  man  of  sixteen  or  seventeen  he  was  appren- 
ticed to  a  carpenter,  and  served  the  full  term  of 
his  apprenticeship,  studying  in  his  odd  hours  the 
principles  of  building,  especially  taking  great  de- 
light in  all  mathematical  calculations.  His  mar- 
riage and  death  both  took  place  in  his  native  county, 
the  latter  occurring  Jan.  8,  1844,  when  he  was  about 
forty  years  of  age.  Five  children  were  left  to  the 
care  of  his  widow.  Their  names  were:  Daniel  II., 
Almon  A.,  Reuben  S.,  Ezra  M.,  and  Louisa. 
Almon  makes  his  home  in  Mauito,  111.;  Reuben  S. 
is  now  a  resident  of  Saratoga  Springs,  N.  Y.;  Ezra 
M.  was  a  member  of  the  77th  Illinois  Infantry,  and 
contracted  disease  during  his  long  service,  which 
caused  his  death,  in  Minonk  Township,  about 
1876;  Louisa  was  united  in  marriage  at  her  par- 
ents' home  with  Mr.  William  A.  Parks. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  again  united  in 
marriage,  taking  for  her  second  husband  John 
Annsberry.  Being  left  a  widow  again,  she  re- 
moved to  Illinois,  in  the  year  1856,  making  her 
home  with  her  son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  where 
she  resided  until  death  claimed  her  for  his  own, 
Aug.  30,  1871,  being  then  in  her  sixty-fifth  year. 


506 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Our  subject  grew  to  manhood  in  the  Empire 
State,  and  while  still  a  resident  of  that  State  mar- 
ried Miss  Louisa  A.  BIy.  Mrs.  Davison  was  born 
in  Rensselaer  County,  N.  Y.,  March  26,  1829, 
being  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  M.  Bly. 
Our  subject  became  the  owner  of  the  old  home- 
stead, which  was  originallj7  owned  and  improved 
by  bis  great-grandfather,  and  which  had  been  in  the 
possession  of  the  family  from  that  time  until  our 
subject  sold  out  in  1855.  He  then  turned  his  at- 
tention to  topographical  surveying  and  teaching,  for 
which  he  was  well  fitted,  having  received  a  good, 
common-school  education,  and  having  improved 
his  spare  moments  in  becoming  versed  in  the  gene- 
ral news  of  the  day.  He  taught  school  a  term  or 
two,  thus  securing  means  to  attend  the  State  Nor- 
mal School  at  Albany.  There  he  was  making  ex- 
cellent progress,  but  was  obliged  to  leave  before 
graduating,  owing  to  the  misfortune  of  the  family 
homestead  being  burned  to  the  ground.  Our 
subject,  being  the  oldest  of  the  family,  was  obliged 
to  assist  in  rebuilding  and  furnishing  the  necessary 
comforts  for  his  widowed  mother  and  the  younger 
members  of  the  family.  Although  he  failed  to  re- 
ceive his  diploma,  he  was  granted  a  State  certificate 
to  teach,  and  followed  that  profession  in  the  winter, 
occupying  himself  throughout  the  summer  in 
surveying.  He  became  highly  proficient  in  both 
professions.  His  surveying  tours  took  him  to 
Maine,  where  his  operations  extended  through  two 
counties.  He  was  also  employed  in  Massachusetts, 
and  in  three  counties  in  Pennsylvania,  making  a 
topographical  survey  of  five  townships  in  Erie 
County,  thirteen  townships  in  Bradford  County, 
and  all  of  Franklin  County. 

In  1857  Mr.  Davison  came  to  Illinois,  bringing 
the  little  money  that  he  had  saved  with  him,  and 
invested  it  in  eighty  acres  of  raw  prairie  land. 
The  possession  of  this  purchase  was  disputed  by 
the  previous  residents— a  deri  of  wolves  that  occupied 
the  site  on  which  his  residence  now  stands.  He 
bought  the  land  from  the  railroad  company,  paying 
116  per  acre.  Mr.  Davison  had  come  from  a  poor 
section  of  country  in  New  York,  and  thought  when 
he  became  the  owner  of  eighty  acres  of  rich  Illinois 
land  he  would  be  satisfied.  He  went  cheerfully  to 
work,  and  after  wresting  the  land  from  the  possess- 


ion of  his  unwelcome  neighbors — the  wolves —  im- 
proved it  gradually,  adding  fences,  buildings,  etc., 
until  he  was  quite  comfortably  situated.  The 
three  winters  following  his  advent  in  Illinois  he 
taught  school,  employing  the  summer  months  prin- 
cipally in  surveying.  The  monej'  he  saved  after 
paying  expenses  was  invested  in  more  land,  forty 
acres  being  the  first  amount  he  added  to  his  origi- 
nal purchase  of  eighty  acres.  He  has  now  a  fine 
large  farm  of  360  acres,  which  is  well  watered  and 
improved,  and  is  second  to  none  in  the  county. 
An  artesian  well  on  his  place  supplies  an  abundance 
of  pure  cold  water,  which  is  not  only  sufficient  for 
its  owner's  uses,  but  a  few  years  ago  when  a  coal 
shaft  located  near  his  place  was  deprived  of  water, 
they  secured  all  that  was  necessary  for  the  use  of 
the  mines  by  hauling  it  from  his  wells.  His  sur- 
veying expeditions  have  been  numerous  and  exten- 
sive, covering  operations  in  Woodford  and  adjoin- 
ing counties.  He  was  on  the  commission  appointed 
to  survey  Hudson  Township,  McLean  Count}7,  and 
also  resurveyed  Milan  Township,  MaconCounty,  this 
State.  His  accurate  knowledge  of  the  subject  is  so 
well  known  that  he  is  frequently  called  as  a  witness 
in  contested  cases  of  boundary  lines.  He  also  does 
the  surveying  for  all  the  mines  in  this  part  of  the 
State,  and  was  County  Surveyor  of  Woodford 
County  for  eighteen  years.  His  surveys  when  sub- 
jected to  the  decision  of  the  court  have  been  ap- 
proved in  every  instance. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davison  became  the  parents  of 
nine  children:  Ada  C.,  wife  of  Charles  Taylor,  a 
resident  of  Edgar,  Clay  Co.,  Neb:  Mary  M.  died  in 
childhood;  Joseph  A.  is  a  photographer  at  Polo, 
III.;  Daniel  M.,  of  Bloomington,  111.;  William  A. 
resides  in  Minonk;  Cyrus  E.  lives  in  Clayton 
Township;  Minnie  A.  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Fred 
Wilcox,  of  Minonk;  Dexter  H.  and  Oris  M.  are  at 
home. 

Politically,  Mr.  Davison  is  a  stanch  and  true 
Democrat,  and  besides  filling  the  office  of  County 
Surveyor,  he  officiated  as  Superintendent  of  Schools 
when  in  New  York  State.  He  is  a  member  of 
Robert  Morris  Lodge  No.  247,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 
Mr.  Davison  has  taken  a  great  interest  in  mathe- 
matics, many  of  his  problems  having  been  published 
throughout  the  United  States  and  Canada.  He 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


507 


has  composed  many  problems  and  theorems,  and  i 
has  written  many  articles  pertaining  to  that  sub- 
ject, sending  his  contributions  principally  to  the 
School  Visitor  of  Ohio,  which  receives  contribu- 
tions from  many  of  the  first  mathematicians  in  the 
United  States.  In  addition  to  the  fine  estate  on 
which  Mr.  Davison  and  his  interesting  family  make 
their  home,  he  also  owns  considerable  property  in 
Polo,  111. 

No  doubt  the  youthful  mathematicians  of  the 
land  will  be  pleased  to  see  the  portrait  of  the  dis- 
tinguished gentleman,  which  accompanies  this 
biography. 


\l ^  ENRT  BIEBES  is  an  industrious  and  pros- 
perous farmer  and  general  stock-raiser  of 
Woodford  County,  having  been  a  resident 
of  his  present  farm  since  the  year  1863. 
His  farm  is  well  stocked  and  pleasantly  located  on 
section  13,  of  El  Paso  Township.  He  dates  his 
residence  in  this  county  from  the  year  1858,  and 
in  this  township  since  1862,  while  he  first  came  to 
this  State  in  1856.  The  two  years  preceding  his 
settlement  in  this  county,  he  made  his  home  in 
Stephenson  County,  111.,  where  he  had  emigrated 
from  Somerset  County,  Pa. 

Mr.  Biebes  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  May 
16,  1833.  He  is  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Margaret 
(Hitter)  Biebes.  both  natives  of  Baden,  where  they 
were  reared  and  married.  The  father,  Jacob  Biebes, 
was  a  German  soldier,  and  served  his  country  with 
all  the  patriotism  of  a  true,  devoted  ciiizen,  but 
after  some  years  of  service  he  was  disabled,  and  so 
was  compelled  to  leave  service.  Then  he  obtained 
an  office,  in  which  position  he  faithfully  performed 
all  the  duties  required  of  him,  but  was  after  a  time, 
through  no  fault  of  his  own,  removed  from  this 
place,  which  had  supported  himself  and  his  family 
and  kept  the  wolf  of  poverty  and  want  from  the 
door.  He  could  not  obtain  employment,  and  be- 
came discouraged  and  disheartened.  About  this 
time  America  had  commenced  to  offer  a  new  homo 
to  thousands  of  foreigners,  who  removed  to  the 


new  field  of  industry  thus  opened  to  their  eager 
ejres.  Instead  of  being  crowded  in  poor  tenement 
houses  into  which  the  light  of  day  seldom  peeped, 
they  could  go  to  this  new  country,  and  their  chil- 
dren could  grow  to  manhood  and  womanhood 
under  the  healthy  influences  of  pure  air,,  plenty  of 
sunlight,  and  nourishing,  sustaining  food.  Mr. 
Jacob  Biebes  was  not  slow  to  grasp  the  inducements 
thus  offered,  and  in  1835  brought  his  family  to 
America,  and  settled  in  Somerset  County,  Pa. 
This  was  his  permanent  home,  but  not  his  first 
location,  as  the  two  years  succeeding  his  arrival 
were  passed  in  Cambria  County,  Pa.  The  pa- 
rents lived  and  died  in  this  new  home  they  had 
made  across  the  ocean,  the  father  dying  when 
about  eighty  years  of  age,  but  his  wife  passed  to 
her  rest  in  1879,  being  also  about  eighty  years  old. 
They  had  been  during  their  long  lifetime  faithful 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  contributing 
liberally  of  their  means  to  the  maintenance  of  the 
church  in  their  vicinity.  They  had  ten  children, 
five  sons  and  five  daughters. 

Henry  Biebes,  the  subject  of  this  biograpical 
record,  was  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth  of  the  chil- 
dren born  to  his  father  and  mother,  and  was  only 
two  3'ears  of  age  when  his  parents  removed  to  the 
United  States.  The  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  passed  quickly  in  his  new  home  in  Somer- 
set County,  and  there  he  learned  to  assist  in  what- 
ever was  to  be  done.  He  lived  to  be  a  man  in  his 
home  there,  and  after  becoming  of  age,  came  to 
Illinois.  Thus  early  in  life  he  began  to  lay  the 
foundations  of  his  present  comfortable  property. 

The  wife  of  Mr.  Biebes,  to  whom  he  was  united 
in  marriage  Sept.  22. 1859,  was  in  youth  Miss  Emma, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Margaret  (Zorn)  Flamm. 
She  is  a  native  of  Somerset  County,  Pa.,  and  was 
born  in  1835.  Her  father  is  now  deceased,  having 
passed  to  his  final  rest  in  Grundy  County,  111., 
when  he  was  quite  old.  He  had  been  born  in  Ger- 
many, but  when  he  had  reached  years  of  maturity, 
came  to  the  United  States,  and  met  and  married 
his  wife  in  Sorrerset  County,  Pa.  She  was  a  na- 
tive of  Berlin, that  county.  Her  parents  were  also 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  She  has  reached  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  seventy-nine  years,  and  resides  in 
Morris,  Grundy  Co.,  111.  Mrs.  Biebes  has  made 


508 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


her  home  in  Illinois  since  1856,  and  is  the  mother 
of  five  children,  namely  :  Margaret,  wife  of  Thomas 
Sutton,  and  a  resident  of  Palestine  Township;  Lin- 
ford,  Ephraim,  Horace  and  William.  The  latter 
all  remain  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Biebes  stand 
well  in  the  community  in  which  they  have  resided 
for  so  many  years,  and  number  their  friends  by  the 
score  in  their  own  immediate  neighborhood.  Mr. 
Biebes  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Republican 
party  in  Woodford  County,  but  has  never  desired 
public  office. 


'  LFRED  PICKARD  is  classed  among  the 
worthy  citizens  of  the  village  of  Minonk, 
where  he  is  living  in  retirement  in  one  of 
its  most  desirable  homes,  enjoying  a  hand- 
some income,  the  fruit  of  well-directed  labor  and 
judicious  investments.  He  was  for  several  years 
actively  identified  with  the  agricultural  interests  of 
Woodford  County,  owning  and  operating  a  farm 
in  this  township,  which  was  in  all  its  appointments 
comparable  with  the  best  in  the  vicinity. 

Mr.  Pickard  is  of  English  birth  and  antecedents. 
He  was  born  in  Southwick,  Wiltshire,  England, 
Sept.  9,  1817,  being  a  son  of  George  and  Fanny 
(Kaets)  Pickard,  who  were  natives  of  the  same  vil- 
lage as  himself.  In  early  life  our  subject  exhibited 
quite  a  talent  for  drawing,  and  later  he  put  it  to  use 
by  becoming  a  designer  of  fine  woolens  manufact- 
ured in  the  English  mills,  and  he  was  engaged  in  de- 
signing cloth  for  two  companies  for  a  period  of 
fourteen  years,  being  employed  by  the  two  firms 
of  Messrs.  Shepard  &  Co.  and  William  and  John 
Stancomb  &  Co.  He  subsequently  turned  his  at- 
tention to  mercantile  pursuits  and  engaged  in 
Southwick  keeping  store  during  the  remainder  of  his 
stay  in  England.  He  is  next  the  youngest  of  twelve 
children,  and  the  only  one  now  living,  although 
the  others  grew  up  and  married.  In  1865,  ac- 
companied by  his  wife  and  nine  children.  Mr. 
Pickard  came  to  the  United  States,  having  resolved 
to  invest  some  of  his  money  here  and  to  try  life  as 
M  farmer  on  the  rich  soil  of  the  Prairie  State.  He 


located  near  Minonk,  within  half  a  mile  of  the  vil- 
lage, on  a  farm  that  he  purchased  after  his  arrival 
in  Woodford  County.  In  the  following  years  he 
inade  a  vast  number  of  improvements,  placing  the 
land  under  excellent  cultivation,  and  erecting 
suitable,  well-built  and  conveniently  arranged 
buildings,  and  otherwise  greatly  increasing  the 
the  value  of  the  place  over  its  original  cost.  He 
made  his  home  thereon  eight  years,  and  then 
abandoned  agriculture,  and  moving  into  Minonk, 
has  since  lived  a  retired  life,  surrounded  by  all  the 
comforts  and  luxuries  that  heart  could  wish.  Among 
other  property  that  he  owns,  are  eight  substantially 
built  houses  in  Minonk,  from  the  rental  of  which 
he  gains  a  handsome  income. 

Mr.  Pickard  was  twice  married.  His  first  mar- 
riage, which  occurred  Dec.  25,  1839,  was  to  Miss 
Sophia  Bartlett,  a  native  of  Trowbridge,  England, 
where  she  was  born  in  1819.  This  faithful  wife 
walked  by  his  side  nearly  thirty-four  years,  crossing 
the  waters  with  him  to  assist  him  in  founding  anew 
home  in  a  strange  land,  and  here  she  passed  away 
in  October,  1873.  She  was  the  mother  of  twelve 
children,  eleven  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  but  two 
of  thorn  have  since  died — Ellen  Sophia  and  James 
Alfred,  a  younger  brother  now  bearing  the  name  of 
the  latter.  The  names  of  the  others  are  Tom,  a 
resident  of  Minonk;  Job,  who  still  lives  in  England, 
he  having  returned  to  his  native  land  after  a  visit 
of  ten  months  in  the  United  States,  as  he  did  not 
like  this  country;  George  is  in  Gage  County,  Neb.; 
Joseph  is  in  Minonk;  Jane  is  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Lockwood,  Hopeville,  Io«va;  Anna  wife  John  Yil- 
van,  and  lives  near  Pontiac;  Edward  a  resident  of 
Thomas  County,  Kan.;  Alma,  (Mrs.  Ridge)  died 
Aug.  8,  1889,  resided  in  Minonk  township;  Louise 
wife  of  Mark  Kucker.  In  November,  1876  Mr. 
Pickard  was  again  married,  Miss  Rebecca  S.  Lam- 
bert becoming  his  wife.  She  was  born  in  Boston, 
Mass.,  Feb.  7,  1845,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Mary  Y.  Lambert,  likewise  natives  of  Bos- 
ton. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pickard  are  people  of  high  social 
standing  in  this  community,  and  their  pleasant 
home  is  the  seat  of  genuine  hospitality,  as  all  feel 
who  cross  its  threshold.  They  are  connected  with 
the  Baptist  Church,  of  which  Mr.  Pickard  has  been 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


509 


a  consistent  member  since  1 858,  and  has  also  been 
Deacon.  He  is  a  inan  of  true  religious  feeling,  of 
earnest  purpose  and  high  moral  principles.  He  has 
borne  an  unsullied  reputation  throughout  a  long 
and  busy  life,  and  in  regard  to  his  credit  and  re- 
liability it  is  said  of  him  that  "his  word  is  his 
bond." 


o 


lEV.  CHRISTIAN  REESER,  resides  on  a 
fine  farm  of  230  acres  on  section  3,  Mont- 
— >  \  gomery  Township,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
\^the  occupation  of  general-farming  and 
stock-raising,  and,  which  has  been  his  home  since 
1857.  Since  locating  on  this  place  he  has  worked 
diligently,  practicing  a  wise  economy,  and,  being 
possessed  of  shrewd  good  sense,  has  made  money 
rapidly  and  brought  his  farm  under  fine  cultiva- 
tion. The  location  of  his  farm  was  an  excellent 
one  for  the  purpose  of  stock-raising,  being  situated 
on  both  sides  of  the  Mackinaw.  He  also  owns 
another  farm  of  160  acres,  well  located,  in  Arkan- 
sas. 

Mr.  Reeser  is  a  native  of  Lorraine,  Germany, 
but  which  at  the  time  of  his  birth  was  a  portion  of 
France.  He  was  born  in  September,  1819,  being 
a  son  of  French  and  German  parents.  The  father 
of  Mr.  Reeser  was  John,  a  Frenchman,  a  native  of 
Lorraine,  where  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits. 
While  a  soldier  in  France  he  met,  and  afterward 
married  a  German  lady,  who  was  born  and  reared 
in  Germany.  John  Reeser  was  a  brave  French 
soldier,  who  had  left  the  plow  to  shoulder  the  mus- 
ket, gallantly  helping  to  sustain  the  reputation  of 
his  country  for  brilliant  service  in  battle.  He 
died  while  comparatively  a  young  man  at  his 
home  in  Lorraine,  being  thirty-five  years  of  age. 
His  widow  subsequently  came  to  the  United  States 
and  established  herself  in  Indiana,  at  which  place 
she  was  laid  to  rest  at  the  age  of  sixty  years. 
She  and  her  husband  both  died  in  full  hope  of  a 
glorious  immortality,  having  been  members  du- 
ring life  of  the  old  Mennonite  Church. 

Our  subject  was  reared  in  France.  His  educa- 
tion was  conducted  in  the  French  language,  but 


as  is  usual  in  those  border  provinces,  he  also 
learned  to  speak  German.  He  was  about  twenty 
years  old  and  single  when  he  came  to  America 
with  his  mother  in  1839,  his  marriage  taking 
place  some  years  after  in  1852  in  Delaware  County, 
Ind.,  where  he  took  Miss  Barbara  Zimmerman  for 
a  life  partner.  Mrs.  Reeser  was  born  in  Baden, 
Germany,  in  1830,  and  came  to  the  United  States 
with  her  parents,  who  located  on  a  farm  in  Dela- 
ware County,  Ind.,  where  they  resided  until 
released  from  earth's  trials  at  a  good  old  age.  They 
were  good,  industrious,  intelligent  and  religious 
people,  being  worthy  members  of  the  old  school 
Mennonite  Church.  Mrs.  Reeser  was  a  fine,  pleas- 
ant young  woman  when  she  came  with  her  parents 
to  America,  and  was  not  long  in  this  country  be- 
fore she  met  her  fate  in  the  person  of  the  young 
farmer,  who  afterward  became  her  husband. 

Mr.  Reeser  came  to  Montgomery  Township  from 
Delaware  County,  Ind  ,  where  he  had  resided  on  a 
farm  of  his  own  for  about  ten  years.  Previous  to 
his  residence  in  Indiana,  at  which  place  his  mother 
died,  he  had  lived  in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  for 
eight  years,  that  being  the  place  in  which  he  loca- 
ted when  first  coming  to  the  United  States. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reeser  had  a  family  of  thirteen 
children,  one  of  whom,  Andrew  died  when  an  in- 
fant of  three  months.  Those  now  living  are  John, 
the  oldest  of  the  family,  who  married  Phoebe  Mil- 
ler and  makes  his  home  in  the  village  of  Danvers, 
McLean  County,  this  State,  where  he  follows  the 
occupation  of  a  machine  agent;  Anna,  wife  of 
David  Ulrich,  resides  on  a  farm  in  Roanoke  Town- 
ship; Joseph  married  Miss  Emma  Baker,  and  lives 
on  a  farm  in  this  township;  Christian  J.  married 
Miss  Dora  Housholder,  and  lives  on  a  farm  of  his 
own  in  Roanoke  Township;  Fanny,  wife  of  Samuel 
Ulrich  resides  on  a  farm  by  her  father-in-law,  near 
Eureka;  Barbara,  wife  of  Benjamin  Ummel,  re- 
sides on  a  farm  in  McLean  County  near  Blooming- 
ton;  Jacob  A.  makes  his  home  in  Arkansas,  and 
follows  the  profession  of  an  engineer;  Samuel  and 
Lena  E.  are  the  best  educated  of  the  family,  so  far; 
Benjamin  E.,  David  and  Peter  are  at  home.  Lena 
E.  is  the  youngest  of  the  girls,  and  Peter  the 
youngest  of  the  family.  All  the  children  have 
received  a  good  practical  education,  and  have 


510 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


been  encouraged  in  acquiring  good  habits,  and 
are  now  self-supporting.  They  are  bright,  intelli- 
gent, shrewd  in  making  a  bargain,  but  kind  to 
those  in  distress,  hospitable  to  strangers,  good  home 
keepers,  every  one  of  the  family  being  members 
of  the  Omish  Church,  Mr.  Reeser,  being  a  minis- 
ter therein  for  over  thirty  .years.  He  takes  very 
little  part  in  politics,  but  has  held  some  local  offices 
and  endeavors  to  vote  at  each  election  according 
as  his  conscience  and  intelligence  prompt  him. 

The  great  number  of  years,  which  have  elapsed 
since  Mr.  Reeser's  first  connection  with  the  honest 
brethren  of  the  Omish  Church,  together  with  his 
excellent  character  and  well-known  integrity  in  all 
business  matters,  have  contributed  to  make  him  not 
only  a  valued  citizen  but  a  highly  respected  mem- 
ber of  the  Omish  community,  and  he  has  held  the 
position  of  a  minister  amongst  them  for  some 
years. 


— I- 


ENRY  M.  ROBIN.SON,  who  resides  on  sec- 
tion  7,  Montgomery  Township,  is  the  owner 
of  one  of  the  finest  stock  farms  in  Central 
Illinois.  His  entire  life  has  been  passed  in 
.this  county,  and  since  attaining  his  majority  he  lias 
followed  the  business  in  which  he  is  now  engaged. 
He  is  also  one  of  the  most  extensive  land  holders 
of  this  section,  his  possessions  aggregating  2,000 
acres,  the  greater  part  of  which  is  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation  and  well  improved.  The  home 
farm,  one  of  the  best  in  the  county,  is  especially 
adapted  to  the  raising  of  stock.  A  living  spring 
furnishes  an  abundant  supply  of  water,  and  well- 
kept  groves  protect  his  cattle  from  the  burning 
heat  of  summer.  Upon  his  farm  may  always  be 
found  about  500  head  of  cattle,  together  with  a 
large  number  of  horses  and  hogs,  and  his  annual 
shipments  amount  to  more  than  those  of  any  other 
man  in  this  part  of  the  State.  He  possesses  good 
business  ability,  is  judicious  and  methodical,  and 
has  therefore  made  his  life  a  success; 

Our  subject  is  descended  from  one  of  the  promi- 
nent Scottish  families.  One  of  his  ancestors,  to 
whom  the  line  of  descent  is  directly  traced,  served 


his  country  as  a  soldier,  and  was  noted  for  his 
bravery  and  daring  conduct  on  the  field  of  battle. 
He  was  killed  at  the  famous  battle  of  Culloden, 
leaving  to  his  family  an  honored  name.  His  son, 
Benjamin  Robinson,  was  the  founder  of  the  family 
in  America,  and  emigrated  from  his  native  land  to 
this  country  in  the  early  Colonial  days,  becoming  a 
resident  of  West  Virginia.  In  Clarksburg,  that  State, 
he  opened  the  first  store  ever  established  west  of  the 
Allegheny  Mountains,  and  for  some  years  did  a 
flourishing  business  at  that  place.  In  1800  he  re- 
moved to  Ohio  and  purchased  4,000  acres  of  land 
in  Coshocton  County,  in  the  Muskingum  River 
Valley,  that  being  the  smallest  amount  the  Govern- 
ment would  sell.  His  was  one  of  the  first  settle- 
ments made  in  Central  Ohio,  and  on  the  farm 
which  he  developed  in  that  wild  region  he  made 
his  home  until  his  death.  In  Virginia  he  had  mar- 
ried a  Miss  Flemrning,  and  several  children  were 
born  of  their  union. 

One  of  their  number,  Col.  James  Robinson,  was 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject.  He  was  born  in 
Clarksburg,  W.  Va.,  in  1786,  and  when  fourteen 
years  of  age  went  with  the  family  to  Coshocton 
County,  Ohio.  He  succeeded  to  the  estate  on  the 
death  of  his  father,  and  on  the  old  homestead  passed 
his  entire  life.  He  completed  the  work  of  devel- 
oping the  large  tract  of  land,  divided  it  into  good 
farms,  erected  all  necessary  buildings  and  made 
many  other  improvements.  He  also  lived  to  see 
the  entire  county  around  him  transformed  into 
beautiful  farms  and  homes,  and  settled  by  an  intel- 
ligent and  energetic  people.  He  won  his  title  as 
colonel  in  the  War  of  1812,  in  which  he  served 
under  Gen.  Harrison.  He  participated  in  many  of 
the  important  engagements  of  that  struggle,  and 
fought  bravely  in  the  battle  of  the  Thames.  He 
was  well  and  favorably  known,  not  only  in  the  im- 
mediate vicinity  of  his  home  but  for  miles  around 
throughout  the  country,  and  was  a  prominent  and 
influential  citizen.  For  some  years  he  served  as 
Probate  Judge  of  Coshocton  County,  and  held 
other  positions  of  honor  and  trust. 

Col. .Robinson  was  twice  married,  his  first  union 
being  with  Rebecca  Wood,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-six  j'o.irs.  leaving  two  children,  Raymond, 
and  Henry  M..  father  of  our  subject,  both  of  whom 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


511 


are  now  deceased.  He  afterward  married  Phoebe 
Letts,  who  survived  her  husband  a  number  of  years 
and  died  at  an  advanced  age.  Seven  children  were 
born  to  them,  but  nearly  all  of  the  family  are  now 
deceased.  The  Colonel  and  both  wives  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Church.  He  died  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Coshocton  County  in  1853,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-eight  years. 

Henry  M.  Robinson,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Coshocton 
County,  Ohio,  on  the  13th  day  of  June,  1814,  and 
was  reared  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm.  His 
education  was  received  in  the  log  school-house,  so 
common  at  that  day.  He  remained  under  the  pa- 
rental roof  until  twenty-four  years  of  age,  when  he 
set  out  to  try  his  fortune  in  the  West,  and  came  to 
Illinois,  reaching  Woodford  County  in  1838.  After 
locating  some  land  in  Montgomery  Township,  he 
continued  his  journey  to  Iowa,  where  he  spent  one 
year,  engaged  in  buying  and  selling  real  estate  un- 
til 1840,  when  he  again  came  to  this  county,  and 
settled  on  the  farm  which  he  had  previously  pur- 
chased. From  that  time  until  his  death  he  contin- 
ued to  make  his  home  in  Montgomery  Township, 
and  was  numbered  among  its  honored  pioneers  and 
prominent  citizens.  In  1842  he  wedded  Miss  Nancy 
Allison,  a  native  of  Ohio,  who  came  with  her  par- 
ents to  this  country  at  an  early  day,  and  died  Sept. 
7,  1848,  leaving  four  children,  two  of  whom  have 
since  died.  James  E.  is  now  a  resident  of  Eureka, 
and  Mrs.  Rebecca  H.  Chaffer  is  still  living  in 
Washington,  Va. 

The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Robinson  was  cele- 
brated in  Muskingum  County,  when  Miss  Mary 
Little  became  his  wife.  She  was  born  in  New  Jer- 
sey Jan.  14,  1815,  and  when  but  a  year  old  was 
taken  by  her  parents  to  Ohio,  where  she  remained 
until  her  marriage.  After  the  wedding  festivities 
Mr.  Robinson  and  his  bride  started  for  their  west- 
ern home.  They  made  the  journey  in  a  lumber- 
wagon  from  Muskingum  County,  Ohio,  to  Wood- 
ford  County,  111.,  camping  along  the  wayside  to 
cook  their  meals  and  spend  the  night.  At  length 
they  reached  their  destination,  and  from  that  time 
their  lives  were  connected  with  the  history  of  this 
community. 

Mr.  Robinson  was  one  of  the  best-known  men  in 
the  county.  Wherever  he  went  his  gentlemanly  de- 


portment, affable  manners  and  kindness  of  heart  won 
him  many  friends,  whose  confidence  and  high  regard 
he  retained  till  the  last.  He  was  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  of  the  county,  and  cultivated  and  improved 
nearly  2,000  acres  of  land.  He  possessed  many 
excellent  business  qualifications,  was  methodical, 
systematic  and  very  successful  in  all  his  undertak- 
ings. He  died  at  his  home  Jan.  26,  1886,  and  was 
mourned  by  all  who  knew  him.  Another  of  the 
pioneers  was  called  home,  but  he  will  be  long  re- 
membered, for  his  life  is  inseparable  from  the 
history  of  the  county,  in  whose  progress  and  devel- 
opment he  bore  so  prominent  a  part.  In  politics 
he  supported  the  Republican  party  from  its  organ- 
ization, and  religiously,  embraced  the  faith  of  the 
Methodist  Church. 

Mrs.  Robinson  still  survives  her  husband  and  is 
living  with  her  sister,  Mrs.  Cornwell,  in  Washing- 
ton, III.  She  is  a  faithful  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  is  now  (1889)  seventy-five  years  of 
age.  Two  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Robinson — Henry  M.,  of  this  sketch,  and  a  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Martha  L.  Pifer,  of  Eureka,  111. 

Our  subject  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  still 
makes  his  home,  April  14, 1854,  and  there  was  reared 
to  manhood;  while  in  the  district  schools  of  the 
neighborhood  he  received  his  primary  education, 
which  was  supplemented  by  a  course  in  Eureka 
College.  At  an  early  age  he  became  interested  in 
cattle  raising,  and  determined  to  make  that  busi- 
ness his  life  work,  with  what  success  we  have  pre- 
viously seen.  He  is  considered  the  best  judge  of 
stock  in  the  county,  and  his  advice  and  opinion  is 
often  solicited  by  those  who  wish  to  purchase  cat- 
tle. In  1885  he  made  a  trip  to  Ohio,  and  in  Cam- 
bridge, that  State,  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss 
Mary  F.  Broom,  a  native  of  Cambridge,  born  in 
the  year  1854.  He  then  returned  with  his  bride  to 
his  home  in  this  county,  and  they  began  their  do- 
mestic life  upon  the  farm  in  Montgomery  Town- 
ship, but  after  a  few  short  years  had  passed  Mrs. 
Robinson  was  called  home.  She  died  on  the  20th 
day  of  February,  188K,  leaving  one  child,  Eulalia. 

Mr.  Robinson  was  again  married  on  the  13th  of 
June.  1889,  when  Miss  Alice  C.  Nixon  became  his 
wife,  the  wedding  taking  place  at  St.  Paris, Ohio.  The 
lady  was  born  in  Taylor  County,  W.  Va.,  Sept.  20, 


512 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1865,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Catherine 
(Ilayhust)  Nixon.  Her  parents  were  married  and 
have  since  resided  in  Taylor  County,  where  the 
husband  is  engaged  in  farming. 

As  a  citizen  Mr.  Robinson  is  public  spirited  and 
progressive,  and  by  his  influence  and  financial  sup- 
port lias  aided  largely  in  the  advancement  of  those 
enterprises  which  are  for  the  benefit  of  the  com- 
munity. In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  having 
supported  that  party  since  attaining  his  majority. 
Mrs.  Robinson  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  is  a  lady  of  high  social  attainments,  intelligent, 
gracious  and  kind-hearted.  She  was  liberally  edu- 
ucated,  at  St.  Paris  and  Granville,  Ohio,  and  a  few 
years  before  her  marriage  engaged  in  teaching, 
in  which  she  met  with  uniform  success. 

As  one  among  the  most  beautiful  residences  of 
Wood  ford  County,  we  are  pleased  to  present  on 
another  page  a  fine  engraving  of  the  home  of  Mr. 
Robinson  and  his  wife,  where  they  welcome  and 
charmingly  entertain  their  many  friends. 


,ICHARD  O.  COLBURN,  one  of  the  exten- 
sive land-owners  and  honored  pioneers  of 
Wood  ford  County,  residing  on  section  18, 
i[||  Palestine  Township,  has  been  prominently 
identified  with  the  history  of  this  community  since 
1842.  He  has  shared  in  the  trials  and  hardships 
inevitable  to  those  who  make  homes  in  new  and 
unsettled  districts,  has  witnessed  the  growth  and 
progress  of  the  county,  and  has  materially  aided  in 
its  development  and  advancement.  He  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  prosperous  and  substantial 
farmers  of  Palestine  Township,  and  is  well  and 
favorably  known  throughout  the  count}7. 

Mr.  Colburn  was  born  in  Richland  County,  Ohio, 
Oct.  14,  1836,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Phelps1)  Colburn.  On  the  paternal  side  the  family- 
is  of  Irish  descent.  The  father  was  a  native  of 
Grafton,  N.  II.,  and  was  the  fourth  in  a  family  of 
six  children  born  to  Kben  and  Elizabeth  (Burbick) 
Colburn.  Eben  Colburn  was  born  in  Ireland,  but 
in  childhood  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America,  be- 


coming a  resident  of  New  Hampshire,  where  he 
was  reared  to  manhood.  On  reaching  years  of 
maturity  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  the  lady 
of  his  choice,  also  a  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle. 
He  passed  his  entire  life  in  the  Granite  State, 
and  is  numbered  among  the  early  settlers  of  Graf- 
ton  County.  He  made  farming  his  life  occupation, 
and  long  before  planters  had  been  invented,  he 
cleared  the  land,  cut  the  timber  down  and  then 
planted  two  acres  of  wheat  with  a  common  hoe. 
He  was  an  enterprising  industrious  man  and  by  his 
untiring  efforts  secured  a  comfortable  competency, 
but  b}'  going  security  for  those  who  pretended  to 
be  his  friends,  he  lost  nearly  his  entire  possessions 
and  was  in  limited  circumstances  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  passed  to  their  final  rest  in 
Grafton  County,  N.  H.,  at  an  advanced  age.  They 
were  highly  respected  people  and  few  citizens  of 
the  community  had  more  friends.  The  children 
born  of  their  union  were  as  follows:  Eben,  Abigail, 
Benjamin,  John,  Albert  and  Mary  J.  All  grew  to 
manhood  and  womanhood,  were  married  and  reared 
families. 

John  Colburn,  father  of  our  subject,  passed  the 
days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  his  native  county. 
He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Phelps,  whose  early  life 
was  also  passed  in  Grafton  County,  and  who  was 
descended  from  an  old  New  England  family.  The 
young  couple  began  their  domestic  life  in  Grafton 
County,  where  Mr.  Colburn  worked  at  his  trade 
of  stone-cutting,  and  their  two  children  were  born 
unto  them.  Later,  they  removed  thence  to  Al- 
bany, N.  Y.,  where  the  family  circle  was  increased 
by  the  birth  of  two  more  children,  and  subse- 
quently, they  became  residents  of  Richland  County, 
Ohio,  settling  near  Bellville,  where  the  birth  of  our 
subject  occurred.  The  family  continued  to  make 
their  home  in  the  Buckeye  State  for  several  years, 
but  in  an  early  period  of  the  history  of  this  State 
they  came  hither,  settling  in  Perry  County;  there 
they  resided  until  1842,  which  year  witnessed 
their  arrival  in  Woodford  County.  A  short  .time 
afterward  Mr.  Colburn  purchased  land  on  what  is 
now  the  east  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  '25.  Palestine  Township,  and  turned  his 
attention  to  farming,  which  he  carried  on  in 


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PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


515 


connection  with  work  at  his  trade.  The  excite- 
me\t,  novelty  and  wildness  of  frontier  life  seemed 
to  present  great  attractions  to  Mr.  Colburn,  and 
again  he  resumed  his  westward  journey,  this  time 
locating  in  Greenwood  County,  Kansas,  where  his 
death  occurred  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years. 
His  excellent  wife  afterward  became  a  resident  of 
Tazewell  County,  111.,  where  she  died  in  1885,  in 
the  seventy-fourth  year  of  her  age.  This  worthy 
couple  were  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

Our  subject  was  the  fifth  of  a  family  of  nine 
children;  three  sons  and  six  daughters,  of  whom 
four,  he,  and  three  sisters,  are  yet  living.  All  are 
now  married  and  have  families  of  their  own. 
Since  his  sixth  year  Mr.  Colburn  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Woodford  County.  He  was  reared  to 
manhood  within  its  borders,  and  in  the  public- 
schools  of  the  neighborhood  received  his  education. 
Throughout  his  life  he  has  followed  the  occupation 
of  farming,  and  is  one  of  the  extensive  land-owners 
of  the  county.  The  land  on  which  he  makes  his 
home  is  situated  on  section  18,  Palestine  Township, 
and  the  entire  tract  is  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation. He  is  a  practical  and  progressive  farmer 
and  displays  good  business  ability  and  sound  judg- 
ment in  his  investments.  He  now  owns  1000  acres 
of  land,  which  he  has  acquired  by  his  own  efforts 
and  his  industrious  life  might  well  be  taken  as  an 
example  by  young  men,  who,  having  but  limited 
capital  with  which  to  begin  life's  battle,  are  de- 
pendent almost  entirely  upon  their  own  exertions 
and  resources. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  perseverance  and  indus- 
try of  Mr.  Colburn  it  will  be  interesting  to  the 
readers  to  learn  how  he  procured  his  first  horse. 
At  the  age  of  thirteen  years  he  hired  out  to  work 
for  a  neighbor  during  the  summer,  for  which  the 
latter  was  to  cultivate  five  acres  of  corn.  The 
corn  was  given  by  our  subject  to  his  father  for 
mill  feed,  and  was  fed  to  some  shoats.  These  and 
a  calf  were  sold  and  a  colt  purchased  with  the 
proceeds,  but  it  left  the  lad  $3  in  debt.  To  raise 
this  money  he  worked  an  entire  month  for  a  rela- 
tive near  Peoria.  The  following  summer  he  bought 
a  one-horse  wagon,  and  cultivated  a  five  acre  field 
near  Bowling  Green.  By  this  time  his  colt  had 
grown  to  be  a  fine,  large  horse,  and  he  forthwith 


traded  it  for  two  colts,  paying  a  slight  difference. 
Later,  he  exchanged  the  colts  for  two  yoke  of 
oxen,  and  added  to  this  collection  another  yoke  of 
unbroken  steers,  which  he  trained.  With  them  he 
began  breaking  prairie,  being  engaged  in  this  pur- 
suit for  the  ensuing  six  years  from  the  1st  of  May 
until  the  middle  of  July  or  the  1st  of  August,  and 
for  the  rest  of  the  season  was  employed  in  thresh- 
ing. In  the  spring  of  1859  he  bought  eighty  acres 
of  land  from  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  his  oxen 
the  autumn  before,  and  to  this  has  added  until  his 
farm  has  attained  its  present  goodly  proportions. 
So  as  the  ''little  drops  of  water  make  the  rivulets, 
then  grow  to  rivers,  and  finally  swell  into  mighty 
seas  and  oceans,"  thus  prudent  economy  has  brought 
its  usual  reward  to  our  subject,  and  the  little  with 
which  he  started  in  life's  battles  has  grown  to  a 
comfortable  property. 

Mr.  Colburn  was  married  in  Palestine  Township, 
the  IadjT  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Jane  Manor,  who 
was  born  in  Lucas  County,  Ohio,  July  30,  1840, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Peter  and  Minerva  (Rich- 
ardson) Manor.  Both  parents  have  now  passed 
awayi  their  eyes  resting  for  the  last  time  upon  the 
scenes  of  earth  in  Lucas  Count}'.  They  left  a  fam- 
ily of  four  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Colburn  is  the 
eldest.  She  was  twelve  years  of  age  when  she 
came  to  Illinois  to  make  her  home  with  her  uncle, 
James  M.  Richardson  of  this  county,  and  here  she 
became  acquainted  with  Mr.  Colburn.  Nine  chil- 
dren have  been  born  of  their  union — William  the 
eldest,  married  Emma  Ziems,  and  is  now  engaged 
in  farming  in  Palestine  Township.  The  other 
children — Mary,  John,  Rosalia,  Gary,  Geneva, 
Cecil,  Lenona  and  Byron,  are  still  at  home.  The 
parents  have  spared  neither  labor  or  expense  in 
providing  their  children  with  liberal  educational 
advantages,  thereby  fitting  them  for  the  practical 
duties  of  life.  Gary,  Mary  and  Rosalia  attended 
the  Normal  University  at  Normal,  111.  Rosalia  is 
a  highly  esteemed  and  efficient  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  at  El  Paso. 

The  Colburn  household  is  noted  for  its  hospital- 
ity and  the  many  friends  of  the  fanily  are  sure  of  a 
hearty  welcome.  They  attend  the  Christian  Church, 
and  by  all  who  know  them  ar-i  held  in  the  highest 
regard.  In  political  sentiment,  Mr.  Colburn  is  a 


516 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Democrat,  and  a  representative  citizen  of  the  com- 
munity. He  feels  a  just  pride  in  the  progress  and 
prosperity  of  the  county  in  which  he  has  so  long 
made  his  home,  and  in  whose  upbuilding  and  ad- 
vancement he  has  born  no  inconsiderable  part.  As 
an  honored  pioneer  and  upright  man,  he  is  well 
deserving  of  a  representation  in  this  volume,  and  it 
is  with  pleasure  that  we  record  his  sketch. 

A    lithographic    engraving   of    Mr.    Colburn's 
home  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


)  AMES  MILTON  DAVISON,  son  of  a  promi- 
nent  pioneer  family  of  Tazewell  County,  and 
a  native  of  that  part  of  Illinois,  born  in 
Groveland,  April  18,  1846,  is  now  one  of 
the  most  conspicuous  of  the  energetic  and  success- 
ful farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  Woodford  County, 
who  have  had  a  hand  in  placing  her  among  the 
first  counties  of  the  State  as  a  great  agricultural 
center,  and  he  is  among  the  foremost  in  sustaining 
her  prosperity.  He  resides  on  section  2,  Linn  Town- 
ship, where  he  owns  a  large  and  finely-improved 
farm,  and  he  is  besides  connected  with  the  farming 
interests  of  two  other  counties  in  this  State,  Living- 
ston and  McLean,  owning  valuable  farms  in  each. 
Our  subject  comes  of  an  old  New  York  family, 
and  represents  good  stock.  His  father.  Squire 
Rowland  Davison,  was  born  in  Grafton,  Rensselaer 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  a  son  of  Ezra  Davison,  a  native  of  the 
same  State,  and  a  son  of  one,  Asa  Davison,  who  is 
supposed  to  have  been  born  in  that  commonwealth. 
The  latter  was  a  soldier  in  the  Indian  War  and 
also  took  part  in  the  Revolution,  as  did  his  son 
Asa,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject.  His  two 
grandfathers  spent  their  last  years  in  Grafton. 
The  father  of  our  subject  learned  and  followed 
the  trade  of  a  mason  some  years  in  his  native 
State.  He  first  visited  Illinois  in  1835,  making  his 
way  on  foot  to  Buffalo,  where  he  embarked  on  a 
boat  to  take  the  voyage  on  the  lakes  to  Chicago, 
and  from  that  then  small  village  he  proceeded  on 
foot  to  Tazewell  County,  for  the  purpose  of  seeing 
his  brother,  who  had  located  there,  and  of  making 


a  claim  to  some  land  if  he  liked  the  country.  There 
were  but  few  settlements  there  at  that  time,  and 
scarely  any  improvements  had  been  made  looking 
toward  a  more  advanced  state  of  civilization.  The 
land  was  owned  by  the  Government,  and  after  se- 
lecting a  tract  in  Groveland,  Mr.  Davison  left  the 
money  with  his  brother  to  enter  it  as  soon  it  came 
in  the  market.  He  then  returned  to  his  old  home  in 
New  York  State,  and  worked  steadily  at  his  trade  the 
ensuing  two  years  to  obtain  the  necessary  funds  to 
enable  him  to  locate  on  his  land  and  commence  its 
improvement.  In  1837,  with  his  wife  and  two  chil- 
dren, he  then  started  on  the  tedious  journey  for  the 
Prairie  State,  traveling  this  time  with  a  team,  and 
camping  and  cooking  by  the  way  whenever  they 
desired.  After  his  arrival  he  built  a  log  cabin  on 
his  land,  and  in  that  rude  abode  our  subject  was 
born.  There  were  no  railways  in  the  State  for 
many  years,  and  for  a  long  time  Peoria,  several 
miles  away,  was  his  nearest  market.  He  improved 
his  land,  lived  on  it  until  1856,  and  then  sold  it, 
and  coming  to  Linn  Township,  bought  240  acres 
of  wild  prairie  land.  This  part  of  the  county  at 
that  time  was  but  little  improved,  and  deer  were 
to  be  seen  on  the  prairies.  He  was  a  resident  here 
till  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1867.  He  had 
been  very  successful  as  a  farmer,  and  had  accumu- 
lated much  valuable  property,  including  upwards 
of  700  acres  of  choice  farming  land.  The  maiden 
name  of  the  mother  of  onr  subject  was  Amanda 
M.  West.  She  was  born  in  the  same  county  as  her 
husband,  and  spent  her  last  years  with  her  children 
in  Montana.  Six  of  the  children  born  of  her  mar- 
riage are  still  living:  Ezra  D.  is  a  resident  of 
Idaho;  Diadama  L.  married  Enoch  Nye,  and  they 
live  in  Montana;  Asa  L.  lives  in  Montana;  Sarah 
M.  married  David  Ritenour,  and  they  live  in  Mon- 
tana; Mary  A.  married  George  Ritenour,  and  they 
live  in  Montana. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  sketch  was  a 
lad  of  ten  years  when  he  accompanied  his  parents 
to  this  county.  He  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm 
in  his  youthful  days,  and  attending  the  district 
school,  he  gained  the  preliminaries  of  a  liberal  edu- 
cation, which  was  further  advanced  by  a  fine  course 
of  study  at  Shurtleff  College,  Alton,  in  which  in- 
i  stilution  of  learning  he  was  a  student  three  years. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


517 


He  lived  with  his  parents  until  after  his  father's 
death.  He  has  always  devoted  himself  to  farming 
and  stock-raising,  for  which  he  has  a  peculiar  apti- 
tude, and  he  has  met  with  extraordinary  success  in 
his  calling.  His  farm  is  well-stocked,  and  he  has  as 
fine  a  herd  of  thoroughbreds  as  is  to  be  seen  in  the 
township.  His  home  farm  comprises  320  acres  of 
land  under  perfect  cultivation,  and  provided  with 
all  the  modern  improvements  and  conveniences. 
He  has  besides,  a  160-acre  farm  two  and  one-half 
miles  from  Pontiac,  in  Livingston  County,  and 
another  of  the  same  size  in  Martin  Township,  Mc- 
Lean County. 

Mr.  Davison  and  Miss  Louise  E.  Scriven  were 
united  in  marriage  Sept.  2,  1870,  and  six  children 
have  been  born  to  them:  Alice  I.,  Sarah  M.,  Ida 
B.,  James  E.,  Squire  Rowland  and  Le  Roy.  Mrs. 
Davison  was  born  in  New  York,  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  Scriven. 

A  man  of  Mr.  Davison's  education  and  personal 
endowments  naturally  has  weight  and  influence  in 
the  public  life  of  the  township,  and  his  fellow-citi- 
zens have  gladly  availed  themselves  of  his  counsel 
and  wisdom  in  carrying  out  schemes  for  local  im- 
provement, and  for  advancing  the  educational  in- 
terests of  the  community,  and  he  has  been  the 
incumbent  of  several  responsible  offices,  as  those 
of  Township  Treasurer,  Township  Trustee,  Asses- 
sor, Collector,  Road  Commissioner,  School  Direc- 
tor, and  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  in  each  and  all 
of  these  positions  he  has  done  his  duty  with  an  eye 
single  to  the  public  good.  In  him  the  Republican 
party  finds  a  fearless  and  outspoken  champion.  Re- 
ligiously, he  and  his  wife  hold  to  the  Baptist  faith, 
and  are  members  in  high  standing  in  that  church. 


DAM  KIEF.  No  nationality  on  the  face 
of  the  earth  has  made  itself  more  sensibly 
felt  in  most  all  portions  of  the  globe,  than 
that  emanating  from  the  Fatherland.  Es- 
pecially has  this  been  observable  in  the  growth  and 
development  of  America  generally,  and  the  broad 
prairies  of  Illinois  were  first  opened  up  to  a  large 


extent  by  the  perseverance,  thrift  and  prudence  of 
the  German  element.  They  brought  to  this  coun- 
try those  qualities  of  character  greatly  needed,  and 
have  proven  themselves  to  be  the  most  reliable  and 
substantial  citizens  coming  from  a  foreign  shore. 
Among  those  who  have  signalized  themselves  as 
the  promoters  of  the  best  interests  of  Woodford 
County,  locating  in  Olio  Township,  may  be  prop- 
erly mentioned  the  subject  of  this  notice. 

We  find  Adam  Kief  comfortably  situated  on  a 
well-tilled  farm  of  160  acres,  occupying  a  portion 
of  section  33.  The  substantial  buildings,  the  goodly 
assortment  of  live  stock,  and  the  farm  machinery 
which  has  successfully  cultivated  a  soil  naturally 
productive,  are  ample  evidence  of  the  character  of 
the  proprietor.  A  self-made  man,  he  was  thrown 
upon  his  own  resources  early  in  life,  and  deserves 
great  credit  for  the  position  which  he  occupies  to- 
day, socially,  and  financially.  He  was  born  near 
Heidelberg,  May  24,  1830,  and,  although  fifty-nine 
years  old,  is  still  strong  and  vigorous  and  good  for 
many  years  to  come. 

Mr.  Kief  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  place, 
and  remained  there  until  a  young  man  of  twenty- 
two  years.  Then  not  satisfied  with  his  condition, 
or  his  prospects,  he  resolved  to  cross  the  Atlantic, 
and  seek  his  fortunes  in  a  new  country.  Landing 
in  the  city  of  New  Orleans,  he  made  his  way  to 
Pekin,  this  State,  via  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois 
rivers,  and  accompanied  by  his  parents  and  the  bal- 
ance of  their  family.  He  was  a  resident  of  Taze- 
well  County  six  or  seven  years  thereafter,  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  on  the  18th  of  August, 
1856,  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Baker.  The 
newly  wedded  pair  began  the  journey  of  life  to- 
gether on  a  rented  farm.  After  eleven  years  of 
renting,  he  purchased  his  present  farm  about  1869. 
By  their  industry  and  economy  they  have  built  up 
for  themselves  a  valuable  homestead,  while  their  in- 
fluence over  their  children  and  those  around  them, 
has  been  such  that  their  names  will  be  held  in  honor 
long  after  they  have  departed  hence. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kief,  there  have  been  born 
seven  children,  viz:  Peter,  John,  Catherine,  Willie, 
Daniel,  Lizzie,  and  Anna.  Peter  and  Catherine 
died  young.  The  other  children  remain  at  home 
with  their  parents,  except  John,  who  has  arrived  at 


518 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


his  majority,  and  is  working  for  himself.  The  chil- 
dren form  a  most  interesting  group,  being  trained 
to  habits  of  industry,  and  those  principles  which 
will  make  of  them  honest  and  honored  citizens. 
Mrs.  Kief  is  the  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Elizabeth 
Baker,  who  were  natives  of  Germany,  and  spent 
their  last  years  in  Olio  Township.  Mrs.  Kief  is 
also  a  native  of  the  Fatherland,  and  was  born  Jan. 
8,  1836.  She  came  to  America  with  her  parents  in 
1851,  when  a  maiden  of  fifteen  years.  Both  she 
and  her  husband  are  members  in  good  standing  of 
the  Evangelical  Church.  Mr.  Kief,  in  addition  to 
to  general  agriculture,  is  largely  engaged  in  stock- 
raising,  in  which  industry  he  has  been  highly  suc- 
cessful. He  is  numbered  among  the  solid  and 
substantial  residents  of  Olio  Township,  and  materi- 
ally increases  the  internal  revenue  of  the  county  by 
paying  into  its  treasury  annually  a  snug  sum  in  the 
way  of  taxes.  This  fact  places  him  upon  record  as 
one  of  the  substantial  property  holders  of  his  town- 
ship. 

Rudolph  Kief,  the  father  of  our  subject,  lived 
k-ss  than  a  year  after  coming  to  America,  and  the 
mother  was  taken  away  by  death  the  year  follow- 
ing. They  were  the  parents  of  fifteen  children, 
seven  of  whom  are  living. 


[OHN  P.  SLYTER.  The  Eureka  Progress  is 
l!  rightly  named,  and  has  received  an  especial 

,  impetus  since  coming  into  the  hands  of  its 
(figs/*'  present  editor  and  proprietor,  the  subject  of 
this  notice.  The  Progress  was  established  in  1886, 
and  in  August,  1887,  the  office  and  material  was 
leased  by  our  subject,  who  conducted  it  success- 
fully until  the  spring  of  1888,  when  he  purchased 
the  entire  outfit.  The  paper  then  had  but  a  com- 
paratively small  circulation,  but  under  its  present 
management  its  subscription  list  has  been  largely 
increased — in  fact,  more  than  doubled — and  it  is 
thoroughly  appreciated  by  the  people  along  the 
central  part  of  the  State.  Mr.  Slyter  takes  pride 
in  his  work,  and  as  a  journalist  keeps  himself  thor- 
oughly posted  upon  those  subjects  most  likely  to 


be  of  interest  to  his  readers.  He  is  a  man  of  de- 
cided talent  as  a  writer,  while  his  business  abilities 
are  such  as  will  continue  the  Progress  upon  a  sound 
footing  financially. 

Mr.  Slyter  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  having  been 
born  in  Gardner,  Grundy  County,  May  24,  1857. 
When  he  was  but  a  child  of  two  years  old,  his  pa- 
rents removed  to  Woodford  County,  where  he  lived 
until  a  youth  of  fifteen  years,  and  then  entered 
the  office  of  Emanuel  Lowry,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained fifteen  months,  and  obtained  his  first  knowl- 
edge of  the  printing  business.  A  part  of  this  time 
was  spent  in  Gibson,  111.,  and  upon  leaving  Mr. 
Lowry.  he  entered  the  office  of  the  Sentinel,  at  Met- 
amora,  where  he  remained  four  or  five  years. 

Later  Mr.  Slyter  was  employed  in  different  offices 
at  El  Paso,  Peoria,  and  Minonk,  and  in  August, 
1887,  he  leased  the  printing  office  of  F.  M.  Bolt, 
who  was  then  proprietor  of  the  Progress,  which 
paper  and  job  department  he  managed  with  such 
success  financially,  that  he  was  encouraged  to  as- 
sume its  proprietorship.  The  paper  was  then  a 
five-column  sheet,  enjoying  but  very  little  adver- 
tising patronage.  It  is  now  a  six-column  folio, 
with  its  advertising  space  enlarged,  and  the  balance 
well  filled  with  local  and  general  news,  and  miscel- 
laneous matter.  It  is  admirably  adapted  to  the  re- 
quirements of  its  readers,  and  its  subscription  list 
is  rapidly  increasing  in  Eureka  and  the  surround- 
ing towns. 

Mr.  Slyter  and  his  little  family  occupy  a  snug 
home  in  the  western  part  of  the  city,  which  is  the 
frequent  resort  of  its  cultivated  and  intelligent 
people.  The  presiding  genius  of  his  home,  was 
formerly  Miss  Jennie  L.  Nichols,  and  they  were 
married  July  22,  1883.  Mrs.  Slyter  was  born  Jan. 
28,  1857,  in  Groveland,  111.,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
John  Nichols,  of  Tazewell  County,  this  State.  Mrs. 
Slyter,  at  the  time  of  her  marriage,  was  Deputy 
Postmistress  of  Metamora.  Of  her  union  with  our 
subject  there  have  been  born  two  children,  Roy  L., 
and  PlumaF.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slyter  are  mem- 
bers in  good  standing  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  are  popular  in  the  social  circles  of 
their  community. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  DeWitt  C.  and 
Susannah  (Stewart)  Slyter,  the  former  a  native  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


519 


New  York  State,  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  After 
their  marriage  they  settled  in  Grundy  Count}',  111., 
whence  they  removed  to  Woodford  County,  in 
1859,  settling  at  Eureka,  where,  with  the  exception 
of  two  years  spent  at  Metamora,  they  have  since 
lived.  They  had  a  family  of  seven  children,  four 
of  whom  are  living,  and  residents  of  Eureka.  The 
family  is  well-known  and  highly  respected. 


JOHN  POLHEMUS,  now  deceased,  was  a 
prominent  farmer  of  Palestine  Township, 
|  and  is  well  worthy  of  representation  in  the 
'  permanent  record  of  Woodford  County's 
pioneer  settlers  and  honored  citizens.  He  was  born 
on  the  26th  day  of  May,  1831,  in  Clark  County, 
near  Yellow  Springs,  Ohio,  and  was  a  son  of  John 
Polhemus,  Sr.,  a  farmer  of  the  Buckeye  State,  who 
died  in  Clark  County  at  a  ripe  old  age. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  to  farm 
life  and  in  the  public  schools  of  the  community 
where  lie  made  his  home,  received  his  education. 
On  arriving  at  man's  estate,  he  led  to  the  marriage 
altar  Miss  Emeline  Miller,  the  ceremony  taking 
place  in  Butler  County.  Mrs.  Polhemus  was  born 
in  Union  Township,  that  county,  on  the  15th  day 
of  February,  1830,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Margaret  Miller.  Her  mother  had  been  married 
prior  to  her  union  with  Mr.  Miller.  Her  maiden 
name  was  Margaret  Baxter,  and  at  her  first 
marriage  she  became  Mrs.  Cummings.  When  she 
united  her  destiny  with  that  of  Mr.  Miller,  they 
located  upon  a  farm  in  Union  Township,  Butler 
County,  where  the  death  of  the  father  occurred  in 
1852,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years,  his  wife  survi- 
ving until  Nov.  8,  1866,  when  she  too  was  called 
to  her  final  rest  at  the  age  of  seventy  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Polhemus  also  began  their  domes- 
tic life  in  Butler  County,  where  was  born  unto 
them  one  child.  In  1854,  bidding  good-by  to  their 
home  in  the  Buckeye  State,  they  traveled  Westward 
until  reaching  Woodford  County,  111.,  where  they 
located.  For  two  years  they  made  their  home  on 
a  farm  in  Palestine  Township,  when  they  removed 


to  Olio  Township,  where  they  spent  the  succeeding 
four  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  they 
became  residents  of  Secor,  where  Mr.  Polhemus 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  On  the  25th  day 
of  July,  1867,  an  awful  storm  raged,  the  house  was 
struck  hy  lightning  and  he  was  instantly  killed. 
At  his  death  the  community  lost  one  of  its  best 
citizens,  his  neighbors  a  kind  and  accommodating 
friend,  and  his  family  a  tender  and  loving  husband 
and  father.  He  had  many  friends,  but  few,  if  any, 
enemies,  and  his  loss  was  sincerely  mourned.  He 
had  been  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Secor, 
was  one  of  its  enterprising  and  successful  business 
men,  and  always  did  what  he  could  to  advance  its 
best  interests. 

Mrs.  Polhemus  still  survives  her  loved  husband, 
and  is  now  making  her  home  with  her  son,  who 
resides  on  a  farm  near  Secor.  She  was  the  mother 
of  three  children,  two  of  whom  are  yet  living: — 
Sarah-  M.,  the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of  C.  A.  Brown,  a 
carpenter  of  Colfax,  111.,  and  unto  them  has  been 
born  one  child.  Jessie;  W.  Ross,  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  Palestine  Township,  is  now  engaged  in 
farming  on  section  6,  that  township,  where  he  owns 
seventy  acres  of  well  improved  land.  He  was 
united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  with  Miss 
Maggie  Gish.  and  they  are  now  the  parents  of  two 
children — Lydia  E.,  and  Roy  G.  He  is  numbered 
among  the  energetic  and  industrious  young  farmers 
of  the  community,  is  an  efficient  and  capable  man- 
ager and  possesses  good  business  ability.  Like  his 
father,  he  supports  the  Democratic  party,  and  feels 
a  dee])  interest  in  political  affairs.  Mary  O.,  the 
youngest,  became  the  wife  of  J.  A.  Jones,  now  of 
Kansas,  and  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years. 


AMES  PA  DIN.  There  are  many  Irish  at 
present  residing  in  Woodford  County,  and 
among  them  this  gentleman  is  held  in  the 
1]  highest  respect,  as  representing  the  best 
elements  of  their  nationality.  Not  only  lias  he 
many  friends  among  those  of  his  own  nation,  but 
is  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him,  whatever  may 


520 


PORTRAIT  ANH  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


be  their  nativity.  He  possesses  a  large  amount  of 
historical  knowledge  and  is  public-spirted,  intelli- 
gent, and  interested  in  whatever  tends  to  promote 
the  county  and  elevate  the  condition  of  society. 
He  has  been  an  extensive  traveler  and  has  visited 
many  lands,  but  has  apparently  not  found  the  wife 
of  his  choice,  at  any  rate  he  keeps  bachelor's  hall, 
in  a  seemingly  contented  and  satisfied  manner.  But, 
althoughwith  him  the  gulf  stream  of  youth  is  flowing 
toward  the  arctic  regions  of  age,  yet  he  ever  pre- 
serves the  geniality  and  warm-heartedness  which 
characterized  him  in  earlier  years.  He  is  a  man  of 
sterling  worth,  whose  word  is  believed  to  "nail  the 
subject  to  the  wall".  He  has  been  an  interested,  in- 
telligent reader,  and  has  always  kept  himself 
posted  on  the  general  topics  of  the  day,  and  this, 
in  connection  with  his  extensive  traveling,  has 
contributed  to  his  share  of  knowledge,so  that  now  he 
is  the  possessor  of  much  valuable  information,  the 
result  of  his  own  study.  His  early  education  was  nec- 
essarily limited,  and  most  of  it  was  obtained  under 
the  immediate  instruction  of  his  father,  who  ever 
sought  to  train  his  son  for  future  usefulness; 

Mr.  Padin  was  presumably  born  in  September, 
1829,  and  the  land  of  his  birth  was  the  Emerald 
Isle.  Here  he  passed  the  days  of  boyhood  and 
youth,  but  when  he  had  attained  the  age  of  about 
eighteen  years  he  concluded  to  emigrate  to  America, 
which  was  believed  to  contain  an  "Aladdin's  lamp" 
or  a  "Fortunatus'  purse."  Although  the  extrava- 
gant ideas  then  held  about  this  country  have  all 
been  dissipated  before  stern  reality,  yet  Mr.  Padin 
has  considered  this  change  of  his  a  very  happy 
one.  Instead  of  being  the  owner  of  only  a  few 
yards  of  ground,  as  he  would  have  been  in  Ire- 
land, he  now  owns  eighty  acres  of  land,  which  he 
has  been  the  means  of  bringing  to  a  high  state  of 
cultivation,  and  redeeming  from  a  wet,  raw,  and 
even  swampy  wilderness.  When  he  left  his  native 
island  he  took  passage  from  the  port  of  Liverpool  on 
an  American  sailing-vessel,  'the  "  Andrew  Foster," 
of  the  Red  Star  line.  Then  an  ocean  voyage,  was 
very  different  from  what  it  now  is.  We  regard  it 
as  a  pleasure  trip  of  a  few  days,  and  expect  to  be 
within  reach  and  sight  of  land  after  a  passage  of 
ten  days  at  most  in  crossing  the  Atlantic.  Cer- 
tainly America  has  just  reason  to  be  proud  of  Robert 


Fulton,  to  whom  the  honor  of  the  invention  of 
steamers  is  due,  and  his  little  journey  up  the  Hud- 
son River  in  1812,  was  the  most  important  trip 
ever  made  since  the  discovery  of  America.  At 
the  time  Mr.  Padin  came  over  to  the  United  States 
he  was  compelled  to  spend  over  two  months  on  the 
ocean,  and  it  was  with  pleasure  that  the  voyagers 
finally  saw  land  in  the  distance,  and  at  last  were 
safely  anchored  in  New  York  City.  Mr.  Padin 
did  not  immediately  seek  the  great  and  growing 
West,  but  labored  at  various  occupations  for  many 
years.  It  was  in  1868  that  he  settled  on  the  farm 
which  is  now  his  home,  and  which  is  pleasantly  lo- 
cated on  section  25  in  Panola  Township.  He 
bought  160  acres  of  land,  which  he  has  changed  to 
its  present  cultivated  appearance.  He  now  owns 
eighty  acres  of  land,  having  sold  one-half  of  his 
original  purchase.  All  his  property  he  has  accu- 
mulated \>y  his  own  industry,  as  he  had  no  one  to 
start  him  in  life.  He  is  a  prominent  Republican 
in  bis  adopted  home,  and  is  ever  true  to  party 
ties.  He  is  also  identified  with  the  Catholic  Church, 
and  is  a  liberal  supporter  of  that  religion,  both  in 
the  way  of  financial  aid  and  in  all  other  means  of 
accomplishing  good.  lie  has  watched  witli  interest 
the  gradual  growth  of  the  country,  and  with  pride 
can  point  to  his  share  in  the  good  result  obtained. 
Surely  such  worthy  citizens  are  deserving  of  being 
perpetuated  in  their  names  and  works  through  the 
pages  of  this  ALBUM. 


fjl  OHN  J.  TJADEN  is  one  of  the  extensive  far 
mers  and  stock  raisers  of  Woodford  County 
and     occupies    a    prominent    place    among 
the  leading-  agriculturists  of  Linn  Township, 
whose  highest  interests  lie  is  thus  subserving.     He 
owns  one  of  the  largest  farms  in  this   part  of  the 
county,    whose    broad,    smiling    fields    yield    him 
abundant   harvests   in   due  season,  and  in  its  rich 
pastures  graze  fine  herds  of  cattle  and  horses. 

Our  subject  is  the  son  of  the  well-known  Jacob 
and  Maria  Tjaden  (of  whom  see  sketch  on  another 
page  in  this  volume).  He  was  born  in  the  Prov- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ince  of  Hanover,  Germany,  Aug.  18, 1846,  and  was 
in  his  tenth  year  when  his  parents  brought  him  to 
America,  and  his  life  has  since  been  passed  in  Illinois. 
He  remembers  attending  school  in  Germany,  where 
he  gained  the  basis  of  his  education,  completing  it 
in  the  public  schools  of  Woodford  County,  where 
he  was  reared  to  man's  estate  and  has  passed  the 
most  of  his  life.  As  soon  as  he  was  large  enough, 
he  began  to  work  on  his  father's  farm,  and  from 
him  gained  a  sound,  practical  knowlege  of  the  best 
methods  of  carrying  on  farming.  He  made  his 
home  with  his  parents  until  his  marriage,  when  he 
established  one  of  his  own,  settling  at  that  time  on 
his  present  farm.  His  success  as  a  stock  raiser  and 
general  farmer  has  been  great.  Inheriting  the  sa- 
gacity, far-sighted  forethought,  and  large  round- 
about.common  sense  so  characteristic  of  his  father, 
together  with  industrious,  methodical  habits,  he  has 
worked  to  a  purpose,  and  has  accumulated  a  valu- 
able property.  His  farm  comprises  587  acres  of 
land  of  surpassing  fertility,  on  which  he  has 
erected  a  neat  and  substantial  set  of  buildings,  in- 
cluding a  commodious  brick  house  and  large  frame 
barns,  and  has  it  well  stocked  with  Short-horn  cat- 
tle of  excellent  grade. 

March  11,  1873,  the  marriage  of  our  subject  to 
Miss  Tjaka  Reuben,  was  consumated,  and  much  of 
his  success  in  life  has  been  brought  about  by  her  en- 
couragement and  co-operation.  They  became  the 
parents  of  six  children:  Mena,  Geske,  Jacob,  Cath- 
erine, Charlie,  Tena.  Geske,  the  second  child,  died 
at  the  age  of  six  years,  and  Jacob,  the  third  child, 
died  when  four  months  old.  Mrs.  Tjaden  is,  like  her 
husband,  of  Hanoverian  birth.  Her  paternal  grand- 
father. George  Reuben,  was  a  lifelong  resident  of 
Hanover,  and  her  father,  Claus  Reuben,  was  also  a 
native  of  that  German  Province,  where  he  carried 
on  farming  until  his  emigration  to  the  United 
States  in  1872,  with  his  wife  and  two  children.  He 
settled  in  Linn  Township,  and  still  resides  there. 

Though  of  foreign  birth  and  antecedents  Mr. 
Tjaden  was  reared  under  American  institutions, 
and  the  United  States  has  no  more  loyal  or  law- 
abiding  citizen  than  he,  or  one  who  more  heartily 
approves  of  the  Republican  form  of  Government. 
In  his  calling  he  has  displayed  more  than  ordinary 
capacity  for  intelligent  and  skillful  fanning,  and  his 


521 

labors  have  been  crowned  with  remarkable  success 
while  he  is  yet  in  life's  prime,  as  may  be  seen  by  a 
perusal  of  this  brief  biographical  review.  Relig- 
iously, the  Lutheran  Church  has  in  him  a  valued 
member.  In  politics,  the  Democratic  party  finds 
in  him  an  intelligent  supporter  of  its  policy. 


AMUEL  T.  CURTISS,  one  of  the  leadino- 

o 

merchant  tailors  of  El  Paso,  established 
himself  in  business  at  this  point  in  1864 
and  since  that  time,  although  not  accumu- 
lating any  great  amount  of  wealth,  has  been  fairly 
successful  and  is  acknowledged  to  be  a  genuine 
artist  in  his  line.  He  has  with  the  exception  of  a 
few  years  (during  which  he  was  obliged  to  abandon 
it  on  account  of  ill  health)  followed  the  trade 
since  1 844,  which  he  learned  in  Binghampton,  N.  Y., 
where  he  began  serving  his  apprenticeship  when  a 
youth  of  fourteen  years.  This  was  his  native  town 
and  he  was  born  Dec.  4,  1830.  He  obtained  his 
early  education  in  the  city  schools  and  received 
excellent  home  training  from  his  parents  Bela  C., 
and  Persia  (Scoville)  Curtiss.  They  were  natives 
of  Massachusetts  and  after  coming  to  the  West  the 
father  located  in  Galesbnrg,Knox  County ,this  State, 
where  his  decease  took  place.  The  wife  and  mother 
died  in  El  Paso  about  1882.  To  the  parents  of 
our  subject  there  were  born  nine  children,  five  of 
whom  are  living,  the  others  died  in  childhood. 
While  a  resident  of  Henry,  111.,  he  made  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Miss  Mary  K.  Skinkle,  to  whom  he 
was  married  in  Chicago,  111.,  in  1858.  This  lady 
was  born,  reared  and  educated  near  Hudson,  N.  Y., 
and  followed  teaching  prior  to  her  marriage.  She 
came  West  and  attended  school  at  Kenosha,  Wis., 
and  then  went  to  look  after  the  domestic  affairs  of 
J.  I.  Skinkle,  a  hardware  merchant  at  Henry,  111., 
and  now  deceased. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Curtiss  there  were  born  three 
children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  George  R.,  is  one  of 
the  editors  and  proprietors  of  the  El  Paso  Journal, 
and  represented  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Cora  B., 


522 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  Chester  F.  remain  at  home  with  their  parents. 
The  young  lady  is  more  than  ordinarily  intelligent 
and  capable,  and  the  boy  is  one  in  which  his  par- 
ents may  take  pardonable  pride.  Mrs.  Curtiss  is  a 
highly  esteemed  lady,  and  belongs  to  the  Episcopal 
Church.  Mr.  Curtiss  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Fremont,  and  uniformly  gives  his  support 
to  the  Republican  party.  He  has  been  the  privi- 
leged witness  of  the  wonderful  changes  occurring  in 
Central  Illinois  during  a  period  of  over  fort}'  years 
and  has  taken  a  genuine  interest  in  her  growth  and 
prosperity. 


1 


OHN  WARD,  a  respected  and  substantial 
farmer  and  stock  raiser,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  members  of  the  agricultural  com- 
munity of  Panola  Township,  is  rightly 
classed  among  the  pioneers  of  Wood  ford  County, 
though  not  one  of  the  early  comers,  and  he  is  to- 
day one  of  the  oldest  living  settlers  in  this  part  of 
the  county.  He  is  a  native  of  West  Virginia,  born 
in  Marshall  County,  July  17,  1823,  a  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Margaret  (Conkle)  Ward,  also  natives  of 
West  Virginia.  His  paternal  ancestors  were  of 
Irish  birth,  while  his  maternal  progenenitors  origi- 
nated in  Germany.  His  parents  were  quite  early 
settlers  of  West  Virginia,  and  he  was  reared  on  a 
farm,  amid  the  scenes  of  pioneer  life.  He  received 
a  limited  education  in  the  early  subscription  schools, 
attending  them  for  about  three  months  in  the  win- 
ter seasons,  generally  leaving  before  their  close  to 
assist  his  father  in  the  labor  of  managing  the  farm. 
He  has  made  up  in  a  considerable  degree  for  the 
lack  of  schooling  in  early  life,  having  read  a  great 
deal,  and  kept  himself  informed  on  all  subjects  of 
common  interest. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Ward  with  Miss  Jane  Bry- 
son  took  place  Feb.  17,  1852,  and  in  her  he  has 
had  an  inestimable  helpmate,  a  devoted  companion 
and  a  true  wife.  Mrs.  Ward  was  born  in  Belmont 
County,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Isaiah  and  Mary 
(Neff)  Bryson.  Her  father  was  of  mingled  EiigT. 
lish  and  Irish  blood.  He  is  still  living  in  West 


Virginia,  and  is  now  in  the  eighty-sixth  year  of  his 
age.  Her  mother's  parents  were  of  German  origin, 
and  they  settled  in  Ohio  in  the  early  days  of  its 
settlement.  Mrs.  Ward's  paternal  grandparents 
oftentimes  had  to  seek  refuge  in  a  fort  above  Wheel- 
ing when  pursued  by,  or  in  danger  of  hostile  In- 
dians. To  Mrs.  Ward's  parents  were  born  eight 
children,  of  whom  the  following  survive:  Mrs. 
Ward;  Edward  W.,  a  resident  of  Ohio;  Mary  E., 
living  in  West  Virginia,  the  widow  of  John  Wood- 
burn;  Leander,  living  in  Ohio;  John  A.,  also  a 
resident  of  that  State;  and  Indiana,  the  wife  of 
William  Woodburn,  of  West  Virginia.  Caroline 
and  Emma  are  dead.  When  Mrs.  Ward  was  about 
fourteen  years  old,  her  parents  removed  to  West 
Virginia,  and  she  was  reared  to  womanhood  in  that 
State.  Of  her  marriage  with  our  subject  two  chil- 
dren have  been  born,  Lemuel,  living  in  Ohio,  and 
D.irwin  A.,  in  this  county. 

In  1857  Mr.  Ward  came  from  his  native  State, 
accompanied  by  his  family,  to  Illinois,  traveling 
from  Moundsville,  W.  Va.,  to  Peoria,  111.,  on  a 
steamboat,  the  voyage  lasting  about  two  weeks. 
From  there  our  subject  came  directly  to  Wood  ford 
County,  and  the  first  year  of  his  settlement  here 
rented  land,  and  subsequently  bought  his  present 
farm,  which  then  consisted  of  167  acres,  the  most 
of  which  was  broken,  but  there  was  scarcely  any 
other  improvement.  He  went  to  work  witfi  char- 
acteristic energy,  and  by  dint  of  down-right  hard 
labor  has  brought  it  into  a  fine  condition,  aitd  it  is 
now  one  of  the  best  improved  farms  in  his  neigh- 
borhood. He  has  been  very  fortunate  in  his  work, 
and  has  greatly  increased  the  acrenge  of  his  estate 
by  further  purchase  from  time  to  time,  till  it  now 
comprises  346  acres  of  choice,  well-cultivated  land, 
on  which  are  excellent  buildings,  and  all  the  neces- 
sary appliances  for  carrying  on  farming  properly. 
Upon  his  estate  he  has  erected  a  comfortable,  com- 
modious residence,  which  with  the  pleasant  sur- 
roundings is  represented  in  this  volume  by  a 
lithographic  engraving.  The  place  is  well  stocked 
with  cattle  of  high  grades,  and  Mr.  Ward  has  a  fine 
lot  of  full-blooded  horses  of  the  celebrated  Nor- 
man stock.  He  owes  his  success  in  life  to  his  own 
exertions,  as  his  only  capital  when  he  began  to 
make  his  own  way  in  the  world,  consisted  of  a  clear 


RESIDENCE  OF  ADAM  RIEHL,  Sec  8.  PALESTINETOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCE  OF  JOHN  WARD,  SEC. 19.  PANOLA' TOWNSHIP. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


525 


brain,  sturdy  hands,  and  a  stout  heart,  but  by  these 
means  and  the  hearty  co-operation  of  his  devoted 
wife,  he  has  accummnlated  a  goodly  amount  of  this 
world's  goods.  He  and  his  wife  are  true  Christians, 
as  is  attested  by  their  innumerable  kindly  deeds, 
and  they  were  formerly  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 
With  genuine  public  spirit,  he  favors  all  projects 
to  improve  his  township  or  county,  and  whatsoever 
will  elevate  society.  As  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Panola  Township,  he  has  not  only  been  an  inter- 
ested witness  of  its  growth,  but  has  contributed 
materially  thereto,  in  which  fact  he  may  well  take 
pride. 


.•/  DAM  RIEHL,  a  general  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser  of  Palestine  Township,  residing  on 
section  8,  was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio, 
on  the  7th  day  of  March,  1845.  In  that 
community  he  was  reared  and  educated,  remaining 
under  the  parental  roof  until  nineteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  left  home  and  began  life's  battle  for  him- 
self. He  at  once  came  to  AVoodford  County,  111., 
where  for  two  years  he  engaged  iu  farming.  In 
1866,  he  enlisted  at  Peoria,  in  the  United  States 
Regular  Army,  becoming  a  member  of  Compan}' 
G,  8th  Cavalry.  He  was  sent  to  New  York  City, 
and  thence  by  way  of  the  ocean  and  across  the 
Isthmus  of  Panama  to  California,  landing  in  San 
Francisco.  He  first  did  duty  on  Altacross  Island, 
was  afterward  stationed  at  Angel  Island,  and  thence 
went  to  Benecia  in  San  Francisco  Bay.  Subse- 
quently, the  regiment  was  sent  to  Fort  Reding,  Cal., 
and  later  was  transferred  to  Camp  Bidwell  in  Sur- 
prise Valley,  where  occurred  some  hard  fighting 
with  the  Indians  in  order  to  protect  the  white  set- 
tlement from  their  ravages.  For  two  years  they 
remained  at  that  camp,  when  the  order  came  to  re- 
turn to  San  Francisco,  whence  they  were  sent  by 
land  to  Tucson,  Arizona,  and  were  there  stationed 
for  some  months.  While  there  the  order  came  to 
capture  the  Indian  desperados  who  had  robbed  the 
Government  mail  between  Camp  Kuoie  and  Tucson. 


They  visited  the  scene  of  the  robbery,  where  six 
men  had  been  murdered,  but  could  find  no  trace  of 
the  savages  and  at  length  returned  to  Camp  Buoie, 
doing  active  service  from  October,  1869,  until  the 
spring  of  1870.  The  men  were  often  sent  out  on 
scouting  expeditions  and  during  the  time  succeeded 
in  capturing  a  number  of  Indians.  Mr.  Riehl  him- 
self had  many  narrow  escapes  and  was  engaged  in 
various  encounters  with  the  foe,  his  life  during  the 
entire  time  being  in  imminent  danger.  In  the 
spring  of  1870,  the  regiment  was  stationed  at  Port 
Selden  on  the  Rio  Grande,  in  New  Mexico,  where 
several  skirmishes  occurred.  At  the  expiration  of 
his  term  of  service,  our  subject  was  honorably  dis- 
charged. For  the  long  period  of  four  years,  he 
was  almost  constantly  engaged  and  endured  many 
hardships,  trials  and  dangers. 

On  being  mustered  out  Mr.  Riehl  was  engaged 
as  clerk  for  a  post  trader,  with  whom  he  remained 
sixteen  months,  when  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
R.  Swan,  as  a  cattle  dealer  and  operated  a  ranch 
for  some  time.  They  were  very  successful  in  the 
undertaking  and  did  a  profitable  business,  but  at 
length  the  partnership  was  dissolved  and  Mr.  Riehl 
purchased  a  ranch  on  the  Gila  River  in  New  Mex- 
ico, where  he  remained  until  June,  1886.  His  ser- 
vice in  the  army  had  inured  him  to  such  a  life, 
and  though  many  were  the  perils  to  be  encountered, 
his  experience  proved  a  useful  and  interesting  one. 
He  gained  a  knowledge  of  the  people  of  that  re- 
gion, and  their  manners  and  customs,  which  he 
could  have  obtained  in  no  other  way  than  by  com- 
ing in  personal  contact  with  them,  and  in  a  busi- 
ness point  of  view,  also,  that  period  was  invaluable 
to  him.  He  acquired  a  handsome  competency, 
notwithstanding  the  frequent  raids  made  by  the" 
Indians,  during  which  they  would  drive  off  his 
horses,  mules  and  cattle  in  large  numbers.  It  was 
indeed  fortunate  that  his  loss  was  no  greater.  He 
did  not  suffer  personal  violence  at  their  hands  as 
did  many  of  his  neighbors,  who  lost  their  lives  in 
encounters  with  the  savages.  On  his  return  to  the 
North  in  1887,  he  located  on  a  farm  near  where  he 
resided  on  his  arrival  in  the  county  twenty-three 
years  before. 

While  residing  in  the  South,  Mr.  Riehl  was  uni- 
ted in  marriage    with    Miss   Lucinda  Conner,  the 


526 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


wedding  taking  place  in  Silver  City,  N.  M.  The 
lady  is  a  native  of  the  Lone  Star  State,  her  birth 
having  occurred  in  San  Saba  County,  on  the  2d 
day  of  January,  1859.  Her  parents,  however, 
were  Northern  people,  but  at  an  early  day  removed 
lo  Texas,  where  her  father  owned  a  ranch.  He 
afterwards  became  the  owner  of  a  ranch  in  the 
mountainous  section  of  Grant  County,  N.  M.,  and 
while  there  residing,  accompanied  by  his  son  John, 
twin  brother  of  Mrs.  Riehl,  and  a  Mexican  laborer, 
he  went  one  day  for  a  load  of  hay,  and  while  on 
their  way  some  Indians  tying  in  ambush  fired  at 
the  little  party.  Both  father  and  son  were  instantly 
killed,  but  the  Mexican  escaped  with  a  wound  in 
his  arm.  Hastening  home  to  the  wife  and  daughter 
of  his  employer,  he  told  them  to  prepare  for  an 
attack  as  the  Indians  would  probably  come  that 
way.  His  own  gun  was  without  a  ramrod  and 
consequently  was  not  of  much  use,  but  the  brave 
mother  made  one  by  whittling  off  her  broom 
handle  to  the  proper  size.  The  Indians,  however, 
did  not  make  the  expected  attack  and  the  relief 
experienced  in  the  little  home  when  it  was  found 
that  they  would  not  be  molested,  is  better  imagined 
than  described.  Soon  afterwards,  Mrs.  Conner  and 
her  daughter  removed  to  Silver  City,  N.  M. 

Since  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Riehl  have 
been  very  prosperous  and  are  comfortably  situated 
in  life.  They  are  parents  of  five  children,  three  of 
whom  are  yet  living: — George  W.,  and  Francis  M., 
born  in  New  Mexico;  and  an  infant  born  in  this 
county;  John  A.  and  an  infant  died  in  New  Mex- 
ico. The  worthy  parents  have  a  pleasant  home 
conveniently  situated  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
from  Secor,  and  represented  on  another  page  by  a 
lithographic  engraving.  Their  farm  comprises  320 
acres  of  highly  cultivated  land,  the  barns  and  out- 
buildings are  models  of  convenience  and  many 
useful  and  beautiful  improvements  have  been 
made.  In  connection  with  the  cultivation  of  his 
land,  Mr.  Riehl  also  devotes  considerable  attention 
to  stock-raising,  and  his  long  experience  as  a  cattle- 
dealer  in  the  South  has  made  his  efforts  very  suc- 
cessful in  that  line.  As  a  citizen  he  is  public- 
spirited  and  progressive  and  is  recognized  as  one 
of  the  leading  residents  of  Palestine  Township.  In 
politics,  he  supports  the  Democratic  party.  He  is 


financially  a  self-made  man,  having  by  his  own 
efforts  acquired  the  handsome  property  which 
makes  him  one  of  the  well-to-do  farmers  of  Wood- 
ford  County. 


EE  S.  STRAIGHT.  The  city  affairs  of  El 
Paso  are  presided  over  in  an  admirable 
manner  by  Mayor  Straight,  who  is  one  of 
its  most  prominent  and  successful  business  men. 
He  also  owns  and  operates  the  El  Paso  Tile  and 
Brick  Factory,  which  was  established  by  him  in  the 
fall  of  1883,  and  has  a  capacity  of  15,000  brick  and 
from  3,000  to  7,000  tile  per  day,  according  to  the 
size,  some  of  it  being  three  and  one-half  inches  and 
some  twelve  inches  in  diameter.  A  superior  qual- 
ity of  clay  is  utilized  in  this  factory  from  the  quarry 
near,  and  in  the  turning  out  of  its  products  the 
factory  is  amply  supplied  with  the  most  approved 
modern  machinery  and  the  facilities  which  enable 
the  most  urgent  orders  to  be  filled  in  a  short  time. 
Besides  this  enterprise  Mr.  Straight  has  a  similar 
factory  in  Campus,  Livingston  County,  of  which  he 
was  also  one  of  the  founders. 

Although  still  a  young  man  Mr.  Straight  has 
spent  at  least  a  dozen  years  in  connection  with 
the  business  above  mentioned,  and  with  which  he  is 
familiar  in  all  its  details.  He  began  his  business 
career  as  a  manufacturer  of  draining  and  building 
material  with  his  father  at  Fairbury,  also  later,  es- 
tablished a  factory  at  Manhattan  in  partnership  with 
his  brother  Willis.  He  has  attained  an  enviable  rep- 
tation  in  this  line,  and  is  a  self-made  man  of  the 
first  water,  one  who  has  labored  mostly  dependent 
upon  his  own  resources.  A  native  of  Cropsey  Town- 
ship, McLean  County,  he  was  born  Dec.  22,  1861, 
and  is  the  son  of  Rufus  and  Francina  (Abby) 
Straight,  who  were  natives  respectively  of  New 
York  State  and  Pennsylvania. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  came  to  the  West 
prior  to  their  marriage,  and  the  Straight  family 
settled  near  Cropsey,  McLean  County,  during  its 
pioneer  days;  afterward  they  removed  to  Fairbury, 
where  they  spent  many  years  of  their  lives  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


527 


reared  a  family  of  ^children,  who  are  respected 
by  all  who  know  them.  The  family  is  largely  rep- 
resented in  that  region.  Mr.  Arbey  Straight,  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  and  his  wife  are 'now  past 
eighty  years  old,  and  make  theii  home  in  Fairbury, 
where  they  are  connected  with  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  Rufus,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter,  but  only  followed 
it  a  comparatively  short  time.  After  his  marriage 
Rufus  Straight  settled  in  Livingston  County,  where 
he  accumulated  a  large  amount  of  property,  includ- 
ing 700  acres  of  rich  land  near  the  town  limits  of 
Fairbury,  upon  which  he  built  a  residence.  He  is 
practically  retired  from  active  labor,  although  still 
able  to  manage  his  large  farm.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
are  identified  with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  First 
a  Whig,  then  a  Republican,  Mr.  Rufus  Straight  has 
always  .maintained  his  principles  with  the  natural 
force  of  his  character. 

The  parental  family  consisted  of  four  sons  and 
three  daughters,  of  whom  one  son  and  one  daugh- 
ter are  deceased.  Lee  S.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  in  Crospey  Town- 
ship, McLean  County,  in  1861 ,  and  was  quite  young 
when  his  father  removed  to  Livingston  County. 
He  was  there  reared  to  man's  estate,  and  was  given 
a  practical  education  in  the  common  schools.  Later 
he  attended  Bryant  <fe  Stratton's  Business  College 
in  Chicago,  from  which  he  was  graduated,  and  then 
set  out  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world.  Decid- 
ing that  two  heads  were  better  than  one,  he  took 
unto  himself  a  wife  and  helpmate  Dec.  28,  18b2, 
being  married,  in  Pontiac,  to  Miss  Ida,  the  accom- 
plished daughter  of  William  and  Lucinda  (Stanley; 
Tanner.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tanner  were  born  in  Ohio, 
but  removed  with  their  respective  parents  to  Ind- 
iana when  quite  young.  There  they  grew  up  and 
were  married.  They  lived  on  a  farm  two  years 
thereafter  in  Indiana,  then  coming  to  Illinois  set- 
tled in  the  vicinity  of  the  present  site  of  Pontiac. 
Here  Mr.  Tanner  built  up  a  good  home  and  gath- 
ered around  himself  and  his  family  all  the  comforts 
of  life.  He  was  a  man  greatly  respected  in  his 
community,  and  one  whose  influence  was  sensibly 
felt  in  sustaining  its  standard  of  morality.  Failing 
health  finally  caused  him  to  relinquish  the  active 
labors  of  life  and  he  sought  a  home  in  Missouri,  in 


1870,  in  the  hope  of  escaping  the  dread  malady, 
consumption,  but  which  slowly  and  surely  crept 
upon  him,  causing  his  death  Sept.  6,  1874.  He  was 
tben  forty-nine  years  old.  He  was  a  man  remark- 
ably industrious  and  temperate,  and  one  who  in- 
variably made  friends  wherever  he  was. 

After  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs.  Tanner 
reurned  to  Pontiac  where  she  is  yet  living,  being 
now  about  sixty  years  old.  She  was  in  all  respects 
the  suitable  companion  of  her  husband,  and  enjoys 
the  society  of  a  large  number  of  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances. Of  the  six  children  born  to  her  and 
her  husband  Mrs.  Straight  was  the  second.  She  was 
reared  under  the  home  roof,  and  received  a  good 
education,  being  graduated  from  the  Pontiac 
schools,  and  later  employed  herself  successfully  as 
a  teacher.  She  presides  over  the  domestic  circle 
with  grace  and  dignity,  and  displays  much  taste 
and  cultivation  in  the  home.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Straight  are  regular  attendants  at  the  Methodist 
Church.  Mr.  Straight  is  an  active,  local  politician, 
working  for  the  Republican  party,  and  yet  present- 
ing the  phenomenon  of  a  man  unambitious  of 
office.  He  was  elected  to  his  present  position  as 
Mayor  by  an  unusually  large  majority,  and  is  de- 
servedly popular  among  the  people. 

Mrs.  Straight  is  an  artist  of  no  mean  ability  as  a 
portrait  painter;  her  work  is  in  oil  and  pastel.  Mr. 
Straight  owns  480  acres  of  land  in  Minnesota,  which 
he  is  turning  into  a  horse  farm.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S. 
have  three  children;  their  names  are  as  follows: 
Halver  Rufus,  Fledda  Devere,  and  Glad3-s  "Lee. 


[i  OHN  KAUFMAN  is  a  native  of  Richland 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born  Jan.  20, 
1828.  His  father,  Benjamin,  and  his  mother, 
Susan  (Brubaker)  Kaufman,  were  both  na- 
tives of  Lancaster  County,  Pa.  In  1842,  when  our 
subject  was  fourteen  years  old,  the  parents  and  the 
family  removed  to  Mackinaw,  Tazewell  Co..  III., 
where  the  father  bought  an  interest  in  a  flour- 
mill,  and  began  milling  on  the  Mackinaw  River. 
They  lived  there  until  1845,  when  they  removed 


528 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


to  near  Washington,  Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  where  he 
farmed  a  year  or  so,  and  then  rented  a  mill  on  the 
east  side  of  Peoria,  where  he  resided  only  about 
two  months  before  his  decease.  The  family  then 
returned  to  Mackinaw,  and  our  subject  engaged 
in  milling.  Afterwards  they  bought  a  small  farm 
near  Washington,  111. 

In  the  spring  of  1854  John  Kaufman  went  to 
California,  via  New  York  and  Panama.  While  on 
the  water  on  the  return  trip  they  were  in  danger 
of  being  shipwrecked,  owing  to  an  explosion  on 
board  the  vessel.  _  On  his  arrival  in  California,  he 
engaged  in  mining,  and  also  operated  a  bakery  and 
restaurant.  While  engaged  in  this  business  he  was 
burned  out,  and  lost  about  $2,000.  He  rebuilt, 
however,  and  pursued  the,  business  some  time 
longer.  Having  been  very  successful  during  the 
time  he  spent  in  California,  he  returned  to  Wash- 
ington, III.,  or  near  that  city,  in  the  fall  of  I860. 
Making  an  arrangement  to  go  into  business  with 
his  brother,  he  built  a  suitable  block,  reserving  a 
portion  for  his  own  purposes.  In  the  meantime, 
the  war  breaking  out,  his  brother  enlisted,  and  the 
project  was  abandoned.  Selling  his  buildings  he 
purchased  eighty  acres  in  Cruger  Township,  where 
lie  has  since  resided,  giving  his  entire  attention  to 
agricultural  pursuits. 

On  the  28th  of  December,  1862,  our  subject  and 
Miss  Susan  M.  Kice  were  united  in  marriage  at  the 
bride's  home,  in  Tazewell  County,  four  miles  north- 
west of  Washington.  Mrs.  Kaufman  is  a  native  of 
Tazewell  County,  having  entered  this  world,  Oct. 
8,  1838,  in  that  place.  Her  parents  were  Henry 
and  Mary  (Haybarger)  Kice,  who  were  natives  of 
Virginia,  the  first  portion  of  their  married  life 
being  spent  in  that  State.  Early  in  the  thirties 
they  left  their  Southern  home  to  carve  out  their 
fortune  in  what  was  then  the  Far  West,  locating  in 
Tazewell  County,  this  State.  Here  they  remained, 
faithful  to  all  the  duties  of  life,  bringing  up  their 
children  to  the  best  of  their  ability.  Their  decease 
left  eight  children  to  mourn  their  loss  and  share  the 
hope  of  meeting  them  in  a  fairer  world. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kaufman  have  had  their  family 
increased  by  the  addition  of  six  children:  Ida  .1.  is 
the  wife  of  A.  F.  Holmes;  Mary  H.,  Frank  H.,  Ben- 
jamin ,T.,  Charles  L.,  who  died  when  only  six  years 


old,  and  Lola  A.  Our  subject  has  been  Justice  of 
the  Peace  for  about  fourteen  years;  Township  As- 
sessor for  several  years,  and  School  Director,  and 
is  at  present  also  one  of  the  School  Trustees,  which 
is  a  proof  of  the  high  estimation  in  which  he  is 
held  by  his  neighbors.  Mr.  Kaufman  has  always 
taken  an  earnest  and  active  interest  in  political 
matters,  supporting  the  candidates  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  to  the  principles  of  which  party  he 
adheres.  He  and  his  amiable  wife  are  devoted  and 
active  members  of  the  Christian  Church.  His 
property  at  present  embraces  280  acres  in  Cruger 
Township,  on  which  he  has  the  necessary  buildings. 
He  also  owns  120  acres  of  well-improved  land  near 
Parsons,  in  Kansas.  His  handsome  and  commodi- 
ous house  is  presided  over  by  the  lady  who  has 
shared  his  life  and  been  an  inspiration  to  him  in 
all  good  works. 


LFRED  COMBES,  a  retired  farmer,  now 
living  in  Washburn,  was  an  early  settler 
of  Linn  Township,  and  for  several  years 
wss  connected  with  its  farming  interests, 
and  was  a  factor  in  its  upbuilding.  At  the  time 
of  his  settlement  there  the  prairie  lands  in  this  part 
of  the  county  were  very  sparsely  settled.  Occa- 
sionally a  small  house  could  be  seen  in  the  dis- 
tance, but  no  timber  obstructed  the  view  till  the 
eye  met  the  natural  forest  growth  along  the  streams 
some  miles  distant.  Deer,  wolves,  prairie  chickens 
and  other  kinds  of  wild  game  were  still  plentiful. 
There  were  no  railways  in  the  county  at  the  time 
of  his  location  here,  and  for  some  3'ears  after  their 
introduction,  Lacon  was  the  nearest  station,  and 
was  the  market  for  some  years. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Hampshire  County, 
Va.,  Dec.  24,  1821.  His  father,  Wooley  B.  Combes, 
was,  as  far  as  known,  a  native  of  Virginia,  where 
he  was  reared  and  married.  In  1823  he  removed 
to  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  and  worked  at  his 
trade  of  a  blacksmith  a  few  miles  from  Circleville 
till  184.S.  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  and,  with  the 
exception  of  four  or  five  years  when  he  resided  in 
McLean  County,  lived  with  the  subject  of  this 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


529 


sketch  till  his  death,  in  1862.  The  maiden  name 
of  the  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
Catherine  Doman.  She  died  in  Pickaway  County 
about  1845.  There  were  nine  children  born  of  her 
marriage,  eight  of  whom  were  reared  to  maturity. 

He  of  whom  we  write  being  but  tw.o  years  of 
age  when  his  parents  removed  to  Ohio,  has  no  recol- 
lection of  his  native  State.  He  was  bred  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits  in  Pickaway  County,  and  began 
life  for  himself  working  by  the  day  or  month  on 
the  farm.  lie  was  energetic  and  a  good  worker, 
economically  saved  his  earnings,  and  was  finally 
enabled  to  commence  farming  for  himself  on  vented 
land.  He  continued  to  reside  in  Ohio  till  1848, 
but  land  being  high  and  it  seeming  a  rather  diffi- 
cult task  for  a  man  to  build  up  a  comfortable  home 
there,  he  concluded  to  come  further  west,  where  he 
could  secure  cheaper  land,  and  so  made  an  over- 
land journey  to  Illinois.  After  his  arrival  here  he 
rented  land  in  Fulton  County  two  years,  and  at  the 
end  of  that  time  moved  to  Marshall  County,  and 
rented  land  there  till  1852.  He  had  during  this 
time  purchased  1 70  acres  of  wild  prairie  land  in 
Linn  Township.  In  1852  he  built  a  frame  house 
thereon,  and  at  once  entered  upon  the  improve- 
ment of  the  land,  and  from  that  time  was  a  resi- 
dent there  till  1 888,  and  in  the  busy  years  of  toil 
and  hardship  that  intervened  had  wrought  a  great 
change,  had  fenced  his  land,  had  planted  fruit  and 
shade  trees,  and  had  erected  a  neat  set  of  buildings. 
In  the  year  above  mentioned  he  rented  his  farm, 
and,  removing  to  Washburn,  built  the  comfortable, 
cozy  house  he  now  occupies,  where  he  and  his  wife 
are  living  in  retirement,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  a 
well-spent  life. 

On  the  8th  day  of  January,  1845,  Mr.  Combes 
and  Miss  Betsy  Evans  were  united  in  the  holy 
bonds  of  wedlock.  She  was  born  in  Pickaway 
County,  Ohio.  Of  her  pleasant  married  life  with 
our  subject  four  children  have  been  born,  namely: 
John  W.,  Phebe  J.,  Gilbert  and  Frank.  The  three 
sons  reside  in  Linn  Township,  where  they  are  act- 
ively engagdd  in  farming.  Phebe  married  Charles 
L.  Younger,  and  lives  in  Washburn. 

For  more  than  forty  years  Mr.  Combes  lias  been 
a  resident  of  this  county,  and  though  not  among 
its  earliest  comers,  he  occupies  an  honorable  place 


among  its  pioneers.  His  integrity  and  honesty 
have  never  been  called  in  question,  as  he  has  led  a 
trul}'  Christian  life  as  far  as  in  man  lies.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  strong  in  the  faith,  and  have  done  their 
share  in  its  upbuilding.  In  politics  he  upholds  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party. 


ICHARD  SPIRES,  one  of  the  best  known 
men  of  this  county  and  a  pioneer  thereof, 
resides  on  section  24,  Minonk  Township, 
P-  'n  tne  dwelling  erected  for  him  in  the  year 
1856.  and  since  then  occupied  by  his  family;  (a 
view  of  this  pleasant  home,  the  scene  of  the  active 
labors  of  Mr.  Spires  and  his  wife  appears  on  an- 
other page  of  this  ALBUM.) 

Mr.  Spires  is  of  English  nativity,  having  been 
born  in  North  Hamptonshire,  England,  Nov.  19. 
1839  to  James  and  Sarah  Spires.  His  father  was  a 
farmer,  following  that  occupation  till  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  England  some  years  ago.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  is  still  living  in  her  English 
home.  Our  subject  was  one  of  a  family  of  nine 
children,  of  whom  eight  grew  to  maturity — Mary 
married  James  Haskett,  and  lives  in  London,  Eng- 
land; Louisa,  married  Jarnes  Parkins,  and  resides 
in  New  Zealand,  Australasia;  Elizabeth  married 
Thomas  Savage;  after  his  death  she  was  married 
a  second  time  to  James  F.  Marshall,  and  now  lives 
in  Morris  County,  Kan.;  Richard  our  subject;  T. 
P.  resides  in  Kansas;  Ma^  Ann  is  deceased; 
Charles  P.  is  a  citizen  of  Chicago,  111. ;  George  is 
a  resident  of  Kiowa  County,  Kan.;  and  Frederick 
lives  in  London,  England. 

When  our  subject  came  to  this  county  in  1856 
he  was  accompanied  by  his  sister,  Elizabeth.  They 
remained  a  short  time  in  Canton,  Fulton  Co.,  III. 
and  some  six  months  later  came  to  Minonk,  where 
he  secured  work  on  the  railroad  and  afterward 
worked  as  a  farm  hand.  In  1860,  Mr.  Spires  was 
married  to  Miss  Martha  M.  Savage,  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  (deceased)  and  Elizabeth  (Ferrett)  Savage. 


530 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Mrs.  Spirt's  is  a  native  of  England,  where  she  was 
born  Oct.  11,  1841  in  Cambridgeshire.  Mrs. 
Savage  who  died  in  England,  left  three  children — 
William  died  in  1862  at  Minonk,  111.;  Martha  M. 
was  the  wife  of  our  subject;  John  after  crossing 
the  ocean  in  search  of  a  fortune  in  the  New  Land 
was  overtaken  by  the  pale  messenger  from  the 
other  world,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  Canton,  this 
State.  Mr.  Savage  was  married  a  second  time  to 
Elizabeth  Spires,  a  sister  of  the  subject  of  this 
notice.  Coming  to  this  country  in  1856,  he  first 
located  at  Canton,  111.,  and  later  came  with  other 
members  of  the  family  to  Minonk,  where  he  re- 
sided until  his  death.  His  second  marriage  resulted 
in  the  birth  of  two  children — George  now  located 
in  Kansas;  and  Elizabeth,  deceased. 

After  marriage  Mr.  Spires  rented  land  in  Mi- 
nonk Township,  and  engaged  in  farming.  This 
pursuit  he  continued  to  follow  until  1856,  when  he 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  his  present  homestead. 
At  the  time  that  it  came  into  his  possession  it  was 
but  little  improved,  and  he  secured  it  for  $25  an 
acre.  He  has  lived  on  this  place  every  since,  and 
now  owns  320  acres  of  land,  which  is  in  as  fine 
a  state  of  cultivation  as  one  can  see  anywhere.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Spires  have  had  ten  children,  of  whom  six 
are  living — Sylvester  J.,  Mary,  (deceased)  Thomas 
R.,  Frederick  W.,  George,  Mary,  Herbert;  Henry 
and  Frank  are  deceased;  and  Arthur.  In  politics, 
Mr.  Spires  is  a  Republican.  He  appreciates  the 
gift  of  citizenship  in  this  country  very  highly,  and 
with  his  earnest,  honest  nature  endeavors  to  fur- 
ther the  interests  of  his  adopted  country  in  every 
lawful  way,  believing  that  good  citizens  and  patri- 
otic sons  of  America  should  watch  over  the  affairs 
of  public  life  not  only  in  national  issues,  but  also 
in  local  matters.  When  called  to  serve  his  county 
he  has  not  refused,  but  has  performed  the  du- 
ties pertaining  to  the  office  of  Road  Commissioner 
for  the  last  nine  years.  He  has  also  been  School 
Trustee  three  years,  and  School  Director  many 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  Robert  Morris  Lodge, 
No.  247.  A.  F.  Ar  A.  M.,  and  of  Minonk  Lodge  No. 
377,  1.  O.  O.  F. 

Some  years  ago  Mr.  Spires  left  Minonk.  and 
paid  a  ten  weeks'  visit  to  friends  in  England.  ( )n 
his  return  he  brought  with  him  two  of  his  younger 


brothers,  who  are  much  pleased  with  this  country, 
and  being  bright  and  intelligent  lads  will  no  doubt 
be  a  credit  to  themselves  and  to  their  brother,  who 
is  assisting  them  to  develop  into  good  citizens  of 
this  free  country.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spires  enjoy  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  their  neighbors  and  friends 
for  their  many  good  qualities  and  generous  actions. 


«|5j)  M.  STEPHENSON,  who  is  engaged  in 
,l(  „  general  farming  on  section  20,  Greene 
^^(^  Township,  is  a  leading  citizen  of  the  county 
and  stands  very  high  in  the  estimation  of  his  busi- 
ness acquaintances  and  personal  friends.  There 
are  but  two  or  three  who  have  longer  been  resi- 
dents of  the  township;  for  since  fourteen  years  of 
age  he  has  here  made  his  home,  and  has  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  growth  and  pro- 
gress of  this  section  of  the  country. 

The  Stephenson  family  is  originally  of  English 
origin,  but  at  an  early  day  its  members,  from  whom 
our  subject  is  descended,  removed  to  Scotland.  In 
that  country  the  great-grandfather  of  Mr.  Stephen- 
son  became  acquainted  with  a  Scotch  captain,  com- 
mander of  a  sailing-vessel,  and,  unknown  to  his 
family,  left  for  America.  He  shipped  on  board  the 
captain's  vessel  and  was  borne  to  the  shores  of  this 
country,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
His  descendants  have  settled  in  various  portions  of 
the  country,  and  to  one  branch  of  the  family  C.  M., 
of  this  sketch,  belongs. 

Henry  Stephenson,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Greene  County,  Pa.,  and  on  arriving  at 
man's  estate  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  Myers,  who  was  born  in  Monongalia  County, 
Va.,  of  German  and  English  parentage.  The 
wedding  took  place  in  Greene  County,  where  for 
a  number  of  years  afterward  the  husband  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  of  farming.  Five  children 
were  born  of  their  union,  four  of  whom  are  yet 
living:  James  A.,  who  now  'resides  in  Taylor 
County,  Iowa,  where  he  is  engaged  in  farming  and 
carpentering;  Martha  A.,  wife  of  Stephen  Cum- 
mins, a  farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  Marysville,  Mo.; 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


531 


C.  M.,  of  this  notice;  and  Orphia,  wife  of  F. 
M.  Miller,  a  resident  farmer  of  Denton  County, 
Tex. 

In  1852,  accompanied  by  his  family,  Henry 
Stephenson  left  his  Eastern  borne  and  started  for 
the  West,  taking  with  him  all  his  worldly  possess- 
ions. These  be  loaded  on  a  steamboat  at  McConn's 
Ferry,  on  the  Monongahela  River,  and  with  his 
wife  and  children  sailed  down  the  river  to  Pitts- 
burg,  where  they  were  transferred  to  a  larger 
vessel,  which  brought  them  to  St.  Louis,  whence 
they  came  up  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  rivers  to 
.Spring  Bay,  in  Woodford  County,  and  two  weeks 
later  settled  in  Greene  Township.  They  shared 
in  the  trials  and  hardships  incident  to  pioneer  life, 
and  performed  the  arduous  task  of  developing  a 
farm  from  the  raw  prairie,  but  at  length  bad  a 
good  home  where  before  was  only  a  barren  waste. 
The  parents  continued  to  reside  in  this  county 
until  called  from  the  busy  scenes  of  this  life.  The 
mother  died  on  the  10th  day  of  August,  1874, 
from  the  effects  of  a  cancer,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
three  years.  She  was  a  most  estimable  lady,  dearly 
beloved  by  her  many  friends,  and  found  no  task  or 
sacrifice  too  great  to  perform  which  would  promote 
the  happiness  of  her  family.  Mr.  Stephenson 
survived  his  wife  several  years,  his  death  occur- 
ring Aug.  29,  1881,  when  seventy -five  years  of  age. 
He  was  a  man  of  quiet  and  retiring  disposition,  yet 
was  genial  in  manner  and  enjoyed  a  hearty  laugh 
with  bis  friends.  His  home  was  noted  for  its  hos- 
pitality, and  all  who  entered  its  doors  were  made 
welcome  by  the  hearty  greeting  and  good  cheer 
which  characterized  the  pioneer  home.  He  did  not 
care  to  become  wealthy,  but  was  content  if  his 
family  was  in  comfortable  circumstances.  He 
greatly  delighted  in  hunting  and  was  an  expert 
marksman.  During  the  early  days  of  the  county 
many  a  wolf,  fox  or  deer  fell  before  bis  rifle,  and 
the  wild  game  which  frequently  furnished  their 
meals,  was  brought  down  by  his  hand. 

C.  M.  Stephenson,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
was,  born  in  Greene  County,  Pa.,  on  the  2d  day  of 
April,  1838,  and  when  fourteen  years  of  age  ac- 
companied his  parents  on  their  removal  to  this 
county,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  The 
greater  part  of  his  education  was  received  at  home 


during  the  long  winter  evenings,  when,  with  the 
other  members  of  the  family,  he  would  gather 
round  the  fire  and  con  his  lessons.  On  the  8th  day 
of  June,  1862,  he  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss 
Mary  C.  Livingston,  daughter  of  Louis  and  Amy 
(Powell)  Livingston,  who  came  to  this  county  in 
1840.  Mrs.  Stephenson  is  a  native  of  this  county, 
and  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth  in  a  large  fam- 
ily of  children.  The  domestic  life  of  this  worthy 
couple  was  begun  upon  a  rented  farm,  where  they 
made  their  home  for  several  years,  when  they  pur- 
chased land  in  Greene  Township.  Since  attaining 
his  majority  Mr.  Stephenson  has  followed  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  and  now  owns  225  acres  of  valuable 
land,  constituting  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the 
county.  By  good  fences,  it  has  been  divided  into 
fields.  The  barns  and  outbuildings  are  all  that  are 
necessary  to  a  model  farm,  the  home  is  a  tasty  and 
substantial  residence  and  many  other  excellent  im- 
provements have  been  made. 

Four  children  grace  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stephenson  two  sons  and  two  daughters:  Alice  M. 
attended  the  State  Normal  School,  and  is  now  en- 
gaged in  teaching  in  this  county ;  Louis  H.  was 
educated  at  the  State  Normal  School;  Ida  I.,  now 
a  student  of  the  State  Normal  School,  and  Reamer. 

Mr.  Stephenson  is  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
the  county.  He  has  been  often  called  upon  to  fill 
public  office,  and  in  every  instance  has  demon- 
strated to  his  fellow  men  that  he  was  worthy  of 
their  confidence  by  the  able  manner  in  which  he 
discharged  his  duties,  and  the  integrity  which 
characterized  his  career.  In  both  his  public  and 
private  life  lie  has  acquitted  himself  with  honor 
and  well  deserves  the  high  regard  in  which  he  is 
held.  He  is  now  Secretary  of  the  Roanoke  Fire 
Insurance  Association  of  the  county,  which  was  or- 
ganized April  2,  1875;  Joseph  Rife,  now  of  Gage 
County,  Neb.,  J.  R.  Gish,  now  of  Arkansas,  and 
Mr.  Stephensou  being  the  prime  movers  in  the 
affair.  He  has  since  been  closely  connected  with 
the  institution,  which  has  proved  of  untold  benefit 
to  the  farmers  of  the  community,  and  saved 
them  many  thousands  of  dollars.  At  its  organiza- 
tion be  was  elected  director,  and  at  the  first  regular 
annual  election  held  in  September,  1875,  was  ap- 
pointed Secretary  and  Treasurer  by  the  board  of 


532 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


directors,  and  has  since  held  that  responsible  posi- 
tion. The  institution  insures  farm  property  for 
two-thirds  of  its  value,  and  has  outstanding  policies 
to  the  amount  of  $900,000,  and  515  policy  holders. 
He  has  served  on  both  the  Grand  and  Petit  juries,  for 
one  term  was  School  Director,  and  for  seven  years 
served  as  Township  Clerk,  when  he  refused  to  further 
fill  that  office.  For  one  year  he  hold  the  position  of 
Collector,  was  Assessor  for  five  years,  and  has  held 
the  office  of  Township  Treasurer  for  twenty  years. 
Mr.  Stephenson  has  handled  the  money  of  the  town- 
ship without  a  dollar's  loss,  and  every  dollar  which 
has  passed  through  his  hands  as  treasurer  of  the 
insurance  company  has  been  correctly  accounted 
for.  In  educational  matters  he  takes  a  deep  inter- 
est, and  does  all  in  his  power  to  sustain  a  good 
school  system  in  the  community.  He  has  been 
connected  with  several  civic  societies,  was  a  lead- 
ing member  in  the  Grange,  and  held  membership 
in  the  Masonic  lodge  of  Secor  until  their  building 
was  burned  down.  For  several  years  past  he  has 
also  acted  as  reporter  for  the  bureau  of  agriculture 
of  the  State,  and  his  good  judgment  and  long  resi- 
dence in  Woodford  County  and  his  great  care  and 
accuracy,  have  rendered  his  services  in  that  capac- 
ity very  valuable.  In  politics,  Mr.  Stephenson  is 
a  supporter  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  and 
his  wife  and  daughter  Alice,  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church. 


EDE  AVOLTZEX,  an  honored  citizen  and 
prominent  farmer  of  Greene  Township,  re- 
siding on  section  5,  is  a  native  of  Germany. 
He  was  born  in  the  Kingdom  of  Hanover,  on  the 
23d  day  of  June,  1832,  and  is  a  son  of  Johan  and 
Catherine  (Sotthoff)  Woltzen,  who  were  born  in 
the  same  community.  His  father  served  in  the 
German  Army  and  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Waterloo  under  the  Duke  of  Wellington.  He  made 
farming  his  principal  occupation  and  followed  that 
pursuit  until  his  emigration  to  America.  The  chil- 
dren born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Woltzen  were  nine  in 


number:  Alex  died  in  Germany;  our  subject;  Johan 
is  now  residing  in  Linn  Township;  Albert  makes 
his  home  in  Roanoke  Township;  Simon  and  Henry 
are  both  engaged  in  merchandising  in  Benson;  Ro- 
sina  died  in  Illinois;  Himke  died  in  Peoria;  and 
another  child  died  in  infanc}'. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  passed  his  childhood 
days  in  the  land  of  his  birth  and  was  educated  in 
its  public  schools.  His  parents  were  members  of 
the  Lutheran  Church,  and  in  that  faith  he  was 
reared,  being  confirmed  at  the  age  of  fourteen 
years.  He  has  since  been  one  of  its  faithful  mem- 
bers and  is  an  active  worker  in  the  interests  of  the 
organization  at  El  Paso,  where  he  now  holds  mem- 
bership. In  1851  the  family  determined  to  make 
America  the  scene  of  their  future  operations.  Bid- 
ding good-by  to  home  and  friends,  they  went  to 
Bremen,  where  they  embarked  in  the  sailing  vessel 
"Atmund."  After  several  weeks  spent  upon  the 
broad  ocean,  the  vessel  dropped  anchor  at  New 
Orleans,  and  they  landed  on  the  shores  of  the 
country,  where  they  have  since  resided.  Proceed- 
ing up  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  rivers,  they  at 
length  reached  their  destination,  Peoria,  near  which 
city  the  father  afterwards  rented  a  farm.  He  lived 
to  enjoy  his  new  home  about  a  year  and  a  half, 
when  he  was  stricken  with  lung  fever  from  which 
he  died.  His  excellent  wife  survived  him  many 
years,  dying  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-two. 
She  was  an  earnest  Christian  woman,  and  was 
greatly  beloved  for  her  many  acts  of  kindness  to 
the  poor  and  needy. 

Mr.  Woltzen,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  re- 
mained with  his  mother  until  attaining  his  major- 
ity, when  he  left  home  and  began  life's  battle  with 
the  world.  He  determined  to  follow  in  the  foot- 
steps of  his  father  and  so  made  farming  his  life 
occupation.  Renting  land,  he  continued  its  culti- 
vation for  a  number  of  years,  until  by  his  industry 
and  untiring  efforts  ho  had  accumulated  sufficient 
capital  to  purchase  a  farm. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-six  years  Mr.  Woltzen  led 
to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Gazena  Sotthoff,  and  the 
union  of  hearts  was  consummated  by  the  union  of 
hands.  This  lady  was  also  a  native  of  Hanover, 
German}*,  and  a  family  of  fifteen  children  were 
born  unto  them,  only  four  of  whom  are  now  liv- 


RESIDENCE  OF  J.  B. SCHWARTZ, Stx.32.  PANOLA  TOWNSHIP. 


TCNMT  House,  sec  a 


RESIDENCE  or  EDE  Woi_TZEN,5EC.5.  GREENE  TOWNSHIP. 


.    .-.    .- 

.  J.L. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


535 


ing: — Johanna,  who  became  the  wife  of  J.  Tombs, 
a  merchant  of  -Benson,  and  is  now  the  mother  of 
four  children,  Harmon,  Gazena,  Henry,  and  Ede; 
Albert,  a  well-to-do  farmer  of  Greene  Township, 
married  Ella  Johnson,  and  to  them  have  been  born 
two  children,  Gazena  and  Lena:  Alex  and  Herman, 
the  two  youngest,  are  yet  at  home.  Mrs.  Woltzen 
died  Nov.  25,  1877.  Mr.  Woltzen  was  a  second 
time  married  m  1878,  when  Miss  Theda  Harms  be- 
came his  wife.  Four  children  grace  their  marriage, 
John,  Gazena,  Fannie  and  Harmon. 

Mr.  Woltzen  is  a  prominent  citizen  of  this 
county  and  is  truly  a  self-made  man.  He  is  now 
the  heaviest  tax  payer  in  Greene  Township,  and  his 
entire  possessions  have  been  acquired  by  his  own 
exertions.  He  began  life  on  a  rented  farm,  but 
has  steadily  climbed  the  ladder  of  success  until  his 
efforts  have  been  crowned  with  prosperity,  and  he 
is  numbered  among  the  wealthy  farmers  of  central 
Illinois.  Industrious  and  energetic,  he  labored  on, 
each  year  adding  to  his  property  as  his  financial 
resources  were  increased  until  he  now  owns  630 
acres  of  valuable  land,  situated  on  sections  5,  8  and 
9,  Greene  Township.  lie  first  bought  eighty  acres, 
to  that  added  120,  afterwards  purchased  forty  acres, 
then  again  bought  a  like  amount,  to  which  he  has 
since  added  a  tract  of  twenty  acres,  another  of  1 80, 
one  of  seventy  and  still  another  of  eighty  acres. 
The  trials  and  adversities  which  he  has  encountered 
seemed  not  to  impede  his  progress,  but  acted  as  an 
incentive  for  renewed  effort  and  served  as  stepping 
stones  to  something  higher.  He  is  an  indefatigable 
worker,  sober,  industrious  and  honest.  His  sterling 
worth  and  strict  integrity  have  won  him  the  confi- 
dence and  high  regard  of  all  with  whom  he  has 
come  in  contact,  and  his  word  is  as  good  as  his 
bond.  He  has  been  a  citizen  of  two  of  the  greatest 
nations  on  the  face  of  the  globe,  but  though  he 
loves  Germany  as  the  land  of  his  birth,  his  sym- 
pathies are  all  with  America,  which  has  long  been 
his  home  and  his  pride.  She  has  no  more  true  or 
loyal  citizen  or  one  who  is  more  friendly  to  her 
free  institutions.  Mr.  Woltzen  is  an  honor  to  the 
German  population  of  this  country  and  to  the 
communit}'  in  which  he  lives.  In  politics,  he  is  a 
stanch  supporter  of  the  Democracy  and  does  what 
he  can  to  promote  its  interests  and  insure  its  suc- 


cess. None  are  more  worthy  of  representation  in 
this  volume  than  Ede  Woltzen,  who  is  honored  and 
respected  by  all  who  know  him. 

Not  only  has  Mr.  Woltzen  a  fine  tract  of  land, 
but  he  has  a  beautiful  residence,  wherein  peace  and 
plenty  reign  supreme,  and  which  is  represented  by 
a  fine  view  on  another  page  of  the  ALBUM. 


JOSEPH  B.  SWARTZ,  since  coming  to 
Woodford  County  in  1866,  has  placed  him- 
self in  the  foremost  ranks  of  the  wide-awake, 
well-to-do  farmers  and  stock-raisers  who 
are  so  skillfully  conducting  the  leading  interests  of 
this  section  of  the  country.  He  is  a  resident  of 
Panola  Township,  his  home  being  situated  on  sec- 
tion 32,  and  is  the  proprietor  of  one  of  the  largest 
and  best-managed  farms  in  this  region,  lying 
mostly  in  Panola  Township,  the  remainder  being 
located  in  El  Paso  Township  and  Gridley  Town- 
ship, McLean  Co.,  111.  His  real  estate  comprises 
525  acres. 

A  native  of  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  our  subject 
was  born  May  8,  1834,  to  George  and  Mary 
(Beery;  Swartz,  also  natives  of  the  Buckeye  State. 
His  ancestors  on  both  sides  of  the  house  were  of 
German  origin,  and  his  paternal  grandfather  is 
said  to  have  come  to  this  country  when  a  boy. 
Both  grandfathers  became  residents  of  Fairfield 
County  in  the  opening  years  of  this  century,  and 
were  numbered  among  the  early  pioneers  of  Ohio. 
Our  subject  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county 
under  the  influences  of  the  pioneer  life  that  pre- 
vailed there.  Though  the  educational  advantages 
in  the  primitive  schools  of  that  day  were  somewhat 
limited,  yet  he  has  managed  to  acquire  consider- 
able learning  by  reading  and  otherwise,  and  is  as 
well-informed  as  many  a  man  who  has  had  more 
schooling. 

Mr.  Swartz  was  married  in  Ohio,  April  23, 
1857,  to  Miss  Barbara  E.  Keller,  and  by  this  union 
hare  been  born  ten  children,  of  whom  the  follow- 
ing eight  are  living:  Clinton;  Clara,  wife  of  W. 
R.  Shuman,  of  McLean  County,  111.;  Melvin,  re- 


536 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


siding  in  El  Paso  Township,  Ida  B.,  Lucy  JM., 
Elsie  E.,  J.  Vernon  and  Ralph  B.  The  deceased 
were  Percy  Lincoln  and  Sherman.  Mrs.  Swartz 
was  born  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  July  8,  1840, 
a  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Barbara  (Tussing) 
Keller,  who  were  of  German  descent.  When  Mrs. 
Swarts  was  ten  days  old  her  mother  died,  and  by 
her  aunts  she  was  taken  to  Fairfield  County. 
When  she  was  about  fourteen  months  old  her 
father  departed  this  life,  and  she,  the  only  child, 
was  left  an  orphan  when  too  young  to  realize 
her  great  loss.  She  was  reared  in  the  family  of 
her  uncle,  Joseph  Keller,  and  was  married  in  Fair- 
field  County.  She  has  made  her  husband  a  happy 
home,  and  he  is  indebted  to  her  for  her  share  in 
brining  about  his  present  prosperous  circumstances. 

In  the  winter  of  1866,  Mr.  Swartz  perceiving  the 
many  advantages  offered  to  an  intelligent  farmer 
by  the  agricultural  facilities  of  AVoodford  County, 
111.,  resolved  to  avail  himself  of  such  fair  oppor- 
tunities, and  come  here  with  his  family  and  build 
a  new  home  on  these  broad,  beautiful  prairies. 
After  his  arrival  he  settled  on  section  34,  Panola 
Township,  and  for  twenty-three  years  was  busily 
engaged  in  improving  a  farm  and  tilling  the  soil 
on  that  homestead.  At  the  time  of  his  removal 
there  was  a  small  frame  house  on  the  place,  but 
otherwise  scarcely  any  improvements  had  been  at- 
tempted. Now  the  land  is  under  admirable  culti- 
vation, and  a  eommodious  dwelling  has  been 
erected,  a  view  of  which  appears  on  another  page. 
A  substantial  barn  and  other  buildings  too  have 
also  been  built,  and  there  are  few,  if  any,  bet- 
ter farms  in  this  part  of  the  county.  He  owns,  all 
told,  525  acres  of  excellent  land,  of  which  all  but 
eighty  acres  are  in  this  county.  In  the  spring  of 
1889  he  removed  to  his  present  attractive,  con- 
veniently fitted  up  home  on  section  32,  and  here 
he  and  his  wife  are  passing  their  lives  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  the  fruit  of  their  early  labors. 

Mr.  Swartz  is  a  man  of  high  moral  principles, 
of  good  mental  qualifications,  and  of  superior  judg- 
ment and  tact,  and  his  course  in  life,  both  in  social 
and  domestic  relations,  has  been  such  as  to  com- 
mend him  to  the  respect  and  regard  of  his  fellow- 
men.  He  has  a  full  appreciation  of  the  privileges 
of  citizenship,  and  fulfills  the  duties  thereof  as  be- 


comes a  loyal  citizen.  Me  has  served  Panola  Town- 
ship as  Road  Commissioner  nine  years,  and  for  a 
short  time  was  School  Trustee  of  the  township.  He 
takes  a  sensible  view  of  the  political  questions  of 
the  day,  and  is  in  hearty  accord  with  the  Republican 
party.  He  is  a  consistent  temperance  man  in  word 
and  deed,  but,  although  a  strong  advocate  of  pro- 
hibition, does  not  favor  its  introduction  into  poli- 
tics. He  and  his  wife  are  people  of  sound  religious 
views,  she  being  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  while  he  is  connected  with  the  Bap- 
tist denomination  at  El  Paso;  both  unite,  however, 
in  working  for  the  social  and  moral  elevation  of 
the  community. 


NDERSON  VANSCYOC  is  one  of  the  larg. 
est  land  holders  in  Wood  ford  County,  and 
is  a.'so  one  of  the  best  known  and  most 
successful  farmers  and  stock-raisers  in  the 
community.  His  homestead  is  finely  located  on 
section  28,  in  Palestine  Township,  and  there  he  has 
a  beautiful  country  residence,  furnished  very  cozily 
and  handsomely,  while  the  surroundings  indicate 
the  cultured  taste  of  the  owner.  He  came  to  this 
county  March  5.  1838,  and  since  that  date  has  not 
only  succeeded  in  becoming  independent  but  has 
amassed  a  fortune.  When  he  came  to  this  part  of 
Illinois,  it  was  all  known  as  McLean  County,  and 
his  father's  family  settled  near  where  the  son,  An- 
derson, has  his  present  farm.  There  were  not  more 
than  a  dozen  families  within  as  man}'  square  miles 
when  this  became  their  home,  so  they  selected  what 
thej'  considered  the  most  fertile  soil,  and  there  the 
father  bought  the  claim  of  William  Mitchell,  which 
was  an  80-acre  piece  of  land.  Later  he  bought  it 
from  the  Government  when  it  came  into  the  mar- 
ket. Upon  this  John  Vanscyoc,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  lived  the  remaining  portion  of  the  time 
allotted  to  him  on  earth,  and  there  passed  away. 
His  farm  is  yet  in  the  possession  of  the  family.  He 
was  one  of  the  best-known  pioneers  of  the  county, 
and  was  regarded  as  an  intelligent,  industrious, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


537 


hard-working  man.  who  made  every  effort  possible 
to  leave  his  family  comfortably  provided  for, 
seeming  to  live  only  to  promote  the  interest  of  those 
he  loved.  His  death  occeurred  July  18,  1857.  when 
he  had  arrived  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years  and 
ten  months. 

John  Yanscyoc  was  born  in  Virginia,  presuma- 
bly of  Dutch  ancestry.  He  was  reared  in  what  is 
now  Marshall  County,  Va.,  and  there  married  the 
companion  of  his  pioneer  life,  Margaret  Shepherd, 
supposed  to  be  a  native  of  the  same  State  as  her 
husband.  He  began  his  wedded  life  in  Virginia  as 
a  farmer,  and  to  him  and  his  wife  three  children 
were  born,  namely:  Kittie,  who  died  near  Shelby- 
ville,  Ind.,  when  in  the  springtime  of  life,  having 
reached  the  age  of  eighteen  years ;  Amanda,  who 
became  the  wife  of  A.  E.  Sparks,  and  now  lives  in 
El  Paso,  and  Anderson  the  subject  of  this  notice. 

Our  subject  was  the  youngest  child  in  his  father's 
family,  and  was  about  thirteen  years  of  age  when 
his  parents  removed  to  Shelby  County,  Ind.  He 
remembers  some  incidents  connected  with  his  boy- 
hood days  in  that  State,  where  they  resided  for 
about  three  years,  and  recalls  with  the  vividness  of 
recent  occurrence  their  journey  to  Woodford 
County,  which  was  made  in  true  pioneer  style  with 
teams  and  wagons.  At  night  they  would  stop  and 
a  frugal  supper  would  be  prepared  by  the  camp  fire, 
and  then  the}'  would  lie  down  to  rest  under  the 
broad  canopy  of  heaven.  Probably  our  subject 
has  often  thought,  as  many  others  have  done,  that 
those  camp-fire  meals  were  the  most  delicious,  and 
those  nights  of  rest  the  most  peaceful  he  has  ever 
experienced.  Doubtless  the  water  in  the  rusty  old 
canteens  rivaled  in  sweetness  that  from  the  "old 
oaken  bucket."  Two  weeks  were  occupied  in  their 
trip,  and  at  last  they  arrived  at  the  Mackinaw 
River.  The  land  surrounding  this  stream  was  then 
unmolested  by  the  advancing  footsteps  of  the 
white  man,  and  was  rough  and  untrodden.  Game 
abounded  and  the  stillness  was  unbroken  save  by 
the  occasional  report  of  the  hunter's  gun,  or  the 
songs  of  birds  in  the  ; trees  on  the  banks  of  the 
river.  Soon  the  neighborhood  began  to  attract 
other  people,  and  comfortable  homes  were  built  at 
intervals.  The  nearest  market  places  were  Pekin 
imd  Peoria,  whither  the  farmers  took  their  grain 


and  in  return  received  their  supplies.  After  a  few 
years  of  active  labor  in  this  community  the  father 
of  the  family  was  taken  from  his  wife  and  children, 
and  then  the  mother  continued  to  live  with  her  son, 
the  subject  of  our  sketch,  until  her  second  mar- 
riage, which  took  place  a  few  years  later  with 
James  Pearson.  Being  again  widowed  she  contin- 
ued to  reside  in  the  village  of  Kappa,  until  her  death, 
Mrrch  13,  1878.  She  had  at  that  time  passed  four- 
score years.  She,  as  well  as  her  husband,  Mr.  Van- 
scyoc,  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and 
was  always  endeavoring  to  train  her  children  to 
become  useful  members  of  society  and  honorable 
men  and  women. 

Anderson  Vanscyoc  was  yet  in  the  years  of  his 
boyhood  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  this 
county,  and  here  he  became  of  age.  When  yet  in 
his  early  manhood  he  established  a  home  of  his 
own,  being  united  in  marriage  Dec.  31,  1857,  with 
Miss  Mary  L.  Carr.  This  estimable  young  lady 
was  a  native  of  Georgetown,  Ind.,  and  was  born  in 
the  year  1840,  and  died  at  her  home  in  Palestine, 
Oct.  22,  1865,  having  at  the  time  of  her  death  not 
yet  arrived  at  the  twenty-fifth  year  of  her  age. 
Thus  sadly  were  the  family  bereaved,  for  the  wife 
and  mother  was  cut  off  in  her  youth,  when  life 
seemed  fairest  and  love  seemed  dearest,  and  when 
her  family  of  little  children  were  most  in  need  of 
an  affectionate  mother's  care.  Truly  the  ways  of 
Providence  are  mysterious  and  past  finding  out. 
Although  young  in  years  at  the  time  of  her  death, 
yet  we  can  not  measure  life  by  the  number  of  years 
we  have  lived,  but  by  what  we  have  accomplished. 
Mrs.  Vanscyoc  had  endeared  herself  to  all  who 
knew  her,  and  was  loved  and  admired  for  the 
strength  of  character  always  displayed,  even  in 
moments  of  trial  and  in  the  midst  of  acute  physical 
anguish.  Her  parents  were  Abraham  and  Maletta 
Carr,  natives  of  Virginia.  However,  most  of  their 
lives  were  passed  in  Indiana,  until  the  spring  of 
1857,  when  they  came  to  Illinois  and  resided  for 
some  time  in  Palestine  Township.  Abraham  Carr 
was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  met  his  death  while 
in  the  pursuit  of  his  usual  avocation,  being  fatally 
injured  by  the  falling  of  an  ice-house,  which  he 
was  working  on.  He  was  then  about  sixty  years 
old,  and  was  at  the  time  a  resident  of  Kappa.  His 


538 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


wife  had  died  in  the  same  place  about  two  years 
prior  to  the  decease  of  her  husband,  being  at  the 
time  of  her  death  less  than  sixty  years  of  age. 
Their  daughter,  Mary  L.,  lived  in  Indiana  until 
her  father  and  mother  came  to  Illinois,  at  which 
time  she  was  sixteen  years  old.  She  was  married 
one  year  later,  and  died  after  a  few  years  of  wedded 
happiness,  leaving  three  children  living.  One  child, 
Charles  Edward,  had  preceded  her  to  rest.  The 
living  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vanscyoc  are  thus 
enumerated:  Margaret  M.,  who  married  John 
Davidson,  a  native  of  this  county,  but  did  not 
leave  the  home  of  her  childhood,  as  her  husband 
helps  to  farm  the  home  place;  John  A.,  who  chose 
as  his  wife  Ida  Berger,  and  now  lives  on  a  farm  in 
Palestine  Township;  William  A.  who  is  unmarried 
and  assists  in  working  the  large  farm  of  the  father. 
Mr.  Vacseyoc  is  a  man  of  liberal  ideas  in  matters 
of  religion,  and  usually  votes  the  Republican 
ticket.  He  has  been  Township  Supervisor  and  held 
other  offices  of  local  importance,  giving  universal 
satisfaction  in  whatever  place  he  is  called  upon  to 
fill.  In  addition  to  the  large  home  farm  of  nearly 
800  acres  of  fine  land  Mr.  Vanscyoc  owns  the  fol- 
lowing farms:  In  Greene  Township  577  acres;  in 
Palestine  Township  160  acres  on  section  20;  120 
acres  on  section  32;  80  acres  on  section  20;  80  acres 
on  section  26;  26  acres  on  section  24.  In  Kansas 
Township  175  acres.  Adjoining  Padua,  McLean 
County,  160  acres;  in  Hudson  Township,  McLean 
County,  60  acres.  His  landed  possessions  in  this 
and  McLean  County  amount  to  over  2,200  acres  of 
land. 


OLOMON  BELSLY.  Among  the  residents 
of  Spring  Bay  none  are  better  known  or 
more  highly  respected  than  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  the  man  whose  life-record  is 
thus  briefly  summarized.  He  was  more  fortunate 
than  most  of  his  fellowmen  in  that  he  was  en- 
abled to  commence  life  with  a  competency,  which 
had  been  accumulated  by  the  efforts  of  his  father. 
Joseph  Belsly,  the  father  of  Solomon  Belsly,  was 
a  native  of  the  Province  of  Alsace,  which  is  cozily 


situated  among  the  mountains  of  France  and  Ger- 
many. Joseph  Belsly  was  born  about  1811,  and 
lived  in  the  land  of  his  birth  until  he  had  attained  to 
the  age  of  eighteen  years.  Then,  like  thousands  of 
poor  foreigners,  he  sought  the  coveted  wealth  in 
the  land  of  the  free,  and  was  fortunate  enough  to 
gain  it.  He  came  to  America  in  company  with  his 
uncle,  David  Schertz.  They  landed  in  New  York, 
and  thence  came  to  Peoria,  111.,  where  our  subject's 
father  engaged  in  farming  with  his  uncle.  When 
they  first  came  to  Peoria,  the  now  prosperous  city 
was  then  composed  of  five  frame  houses  and  ten  or 
fifteen  log  cabins.  Mr.  Belsly  commenced  team- 
ing, and  worked  in  that  business  until  he  was  mar- 
ried, the  lady  being  Miss  Barbara  Engle,  whose 
parents  are  supposed  to  be  of  the  same  nativit3r  as 
those  of  Mr.  Belsly.  After  his  marriage  Joseph 
Belsly  commenced  farming  on  rented  laud,  but  in 
the  course  tof  a  few  years  he  bought  a  farm  par- 
tially improved,  consisting  of  forty  acres.  By 
continued  industry  and  unremitting  perseverance 
he  was  the  owner  of  1,000  acres  of  improved 
land,  all  in  Woodford  County,  at  the  time  of  his 
death  in  1879. 

To  Joseph  Belsly  and  his  wife  there  were  born 
twelve  children,  of  whom  seven  yet  remain,  namely, 
Peter,  Christian,  Joseph,  John,  David,  Benjamin, 
aud  Solomon,  our  subject.  Peter  became  the  hus- 
band of  Catherine  Schertz,  a  native  of  this  count}', 
and  they  live  in  Roanoke  Township,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  farming;  they  are  the  parents  of  nine 
children.  Christian,  the  second  son,  is  a  druggist 
in  Bellwood,  Neb.;  Joseph  was  in  former  years  a 
farmer,  but  now  lives  retired  in  Peoria  with  his 
wife,  who  was  in  her  youth  Miss  Hannah  Ege,  and 
their  two  children;  Davis  is  a  furniture  dealer  in 
Bellwood,  Neb.,  where  he  has  made  his  home  for 
several  years;  his  wife  was  formerly  Miss  Anna 
Nicholson,  a  native  of  Germany.  Benjamin  is  book- 
keeper for  the  Hoanoke  Mining  Company,  and  re- 
sides in  that  city. 

Solomon  Belsly  chose  as  the  companion  of  his 
life  Mary  E.  Hosher,  who  was  born  in  this  count}7, 
as  was  also  her  father.  Her  mother  was  a  native  of 
Ireland.  Mr.  Belsly  is  a  strong  Democrat,  and  his 
influence  has  often  been  felt  in  party  circles.  He 
has  held,  the  office  of  Assessor  for  the  past  term, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


539 


has  also  served  on  the  jury,  and  as  School  Trustee, 
nnd  in  whatever  capacity  he  has  been  chosen  to  act 
he  always  does  what  is  expected  of  his  office  to  the 
best  of  his  ability,  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of 
the  people,  who  repose  the  utmost  confidence  in 
him. 


AMUKL  WYLIE,  a  pioneer  of  Woodford 
County,  making  his  settlement  here  in 
1846,  as  an  extensive  grain  dealer  in  Min- 
onk,  is  now  the  oldest  representative  of 
that  business  in  the  city.  He  is  also  one  of  the 
foremost  of  the  intelligent,  enterprising  farmers  of 
this  section  of  Illinois,  who  have  been  prominent 
factors  in  developing  its  great  resources,  and  in 
bringing  it  to  its  present  advanced  state  as  a 
wealthy  and  prosperous  count}-.  He  owns  one  of  the 
largest  and  best  improved  farms  in  this  vicinity, 
and  still  superintends  the  cultivation  of  400  acres 
of  it,  although  he  gives  his  principal  attention  to 
his  grain  business. 

Mr.  Wylie  comes  of  good  Revolutionary  stock, 
and  is  of  New  England  origin  and  birth,  born 
among  the  beautiful  green  hills  and  valleys  of  Ver- 
mont, in  Orleans  County,  Nov.  9,  1821,  a  son  of 
Ephriam  and  Lucy  (Mason)  Wylie,  natives  of 
Massachusetts.  His  paternal  grandfather.  Peter 
Wylie,  was  of  Scotch-Irish  parentage.  He  was  an 
officer  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  serving  through- 
out the  entire  struggle,  and  was  raised  to  the  rank 
of  First  Lieutenant  for  his  bravery  and  daring. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  reared  a  fam- 
ily of  no  less  than  seven  children,  and  two  of  his 
sons,  inheriting  the  patriotic  spirit  of  their  sire, 
were  soldiers  in  the  War  of  1812.  The  father  of 
our  subject  was  one  of  the  eldest  of  the  family, 
and  he  was  married  in  the  State  of  Vermont,  and 
carried  on  agriculture  there  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  Craftsbury,  Orleans  County,  when  he 
was  fifty-four  years  old.  Thus  passed  away  ere  the 
infirmities  of  old  age  had  come  upon  iiim,  one  who 
w:is  a  useful  citizen  and  a  thoroughly  honest  and 
upright  man.  who  had  inherited  the  best  traits  of 
his  ancestry.  His  wife  survived  him  many  j'eara, 


living  to  be  nearly  seventy  years  old.  There  were 
eight  children  born  of  their  happy  wedded  life, 
four  of  whom  grew  to  manhood:  Wyram  is  a  farmer 
in  Craftsbury,  Vt. ;  Samuel  is  our  subject;  John 
died  in  Craftsbury  ;  Joseph,  a  farmer  and  a  carpen- 
ter, is  a  resident  of  Minonk. 

Samuel  Wylie  was  bred  to  the  life  of  a  farmer, 
and  resided  on  the  old  homestead  that  was  his 
birthplace  until  he  was  twenty-three  years  old,  re- 
ceiving such  school  advantages  as  were  offered  by 
the  common  schools  of  that  day.  At  the  age  men- 
tioned he  left  home  and  friends,  and  alone  started 
out  in  the  world  to  brave  the  hardships  and  trials 
of  life  on  the  western  frontier  in  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois. .  He  located  at  Metamora,  Woodford  Count}', 
where  he  first  found  employment  in  a  brickyard. 
But  as  he  was  somewhat  versed  in  the  carpenter's 
trade  he  soon  became  employed  at  that,  which  he 
pursued  for  a  period  of  fifteen  years,  finding  steady 
work  in  a  new  country  where  the  pioneers  were 
constantly  requiring  the  aid  of  a  practical,  skillful 
carpenter  to  assist  them  in  their  building  schemes, 
and  in  that  time  he  built  many  residences  and  barns 
in  Woodford  County.  In  1854  he  entered  320, 
acres  of  wild  land,  one  mile  east  of  Minonk,  and 
improved  the  same,  breaking  it  for  cultivation  in 
1855,  that  being  the  first  prairie  land  broken  for 
farming  purposes  in  this  region.  In  1862  he  set- 
tled on  his  land  and  continued  to  dwell  on  it  until 
1884,  when  he  removed  to  Minonk.  In  the  mean- 
time, as  the  state  of  his  finances  would  allow,  he 
judiciously  invested  in  other  land  near  Minonk, 
until  he  now  has  720  acres  of  valuable  land,  all 
well  improved  nnd  under  excellent  cultivation.  In 
1873  he  established  his  present  business  as  a  grain 
and  seed  dealer,  building  a  large  elevator  in  that 
season,  with  a  capacity  of  75,000  bushels.  He  has 
an  extensive  trade,  and  his  dealings  extend  over 
quite  a  large  territory,  and  as  he  possesses  marked 
foresight  and  shrewdness,  combined  with  prudence, 
discretion  and  promptness,  his  business  is  carried 
on  safely,  and  in  a  manner  to  make  an  assured  in- 
come without  fear  of  failure. 

To  the  amiable  wife  who  presides  so  happily  over 
his  pleasant  home,  and  adds  to  his  comfort  and 
content,  Mr.  Wylic  was  married  in  1862.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Catherine  IMvison,  and  she  was 


540 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


a  daughter  of  Emery  and  Nancy  Davison.  She 
was  born  in  1818,  in  Craftsbury,  Vt.,  and  came  to 
Illinois  with  her  brother  Solomon,  who  gave  up  his 
life  for  his  country  while  serving  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Civil  War. 

To  such  men  as  our  subject,  who  have  been  in- 
strumental in  the  upbuilding  of  Woodford  County, 
and  are  still  active  in  the  support  of  its  agricult- 
ural, commercial  or  other  interests,  are  due  the  re- 
spect and  honor  of  his  fellow  citizens.  His  kind, 
friendly  disposition,  his  unostentatious  charitable- 
ness, and  obliging  ways,  long  ago  won  him  a  warm 
place  in  the  hearts  of  all  who  come  under  his  in- 
fluence, and  his  wife  shares  this  affection  with  him. 
Politically,  he  is  a  stanch  Republican,  standing  by 
his  party  whatever  betides.  He  has  never  had  any 
desire  for  public  life,  preferring  the  quietness  of 
his  fireside  when  not  attending  to  his  many  busi- 
ness interests,  to  the  turmoil  of  civic  life.  But,  to 
please  his  friends,  he  has  occasionally  laid  aside  his 
personal  feelings  in  regard  to  the  matter,  and  has 
accepted  local  honors,  which  have,  as  it  were,  been 
thrust  upon  him. 


I  OSIAH  KERRICK,  of  the  firm  of  Kerrick 
&  Humphrey,  proprietors  of  the  Minonk 
Rolling  Mills,  occupies  an  important,  place 
in  the  business  circles  of  Woodford  County. 
Under  the  energetic  management  of  himself  and 
partner,  the  manufacture  of  flour  has  become  one 
of  the  leading  industries  of  this  part  of  Illinois. 
Our  subject  is  serving  with  distinction  his  second 
term  as  Mayor  of  Minonk,  and  under  the  wise  and 
far-sighted  policy  that  governs  his  administration 
of  affairs,  the  city  has  entered  upon  a  new  era  of 
prosperity,  and  is  flourishing  as  never  before. 

Mr.  Kerrick  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  born  in 
Franklin  County,  July  20,  1848,  to  Armisted  and 
Sarah  A.  (Sloan)  Kerrick.  (For  parental  history 
see  biography  of  Armisted  Kerrick  on  another 
page  of  this  work).  Our  subject  was  about  eight 
years  old  when  his  parents  came  to  Illinois  to  set- 
tle, and  he  was  reared  to  manhood  in  this  and 


Marshall  County,  bred  to  a  farmer's  life.  His 
father  being  a  man  of  means,  gave  him  every  ad- 
vantage to  secure  a  good  education,  sending  him, 
after  he  had  left  the  public  schools,  to  Wesleyan 
University,  where  he  pursued  an  excellent  course 
of  study  that  well  fitted  him  for  his  career  in  after 
life.  Having  more  of  a  taste  for  an  active  business 
life  than  for  farming,  in  1874  he  left  the  farm,  and 
coming  to  Minonk,  purchased  an  interest  in  the 
Minonk  Mills,  which  were  thenceforth  conducted 
under  the  firta  name  of  C.  Dobson  &  Co.  for  some 
years,  our  subject  having  the  management  of  the 
mills  while  associated  with  Mr.  Dobson.  In  1881 
he  bought  his  partner's  interest  in  the  business, 
and  was  sole  proprietor  of  the  mills  for  one  year. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  he  admitted  Mr.  Humphrey 
into  partnership.  They  have  improved  the  mills, 
and  enlarged  their  capacity  to  eighty  barrels  a  day, 
and  they  have  introduced  first-class  machinery,  and 
have  everything  in  good  shape,  and  do  a  large 
business.  Mr.  Kerrick  has  acquired  wealth  by  his 
enterprise,  and  owns  other  valuable  property  in 
Minonk. 

Mr.  Kerrick  and  Miss  Margaret  E.  Hollenback 
were  united  in  marriage  in  1870,  and  the  four 
children  born  of  their  wedded  life  complete  their 
pleasant  home  circle:  EvaL  .Harrison  S.,  Florence 
E.,  Elsie  E.  Mrs.  Kerrick  is  a  native  of  Woodford 
County,  and  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Margaret 
(McCune)  Hollenback. 

Mr.  Kerrick  has  long  been  a  conspicuous  figure 
in  the  public  life  of  this  city  and  county,  and  no 
more  painstaking  or  trustworthy  man  ever  held 
civic  office.  He  has  the  courage  and  intelligence 
to  uphold  his  principles,  and  he  does  his  whole 
duty  wherever  placed  or  however  situated.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors 
three  years,  serving  as  Chairman  of  the  Board,  and 
he  was  also  Assessor,  and  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Education,  and  has  taken  an  especial 
interest  in  securing  good  schools  for  the  young. 
Politically  he  is  identified  with  the  Republican 
party,  although  not  an  offensive  partisan.  lie  is 
distinguished  by  strong  common  sense,  a  clear  in- 
sight into  business,  and  is  quick  to  determine  the 
expediency  and  practicability  of  any  measure  pro- 
posed for  the  improvement  of  the  city  or  county, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


541 


and  is  one  of  the  foremost  in  promoting  it  if  feasi- 
ble. During  his  mayoralty  the  city  water  works 
have  been  put  in,  and  many  other  beneficial  im- 
provements have  been  introduced.  Mr.  Kerrick 
is  a  prominent  member  of  Minonk  Lodge,  No.  377, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  has  passed  all  the  chairs. 


YS^- 


BENJAMIN  F.  ZINSER,  banker  and  bard- 
gR  ware  merchant  of  Benson,  established  busi- 
hlll  ness  in  that  town  in  1874,  and  is  one  of  its 
leading  merchants  and  enterprising  citi- 
zens. He  was  born  in  Tazewell  County,  111.,  Dec. 
26,  1851,  and  is  of  German  descent.  His  parents 
were  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Linder)  Zinser.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  Germany,  where  his  early 
boyhood  days  were  passed,  but  when  sixteen  years 
of  age,  in  1818,  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  and  became 
a  resident  of  the  United  States.  He  was  accompa- 
nied by  two  brothers,  George  and  Solomon,  both 
of  whom  are  now  deceased.  The  former,  a  minis- 
ter of  the  Evangelical  Church,  died  at  his  home  in 
El  Paso,  and  Solomon,  a  farmer,  died  in  Washing- 
ton, 111. 

When  Mr.  Zinser  determined  to  try  his  fortune 
in  the  New  World,  he  first  located  in  Philadelphia, 
where  he  became  acquainted  with  the  lady  whom 
he  afterwards  married.  Accompanied  by  his  fam- 
ily, in  1881  he  emigrated  to  Tazewell  County,  111., 
settling  near  Washington,  where  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land,  a  half-mile  south  of  the  city, 
and  there  made  his  home  for  about  seven  years. 
He  afterward  resided  on  a  farm  northeast  of  Wash- 
ington, but  in  1864  removed  to  the  city,  and 
thence  to  Henry  County,  where  he  purchased  a 
farm,  on  which  he  made  his  home  until  1868,  when 
the  death  of  his  wife  occurred.  He  then  became  a 
resident  of  El  Paso,  and  died  in  that  city  in  1870. 
A  family  of  twelve  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Zinser,  and  are  mentioned  in  the  sketch  of  the 
parents  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  manhood  upon  his 
father's  farm,  and  began  his  school  life  in  the  district 


schools  of  the  neighborhood  where  he  resided. 
After  completing  his  rudimentary  studies,  he  then 
pursued  a  course  in  the  Northwestern  College,  tak- 
ing the  higher  branches.  At  the  age  of  seventeen 
years  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself,  and  in  El 
Paso  learned  the  tinner's  trade.  He  next  became 
a  resident  of  Washington,  where  he  engaged  as 
clerk  in  a  hardware  store,  afterward  serving  in  that 
same  capacity  in  El  Paso.  His  labors  in  that  line 
served  as  a  training  school,  in  which  he  learned 
the  habits  and  methods  of  mercantile  life.  At 
different  intervals  during  that  time  he  attended 
school,  until  at  length  he  completed  his  education 
in  the  Northwestern  College.  He  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Woodford  County  since  1869,  and  since 
1874  has  made  his  home  in  Benson.  In  that  year, 
in  partnership  with  A.  Abrahams,  he  established 
the  first  exclusive  hardware  business  in  Benson, 
and  the  connection  was  continued  until  January, 
1881,  when  he  bought  out  his  partner's  interest, 
and  has  since  been  sole  proprietor.  The  year  pre- 
vious (1880)  the  firm  had  established  the  Benson 
Bank,  of  which  he  also  became  proprietor  when  his 
partner  retired  from  the  hardware  business.  From 
the  beginning  he  has  had  a  large  and  flourishing 
trade.  His  stock  is  well  assorted,  and  consists  of 
hardware,  stoves,  farm  machinery,  tinware  and 
pumps.  He  also  keeps  on  hand  paints  and  oils, 
and  all  kinds  of  seeds.  As  his  trade  increased  and 
he  was  necessarily  compelled  to  enlarge  his  stock, 
he  found  his  store  room  insufficient,  and  in  1885 
erected  his  present  building.  His  banking  business 
is  also  in  a  thriving  condition,  and  his  bank  is  con- 
sidered one  of  the  substantial  moneyed  institutions 
of  the  county. 

In  1880  Mr.  Zinser  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Cora  W.  Bowlhy.  daughter  of  James  and 
Anna  Bowlby.  The  lady  is  a  native  of  this  count}-, 
and  by  tbeir  union  an  interesting  family  of  six 
children  has  been  born,  three  sons  and  three 
daughters — Florence  L.,  Chester  B.,  Mae,  Ralph  A., 
Milton  H.,  and  Edith.  Mae  and  Milton  H.  died  in 
infancy. 

Mr.  Zinser  is  one  of  the  leading  business  men'of 
the  county,  and  is  a  progressive  and  enterprising 
citizen.  On  beginning  life  his  capital  consisted  of 
but  $400,  but  with  that  fium  as  a  foundation,  lie 


542 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


lias  secured  a  comfortable  competence.  Aside 
from  his  store  building,  his  stock  and  bank,  he 
owns  sever?!  buildings  in  Benson,  and  is  also  con- 
nected with  various  moneyed  institutions  in  the 
West.  He  is  a  stockholder  of  the  National  Bank 
of  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  the  National  Bank  of  Com- 
merce of  that  city,  the  Continental  National 
Bank  of  St.  Louis,  and  also  of  the  Standard 
Fire  Insurance  Company  of  Kansas  City,  Mo. 
In  political  sentiment  Mr.  Zinser  is  a  Republican, 
and  has  served  his  fellow-citizens  as  Township 
Clerk  and  Village  Treasurer.  Religiously,  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  His  public  and 
private  life  are  alike  above  reproach,  and  he  has 
won  the  confidence  and  high  regard  of  all  with 
whom  business  or  pleasure  have  brought  him  in 
contact.  His  deportment  has  always  been  such  as 
to  command  respect,  and  by  his  courteous  and 
kindly  'manner  he  has  won  many  friends. 


THOMAS  S.  ELLIS,  a  large  farmer  and  suc- 
cessful grower  and  feeder  of  stock,  owns  a 
large  farm  of  280  acres,  which  is  located  on 
section  14,  in  Palestine  Township.  His  farm  is  well 
improved,  having  large  and  commodious  buildings, 
which  are  kept  in  good  repair,  and  shelter  not  only 
the  stock  but  also  various  agricultural  implements, 
the  use  of  which  makes  farming  in  our  day  a  "real 
pleasure.  Eighty  acres  under  a  good  state  of  cul- 
tivation is  located  on  section  11,  but  adjoining  the 
rest  of  the  farm  on  section  14. 

Mr.  Ellis  has  lived  on  this  farm  for  thirty-two 
years,  his  father  locating  on  it  when  our  subject 
was  only  four  years  old.  He  was  born  June  16, 
1852,  in  Somerset  County,  N.  J..  He  is  the  young- 
est son  of  John  Ellis,  whose  biography  is  given 
in  another  part  of  this  book.  When  his  parents 
removed  to  Illinois  he  accompanied  them,  being 
about  four  years  of  age.  He  has  therefore  had 
considerable  experience  in  pioneer  trials  and  fully 
appreciates  the  improvements  that  have  been  made 
in  agricultural  machinery  and  methods  of  operation 
since  his  boyhood.  While  an  occupant  of  his  fath- 


er's house  he  attended  the  common  schools  of  the 
district,  but  wishing  to  secure  a  better  education 
than  they  were  in  a  position  to  give,  he  left  home 
to  attend  the  graded  schools  in  Naples,  III.,  where 
he  pursued  his  studies  with  diligence  and  enthusi- 
asm and  secured  a  good  academic  education. 
Shortly  after  returning  home  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Laura  Billenger  at  the  bride's  home  in  Palestine, 
Township  in  1873.  Mrs.  Ellis  is  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Sarah  Billenger,  and  was  born  in  Ohio  in 
1849,  on  the  14th  of  January.  She  accompanied  her 
family  to  Illinois,  being  then  a  young  girl.  They 
located  in  Bloomington  and  remained  there  for 
some  years,  subsequently  moving  to  Palestine 
Township,  where  they  now  reside.  Mrs  Ellis  at- 
tended a  good  graded  school,  pursuing  a  full  course 
of  studies,  and  finishing  with  honor  to  herself  and 
credit  to  her  teachers.  After  leaving  school  she 
engaged  in  the  profession  of  teaching  which  she 
followed  for  sometime  before  her  marriage.  She 
is  an  intelligent,  thoughtful,  kind-hearted  woman, 
and  has  been  a  true  helpmate  to  her  husband.  Af- 
ter marriage  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ellis  took  up  their 
abode  in  the  Ellis  homestead,  where  they  have 
since  resided,  and  which  has  been  in  their  full  pos- 
session for  the  last  ten  years. 

Mr.  Ellis  gives  his  attention  principally  to  cat- 
tle and  stock  breeding,  keeping  good  blooded  ani- 
mals on  the  farm,  buying  judiciously  when 
necessary,  and  selling  or  withholding  from  sale  as 
the  market  demands.  He  has  been  very  successful 
in  his  business  transactions  and  is  now  comfortably 
I  well-off.  He  is  the  father  of  two  children — John 
T.  and  Ralph  G.,  aged  respectively  twelve  and  six 
years.  Politically  he  is  a  sound  Republican,  but 
has  never  taken  any  active  part  in  political  affairs. 


ALATHIEL  HALLOM  operates  as  a 
farmer  and  stock-raiser  in  Olio  Township, 
of  which  he  has  been  a  resident  since  1862. 
His  native  place  was  in  Clinton  County, 
Ohio,  where  his  birth  occurred  Jan.  16,  1833.  His 
father  was  Charles  Ilallom,  a  native  of  Washington 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


545 


County,  Pa.,  whence  he  removed  to  Ohio,  then 
to  Bureau  County,  111.,  and  later  to  Marshall 
County,  this  State.  In  1856,  he  took  up  his  abode 
in  Eureka,  where  he  died  in  1879.  The  mother  is 
still  living  at  an  advanced  age. 

Mr.  Hallom  was  sixteen  years  old  when  coming 
to  Illinois,  and  afterward  lived  in  Bureau,  Mar- 
shall and  Livingston  counties.  He  was  first  mar- 
ried in  Marshall  County,  to  Miss  Eliza  Myers,  by 
whom  he  became  the  father  of  eight  children,  viz., 
Charles  L.,  John  B.  F.;  lola  M.,  who  died  when 
twenty-one  years  old;  David,  Mary;  Samuel  K., 
who  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  months;  Alice  E. 
and  James  A.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Hallom  died  in 
Olio  Township,  Feb.  23,  1873. 

Our  subject  was  a  second  time  married  in  this 
county,  in  September,  1874,  to  Melinda  T.  Clark, 
who  was  born  in  Clermont  County,  Ohio.  They 
now  have  four  children:  Napoleon  B.C..  George 
M.,  Bazil  P.  and  Hamilton  L.  Mr.  Hallom  has 
taken  quite  a  prominent  part  in  politics  and  is  a 
sound  Democrat.  He  has  held  the  office  of  Justice 
of  the  Peace  and  been  a  School  Director  in  his  dis- 
trict for  twenty-five  years.  His  wife  is  a  member 
of  the  Christian  Church.  The  farm  comprises  190 
acres  of  land,  which  is  well  stocked  with  high-grade 
.Short  horn  cattle  and  draft  horses.  There  are 
good  buildings  and  other  substantial  improve- 
ments. 


SETER  SCHERTZ,  a  prominent  and  influ- 
ential citizen  of  Metamora,  is  one  of  the 
foremost  business  men  of  Woodford 
County.  He  is  extensively  engaged  in 
dealing  in  lumber  and  grain  in  this  city  in  partner- 
ship with  his  brother-in-law,  Peter  D.  Schertz,  and 
also  at  Cazenovia,  and  he  has  added  various  other 
branches  of  business,  such  as  banking,  the  sale  of 
hardware,  harness  and  agricultural  implements,  be- 
sides having  invested  about  $10,000  in  imported 
draft  horses  to  stock  the  county.  He  gives  his 
personal  attention  to  this  multiplicity  of  interests, 
and  in  their  prosecution  has  met  witli  more  than 


ordinary  success,  and  is  classed  among  the  most 
wealthy  and  substantial  citizens. 

Mr.  Schertz  is  a  native  born  citizen  of  Woodford 
County,  Worth  Township  the  place  of  his  birth,  and 
Aug.  8, 1847,  the  date  of  that  important  event  in  his 
life.  He  speaks  the  German  and  English  languages 
fluently.  His  father,  Joseph  Schertz,  was  born  in 
France,  and  was  a  son  of  another  Joseph  Schertz, 
who  came  to  this  country  about  1837,  and  was  a 
pioneer  of  Worth  Township,  where  he  died  at  a  good 
old  age.  The  grandmother  of  our  subject  spent 
her  entire  life  in  her  native  land.  The  father  of 
our  subject  came  to  America  in  1835,  and  spent  the 
first  few  weeks  of  his  life  in  Cook  County,  in  Chi- 
cago, then  a  small,  insignificant  place.  lie  was 
present  when  the  Indians  were  paid  off  there  for 
the  last  time  before  their  removal  across  the  Mis- 
sissippi. He  proceeded  to  Fort  Clark,  as  Peoria 
was  then  called,  and  from  there  made  his  way  to 
Worth  Township,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers.  He  was  married  there  in  the  year  1846 
to  Miss  Anna  Sears,  a  native  of  France.  He  bought 
a  tract  of  land,  improved  a  farm,  and  lived  there 
eighteen  years,  and  then  bought  the  place  where 
he  now  resides,  in  Worth  Township.  He  came 
here  a  poor  boy,  with  no  other  capital  than  a  sound 
intellect  and  a  vigorous  constitution.  But  with  a 
determined  will  he  overcame  every  obstacle  to  suc- 
cess, and  by  far-reaching  foresight  and  skillful  la- 
bor, he  has  accumulated  a  large  amount  of  property. 
He  is  partly  indebted  to  his  wife  for  his  good  for- 
tune, she  being  a  woman  of  more  than  ordinary 
ability,  wise  in  counsel,  and  a  ready  and  willing 
helper.  Indeed  it  is  said  of  her  that  she  is  "  one 
of  the  smartest  women  in  the  count}'."  They  have 
four  children  now  living,  of  whom  the  following 
is  recorded:  Peter,  the  date  of  whose  birth  has 
has  already  been  mentioned;  Mary,  born  Feb.  24, 
1851;  Annie,  Aug.  26,  1853;  Kate, April  19,  1856. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  was  reared  in  his 
his  native  township,  and  received  the  benefit  of  an 
education  in  its  public  schools.  As  soon  as  large 
enough  he  commenced  to  assist  his  father  on  the 
farm,  and  continued  to  reside  with  him  till  1871, 
when  he  came  to  Metamora  to  engage  in  the  grain 
and  lumber  business,  and  at  once  commenced  a 
successful  career  as  a  business  man,  his  brother-in- 


546 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


law,  Peter  D.  Schertz,  an  able  man,  forming  a  part- 
nership with  him  about  ten  years  later.  We  have 
already  mentioned  the  various  other  branches  of 
business  in  which  he  is  engaged,  and  in  each  he  has 
been  highly  successful,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of 
the  leading,  business  men  in  this  part  of  the 
county.  Mr.  Schertz  has  been  twice  married.  His 
first  marriage,  which  took  place  in  1874,  was  to 
Miss  Mollie  Rich.  She  was  a  native  of  Tazewell 
County,  111.,  and  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Rich,  a  na- 
tive of  Germany,  and  a  pioneer  of  Tazewell  County. 
Mrs.  Schertz  died  in  January,  1880,  leaving  one 
child,  Joseph  T.  Our  subject  was  married  to  his 
present  wife,  formerly  Miss  Dora  Kuhl,  May  26, 
1881.  She  is  a  native  of  Woodford  Count}-,  her 
parents  who  came  from  Germany,  being  quite  early 
settlers  of  the  county.  Two  bright  daughters  have 
blessed  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schertz;  Myrtle, 
bom  Feb.  26,  1883;  Ruthie,  July  4,  1885. 

Onr  subject  is  a  man  of  more  than  average  en- 
ergy, enterprise  and  business  tact,  possessing  an 
unbending  will,  just  and  firm  in  all  his  dealings, 
his  career  being,  unexceptional,  and  such  as  to 
cast  credit  on  his  native  county.  He  has  the  cour- 
age and  intelligence  to  uphold  his  principles,  al- 
though he  is  by  no  means  an  offensive  partisan,  as 
is  clearly  shown  by  the  fact  that  he,  a  true  Repub- 
lican, has  served  several  terms  as  Mayor  of  this 
city  which  is  largely  Democratic.  He  is  prominent 
in  politics,  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  various 
county  and  State  conventions.  He  is  ever  cour- 
teous and  affable  in  his  intercourse  with  others, 
and  it  has  been  said  of  him  that  although  such  a 
busy  man,  with  so  many  enterprises  under  his  per- 
sonal supervision,  ''he  always  has  time  to  be  a  gentle- 
man." A  sincere  Christian,  he  is  a  worthy  member 
of  the  Mennonite  Church,  while  his  wife  is  a  valued 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  is  a  gen- 
erous, open-handed,  public-spirited  man,  and  to 
his  enterprise  may  be  traced  nearly  every  public 
improvement  the  city  has  had  for  years.  He  not 
only  lends  his  influence,  but  uses  his  money  freel_y 
to  encourage  public  improvements  of  all  kinds. 
He  gives  liberally  to  all  charitable  and  needy  ob- 
jects, and  he  is  untiring  in  his  devotion  to  his 
friends,  who  always  find  him  as  true  as  steel,  and 
one  to  be  depended  on  in  the  hour  of  trouble.  As  an 


illustration  of  this,  we  will  instance  his  conduct 
towards  his  brother-in-law,  Will  Kuhl,  in  the  time 
of  his  terrible  trial,  when  a  great  outrage  was  com- 
mitted on  him,  whereby  he  lost  his  freedom  for  a 
time  and  might  have  lost  his  life  but  for  the  inter- 
vention of  this  kindest  of  brothers,  who  worked 
unceasingly  for  him  till  he  secured  his  release.  The 
facts  of  the  famous  Kuhl  case  which  show  to  what 
lengths  detectives  will  go,  even  to  defrauding  jus- 
tide,  in  their  greed  to  secure  reward,  are  as  follows: 
In  September,  1881,  William  Kuhl,  a  boy  born  and 
reared  in  Woodford  County,  was  passing  through 
Milwaukee  on  his  way  to  Peoria,  when  he  was  ar- 
rested by  the  authorities,  who  mistook  him  for  Lon 
Williams,  the  notorious  murderer  of  the  Colman 
brothers,  for  whose  arrest  a  large  reward  had  been 
offered.  Mr.  Kuhl  telegraphed  and  wrote  letters 
to  his  brother-in-law,  Peter  Schertz,  but  they  never 
were  delivered.  His  friends  had  arranged  to  meet 
him  at  the  State  fair  in  Peoria,  but  as  he  was  not 
there,and  hearing  that  a  stranger  had  obtained  a  por- 
trait of  him  in  that  city,  Mr.  Shertz  hired  detectives 
to  look  him  up,  as  the}'  were  puzzled  by  his  long 
silence.  Mr.  Schertz  was  soon  informed  that  Mr. 
Kuhl  was  confined  in  the  jail  at  Milwaukee.  He 
immediately  went  there  to  see  him,  and  after  giv- 
ing the  authorities  references,  he  was  finally  admit- 
ted into  the  jail  after  a  long  delay,  and  was  there 
shown  seven  cells  and  six  prisoners,  neither  of  whom 
proved  to  be  the  man  for  whom  he  was  searching. 
He  asked  if  these  were  all  the  cells  and  all  the  pris- 
oners, and  received  an  affirmative  answer.  He 
then  asked  to  be  shown  the  man  that  claimed  to 
be  Kuhl,  and  the  officer  pointed  out  a  man.  and 
when  our  subject  asked  him  if  he  was  Kuhl,  he  an- 
swered "yes,"  and  Mr.  Schertz  said  that  he  was  not 
the  man  he  was  looking  for.  He  then  returned  to 
Chicago,  secured  the  services  of  a  United  States 
officer,  and  went  back  to  Milwaukee,  and  was 
granted  access  to  the  jail,  and  in  an  upper  tier  of 
cells  found  his  brother-in-law.  When  asked  why 
he  was  there,  how  long  he  had  been  there  and  why 
he  had  not  written,  Mr.  Kuhl  told  our  subject  that 
he  had-  been  there  six  weeks;  that  he  was  held  for 
Lon  Williams,  and  asked  in  return  why  Mr.  Schertz 
did  not  come  to  him  when  he  wrote  and  tele- 
graphed for  him.  On  being  informed  that  no  let- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


547 


ters  or  telegrams  had  been  received,  he  said  to  the 
sheriff,  "  Didn't  you  post  ray  letters  or  send  my 
telegrams? "  All  that  official  could  reply  was, 
''•You  didn't  stamp  your  letters."  Mr.  Kuhl  then 
said,  "You  told  me  that  you  had  sent  them,  and 
when  I  asked  you  whether  you  had  heard  from  my 
brother-in-law,  you  said  that  I  was  lying,  that  I 
had  no  brother-in-law."  Mr.  Schertz  asked  the  of- 
ficer what  there  was  against  his  brother-in-law, and 
was  curtly  informed  that  it  was  none  of  his  busi- 
ness. He  replied  that  he  would  make  it  his  busi- 
ness, and  went  out  and  secured  a  writ  of  habeas 
corpus.  The  officers  refused  to  deliver  the  body, 
but  unjustly  held  Mr.  Kuhl  on  a  charge  of  va- 
grancy. It  seemed  as  though  the  authorities  were 
in  league  with  the  detectives,  and  were  determined 
to  hold  Kuhl  whether  rightly  or  wrongly.  His 
trial  for  vagrancy  was  pushed  by  Mr.  Schertz,  who 
was  willing  to  meet  all  expenses  and  take  his 
brother-in-law  out  of  the  State.  His  trial  for  va- 
grancy was  begun  and  lasted  four  days  with  a 
packed  jury.  The  jury  returned  a  verdict  of 
guilty,  and  recommended  the  mercy  of  the  court. 
The  judge  said  that  sentence  would  be  pronounced 
the  next  Tuesday,  that  day  being  Saturday.  Again 
Mr.  Schertz  offered  to  pay  the  expenses  and  take 
Mr.  Kuhl  out  of  the  State,  but  was  refused,  the 
court  insisting  that  the  prisoner  was  Lon  Williams. 
Leaving  a  reporter  to  watch  proceedings,  he  went 
to  Peoria,  and  on  Sunday  morning  received  a  tele- 
gram stating  that  Mr.  Kuhl  was  to  be  taken  to  Du- 
rand  that  night.  It  was  certain  that  he  would  be 
lynched  if  he  were  taken  there,and  Mr.  Schertz  wired 
the  authorities  that  he  would  hold  them  legally 
responsible  if  Kuhl  were  removed  from  the  Mil- 
waukee jail,  and  on  Monday,  accompanied  by  Judge 
Page,  of  Peoria,  Sheriff  Wilkersen  and  ex-Sheriff 
Homer,  both  of  Woodt'ord  County,  and  Mr.  Miller, 
the  man  for  whom  Mr.  Kuhl  worked  in  Hamilton, 
III.,  at  the  time  of  the  murder  of  the  Colman 
brothers,  he  stated  for  Milwaukee  with  Mr.  Kulil's 
sisters.  They  arrived  Monday  evening,  read}-  to 
hear  sentence  passed  Tuesday  morning.  They 
called  at  the  jail  the  next  moring  and  asked  to  see 
Mr.  Kuhl,  but  the  officer  in  charge  said  the  sheriff 
was  away,  and  Kuhl  could  not  be  seen,  still  refus- 
ing when  appealed  to  on  behalf  of  his  sisters,  as- 


suring them,  however,  that  Kuhl  was  still  in  jail. 
By  permission  of  the  court,  Kuhl  had  been  removed 
clandestinely  at  midnight,  Monday.  Mr.  Schertz  and 
his  friends  suspected  that  Kuhl  was  not  in  the  jail, 
and  found  out  that  he  had  been  taken  from  jail  at 
night  and  started  for  Durancl.  The  proper  author- 
ities were  consulted  who  had  sent  the  prisoner  with 
the  officers  in  charge,  and  were  told  that  they 
would  be  held  legally  responsible  for  young  Kuhl's 
life  if  he  was  taken  to  Durand.  The  officers  then 
changed  his  course,  and  went  a  roundabout  way  to 
Menomonee,  Wis.  Mr.  Schertz  and  his  friends  at 
once  started  by  a  direct  route  for  that  town,  but 
changed  their  course  at  Camp  Douglas,  and  there 
found  a  mob  waiting  with  a  rope  to  hang  the  sup- 
posed Lon  AVilliams.  At  Menomonee  they  met  the 
officers  with  Mr.  Kuhl,  and  Mr.  Miller,  the  man  for 
whom  he  had  worked,  was  placed  in  a  room  with 
twenty  or  more  citizens  of  that  place,  and  Mr. 
Kuhl  was  called  in  to  identify  him,  and  did  so  at 
once.  Mr.  Kuhl  was  then  released,  and  the  party 
then  went  St.  Paul,  and  thence  returned  home 
to  Illinois,  and  thus  a  lynching  was  prevented, and 
the  officers  lost  the  reward  which  they  had  used 
such  questionable  means  to  secure.  Nothing  more 
was  done  about  the  matter  till  a  year  and  a  half 
later,  when  election  time  came,  and  the  officers 
who  had  caused  Mr.  Kahl's  arrest  and  subsequent 
unlawful  imprisonment,  circulated  stories  and  in- 
serted in  the  papers  that  they  had  had  the  real  Lon 
Williams  in  custody,  but  that  Mr.  Schertz  had 
bribed  not  only  the  press,  but  the  officers  of  the 
law,  and  had  secured  his  release  in  that  manner. 
Mr.  Scherlz  was  rightly  indignant  at  such  insulting 
assertions,  and  going  to  Milwaukee,  asked  the  offi. 
cers  to  affirm  or  retract  what  they  had  said  and 
published,  and  on  their  refusal  to  do  so,  he  brought 
suit  in  Mr.  Kuhl's  name  for  damages  for  false  im- 
prisonment. The  case,  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
of  the  kind  in  history,  was  at  last  decided  in  May, 
1889,  in  the  United  States  Circuit  Court,  and  dam- 
ages for  the  plaintiff  in  the  sum  of  $4,750  and  costs 
against  the  sheriff  and  his  deputy.  Thus  the  right 
at  length  triumphed;  Mr.  Kuhl's  character  was 
vindicated,  and  he  had  proved  the  value  of  a  true 
friend,  and  of  the  truth  of  the  old  saying,  '•  A 
friend  in  need  is  a  friend  indeed."  Mr.  Schertz  has 


548 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


not  only  collected  the  judgment  for  his  brother-in- 
law,  but  has  secured  a  law  on  the  statute  books  of 
the  States  that  when  a  reward  is  offered,  a  detective 
cannot  hold  an  innocent  man  and  execute  him  be- 
cause he  is  poor — a  fact  which  should  be  and  is 
appreciated  by  all  law-abiding  citizens. 

A  fine  portrait  of  Mr.  Schertz  will  be  found  on 
another  page  of  this  ALBUM. 


ANIEL  HILL  comes  of  pioneer  stock,  his 
father,  John  Hill,  having  been  an  early 
settler,  first  of  Ohio,  and  later  of  Taze- 

well  County,  this  State.  He  was  an  Eng- 
lishman by  birth,  and  emigrated  to  this  country,  and 
settled  in  Ohio  at  an  early  day.  In  1842  he  left 
his  pioneer  home  in  Ohio,  and  with  his  family 
journeyed  across  the  country  to  Illinois  in  the 
familiar  prairie  schooner  of  the  frontiersman.  Trav- 
eling slowly,  and  camping  wherever  night  overtook 
them,  after  several  weeks  they  arrived  at  their  des- 
tination in  Tazewell  County.  The  father  took  up 
a  tract  of  wild  land  within  four  miles  of  Pekin, 
and  building  a  log  cabin  to  shelter  his  family,  he 
proceeded  to  the  hard  task  of  preparing  his  land 
for  cultivation,  and  improving  it  into  a  good  farm. 
Having  but  little  means,  he  had  to  undergo  many 
hardships  and  privations,  and  to  labor  unremit- 
tingly. He  did  not  live  to  complete  the  work  so 
well  begun,  but  ere  many  years  had  passed  away, 
he  was  numbered  among  the  dead,  and  Tazewell 
County  lost  a  useful,  highly  respected  pioneer.  He 
was  twice  married,  and  was  the  father  of  a  number 
of  children.  Of  his  first  marriage  the  following 
survive:  John,  residing  near  Cleveland,  Ohio; 
Daniel;  Harriet,  the  widow  of  Augustus  Work, 
lives  near  Rock  Island.  The  surviving  children 
of  his  second  marriage  are  Lucius,  a  resident  of 
Tazewell  County;  Sarah  J..  wife  of  John  Reese,  of 
Tazewell  County;  Laura,  wife  of  O.  W.  McClel- 
lan. 

Daniel    Hill,  of   this    biographical    review,  was 
born   in   Cuyahoga  County,  Ohio,  May    12,  1832, 


and  when  a  mere  child  he  had  the  sad  misfortune 
to  lose  a  good  mother.  He  was  about  ten  years 
old  when  lie  came  with  his  father  to  this  State,  and 
was  still  a  boy  when  he  met  with  another  severe 
loss  in  the  death  of  his  father,  and  thus  orphaned, 
he  was  early  thrown  on  his  own  resources.  He  was 
reared  amid  pioneer  scenes,  and  his  education,  which 
was  somewhat  limited,  was  obtained  in  the  primitive 
subscription  schools  of  those  early  days  of  the  set- 
tlement of  this  part  of  the  State,  said  schools  being 
held  in  a  rude  log  cabin.  He  has  since  made  up 
for  the  early  deficiencies  of  his  education  by  read- 
ing good  literature,  and  keeping  himself  well-in- 
formed concerning  all  topics  of  interest.  As 
before  mentioned,  he  had  to  begin  the  struggle  of 
life  early,  and  he  found  employment  among  the 
farmers,  and  worked  out  by  the  month  till  he  was 
about  twenty-four  years  old.  March  4,  1858,  his 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  A.  Hodgson  was  solemn- 
ized, and  by  her  cheerful  assistance  he  has  built 
up  a  comfortable  home.  Her  parents,  William  and 
Phoebe  Hodgson,  were  early  settlers  of  Tazewell 
County,  and  are  still  living  in  Pekin.  Daniel  Hill 
became  a  resident  of  Panola  Township,  Wood  ford 
County,  in  the  spring  of  1858.  His  first  purchase 
consisted  of  eighty  acres  of  raw  prairie  land  that  he 
bought  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railway,  paying  $16 
an  acre  therefor.  He  has  since  bought  more  land, 
and  now  owns  100  acres,  all  well  improved,  pro- 
vided with  a  neat  dwelling,  substantial  barn,  and 
other  necessary  buildings,  all  in  complete  order. 


J'jOHN    BERG,    an  enterprising   farmer  and 
I    stock-raiser  of  Woodford  County,   has  been 
a  resident  of  El  Paso   Township  since  the 
'    close   of   the    Civil  War.     His    home   is  on 
section    13,  where   he  rents  from   his  father  eighty 
acres  of  well-improved  and  cultivated  land,  and  he 
is  the  owner  of  an  80-acre  farm  in  Palestine  Town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Berg  is  a  native  of  Cambria  County,  Pa., 
having  been  born  near  Evansburg,  Sept.  15,  1844. 
He  is  the  eldest  son  and  second  child  of  Peter  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


549 


Ann  E.  (Berg)  Berg,  natives  of  the  Kingdom  of 
Hanover,  Germany.  -The  father,  Peter  Berg,  lived 
in  the  Fatherland  and  worked  on  the  home  farm, 
nntil  he  had  attained  the  age  of  twenty-seven 
years,  when  !he  came  to  the  United  States  and  lo- 
cated near  Cambria,  Pa.  Soon  after  his  removal 
to  this  country  he  met  a  young  lady,  who,  like 
himself,  had  left  the  native  Germany,  and  witli 
other  members  of  her  family  sought  a  home  beyond 
the  sea.  With  her  Mr.  Berg  was  united  in  mar- 
riage, still  continuing  to  make  his  home  in  Penn- 
sylvania, where,  assisted  by  his  wife  he  accumu- 
lated a  comfortable  fortune.  Becoming,  however, 
dissatisfied  with  the  East,  and  hearing  constantly 
of  the  great  possibilities  of  the  growing  West, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Berg  emigrated  to  Illinois.  The 
year  previous  to  their  removal  their  son,  our  sub- 
ject, had  sought  the  West,  and  was  so  delighted 
with  what  he  saw  of  the  soil  and  climate  of  Wood- 
ford  County,  that  he  persuaded  his  parents  to 
remove  and  join  him  in  that  county.  After  their 
removal  here  Peter  Berg  continued  to  till  the  soil 
and  gather  in  the  harvests,  and  was  so  prospered  in 
this  undertaking  that  he  became  the  owner  and 
proprietor  of  a  large  farm  in  Palestine  Township, 
in  1865,  and  there  lived  until  the  spring  of  1866, 
when  they  retired  to  the  city  of  El  Paso,  and  there 
the  mother  died  March  27,  1889.  She  had  reached 
the  sixty-seventh  year  of  her  age.  She  was  a  good 
woman,  a  loving  wife  and  mother,  and  a  member  of 
the  Evangelical  Association,  as  is  also  her  husband, 
who  yet  survives.  He  has  gone  back  to  his  home 
in  Palestine  Township,  where  he  lives  with  his 
younger  son,  Frank.  He  is  now  seventy-six  years 
old,  but  he  is  hale  and  hearty,  and  bids  fair  to 
reach  the  close  of  another  cycle  of  his  life. 

During  the  late  Civil  War  our  subject  was  not 
slow  to  respond  to  the  call  for  troops,  and  enlisted 
first  in  the  State  Militia,  and  later  in  the  21st 
Pennsylvania  Regiment,  and  served  in  his  regi- 
ment for  one  year.  He  was  in  no  active  engage- 
ments, but  was  in  several  skirmishes,  and  was  never 
found  in  the  rear  of  the  fight.  He  was  honorably 
discharged  at  Philadelphia  at  the  close  of  the  war. 
It  was  about  this  time  that  he  removed  to  Wood- 
ford  County,  which  has  since  been  his  residence. 
Then  he  was  a  single  man,  but  he  did  not  long  re- 


main so.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lotta  Webber,  the  ceremony  being  solemnized  in 
El  Paso.  His  wife  is  a  native  of  Germany,  and 
was  born  Oct.  23,  1856.  She  was  reared  in  the 
land  of  her  nativity,  and  while  in  her  youth  came, 
in  1873,  to  America,  locating  in  El  Paso.  Her 
father,  Henry  Webber,  lives  in  German)',  being  at 
this  time  about  three-score  years  of  age.  During 
the  more  active  part  of  his  life  Mr.  Webber  has 
been  a  farmer,  but  he  now  has  retired  from  every- 
thing pertaining  to  the  arduous  duties  of  the  farm, 
and  superintends  the  estate. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Berg  are  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren, who  are:  Victoria  E.,  Matilda  M.,  Walter  F. 
They  are  giving  their  children  a  good  education, 
and  are  fitting  them  for  the  duties  that  await  them 
in  the  future.  Mr.  Berg  is  a  member  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Church,  while  his  wife  belongs  to  the  Luth- 
eran Church.  Politically,  Mr.  Berg  affiliates  witli 
the  Republican  party,  but  has  avoided  the  respon- 
sibilities of  office,  preferring  to  live  quietly  in  the 
midst  of  home  enjoyments. 


R.  TOOL,  the  present  efficient  Supervisor 
of  Greene  Township,  is  one  of  the  most  pop- 
ular young  farmers  of  the  community.  He 
now  owns  and  operates  160  acres  of  land  on 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  1,  being  the  old 
home  farm  of  his  father,  and  where  he  has  resided 
for  a  number  of  years.  His  entire  life  has  been  spent 
in  this  county;  his  birth  having  occurred  at  Low 
Point,  Nov.  20,  1846.  He  is  a  son  of  Conrad  H. 
and  Eliza  (Remley)  Tool,  the  former  a  native  of 
West  Virginia,  born  near  Wheeling,  and  the  latter 
born  in  the  Buckeye  State.  The  father  came  to 
Illinois  in  1833,  in  company  with  his  parents,  John 
and  Elizabeth  Tool,  who  will  long  be  remembered 
by  the  early  settlers  of  Metarnora  Township.  They 
first  settled  in  McLean  County,  but  a  few  years 
afterward  came  to  Woodford  County,  and  made 
their  home  in  the  township  before  mentioned.  Mr. 
Tool,  when  only  nineteen  years  of  age  enlisted  in 
in  the  American  army  during  the  War  of  1812, 


550 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  participated  in  many  important  engagements. 
He  followed  the  trade  of  coopering  in  connection 
with  farming  until  his  removal  to  the  West,  when 
he  devoted  his  attention  entirely  to  the  latter  pur- 
suit. 

The  father  of  pur  subject  also  made  farming  his 
life  occupation.  He  was  reared  to  manhood  in 
McLean,  Woodford  and  Tazewell  counties,  and  in 
the  last  named,  married  Eliza  Remlej',  a  native  of 
Monroe  County,  Ohio,  who  came  with  her  parents 
to  this  county  when  a  child.  In  1857,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Tool  removed  to  their  large  farm  in  Greene 
township,  comprising  320  acres,  which  they  had 
previously  purchased.  They  were  numbered 
among  the  highly  respected  people  of  the  commu- 
nity, and  at  their  death  the  county  lost  two  of  its 
best  citizens.  The  wife  and  mother  was  called  to 
her  final  home  in  December,  1885,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-six  j-ears,  the  husband  surviving  until  June 
9,  1887,  when  he  also  departed  this  life  at  the  age 
of  sixty-eight  years.  Their  family  numbered  the 
following  children :  George  M.,  Joseph  R. ;  William 
H.  died  in  1886;  Elizabeth  E.,  Almira  D.,  Sylvester 
and  Eliza;  John  died  at  the  age  of  two  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  of  his  neighborhood. 
His  early  life  was  passed  in  much  the  same  manner 
as  other  farmer  lads,  and  on  reaching  man's  estate, 
in  ]868,  he  wedded  Miss  Mary  A.  Harding,  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Bier)  Harding,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  Devonshire,  England.  In 
1848,  they  left  their  home  across  the  sea  and 
came  to  America,  landing  at  New  York,  then  pro- 
ceeded west,  locating  in  Peoria.  For  some  time 
Mr.  Harding  worked  in  a  lumber-yard  in  that  city, 
and  then  engaged  in  farming  for  about  four  or 
five  years,  after  which  he  came  to  Woodford 
County  in  1858.  He  purchased  land  in  Clayton 
Township,  and  became  one  of  the  well  to-do 
farmers  of  the  community.  He  was  a  man  of  prom- 
inence and  influence,  and  for  several  3Tears  held  the 
office  of  Supervisor.  For  many  years  he  had  offi- 
ciated as  Deacon  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  won 
many  warm  friends  by  his  upright  life  and  gentle- 
manly bearing.  His  wife,  a  most  estimable  lady, 
was  also  greatly  respected  by  those  who  knew  her, 
and  it  was  with  deep  regret  that  their  departure 


for  the  West  was  witnessed.  In  1881,  they  be- 
came residents  of  Saline  .County,  Neb.,  where 
they  are  still  living.  They  were  the  parents  of 
eleven  children,  nine  of  whom  grew  to  manhood 
and  womanhood — James  F.,  Mary  A.,  Margaret  E., 
George  H.,  E  Iwin  S.,  Charles  W.,  Ephraim  V. 
and  Alva  D.  and  Alice,  twins.  Sarah,  the  second 
child,  died  in  infancy,  and  Albert  G.,  the  youngest, 
died  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years. 

Mrs.  Tool  was  born  in  Peoria,  May  27,  1849, 
and  in  the  schools  of  that  city  and  Woodford 
County  received  a  liberal  education.  She  is  a  lady 
of  high  social  attainments,  of  culture  and  refine- 
ment, and  since  sixteen  years  of  age  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  in  which  she  is  an 
active  worker.  By  her  marriage  she  has  become 
the  mother  of  six  children— Elmer  W.,  Floyd  E., 
Alta  M.,  Alberta  R.,  Elsie  M.  and  Claude  A. 

Since  his  marriage,  Mr.  Tool  has  followed  farm- 
ing and  now  owns  and  operates  100  acres  of  highly 
improved  land,  it  being  the  old  homestead  of  his 
father  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  1,  Greene 
Township.  The  entire  amount  is  under  cultiva- 
tion, he  has  good  barns  and  outbuildings,  a  pleas- 
ant home  and  raises  the  best  grades  of  stock,  but 
though  his  business  interests  are  extensive,  he  has 
found  time  to  devote  to  public  affairs.  Knowing 
his  worth  and  ability,  his  fellow  citizens  have  often 
called  upon  him  to  serve  in  public  positions  of  hon- 
or and  trust,  For  a  number  of  years  he  held  the 
office  of  Constable,  in  1879  and  1880  was  Tax  - 
Collector  of  Greene  Township,  for  three  terms  has 
served  as  Township  School  Trustee,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1889  was  elected  both  to  that  office  and 
Supervisor.  He  has  also  acted  as  Marshal  at  the 
fairs  held  at  El  Paso,  and  has  done  effective  service 
for  the  Fair  association.  He  has  ever  discharged 
the  duties  devolving  upon  him  in  a  manner  highly 
satisfactory  to  his  constituents  and  with  credit  to 
himself.  His  popularity  is  equalled  only  by  his 
worth,  and  his  high -standing  among  liis  fellow-citi- 
zens is  the  result  of  his  upright  life,  gentlemanly 
deportment  and  cordial  manner.  Social!}-,  Mr. 
Tool  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  at  El  Paso, 
and  in  politics,  is  a  Democrat.  As  already  seen,  he 
takes  a  deep  interest  in  local  political  affairs,  and 
he  also  does  all  in  his  power  to  insure  the  success  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


551 


the  party  at  the  State  and  National  elections.  He 
lias  gained  a  high  reputation  as  an  auctioneer  and 
salesman  and  has  served  in  that  capacity  at  many 
important  sales  in  Marshall,  McLean,  Livingston 
and  Woodford  counties.  Nature  has  endowed  him 
with  a  manly  bearing  and  an  excellent  voice,  clear 
and  strong,  which  makes  him  an  adept  in  that  line. 
Few  men  are  more  widely  and  favorably  known  than 
J.  R.  Tool,  and  we  are  pleased  to  record  his  sketch. 


HLLIAM  F.  TUCKER,  a  retired  farmer 
and  now  a  resident  of  El  Paso,  occupies  a 
snug  home  on  First  street,  where  he  has 
lived  for  a  period  of  twenty-one  years.  He  was 
formerly  engaged  in  farming  in  Gridley  Township, 
McLean  Co.,  111.  His  landed  possessions  consisted 
of  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Lawndale  Township,  that 
county.  At  one  time  he  was  owner  of  over  300 
acres  in  Anchor  Township,  that  county,  and  which 
was  operated  by  his  sons. 

Mr.  Tucker  came  to  Illinois  in  1835,  and  from 
that  time  until  1868  was  continuously  engaged  in 
farming  pursuits.  Until  1855  he  lived  about  four 
miles  east  of  Pekin,  on  a  farm  which  he  owned  in 
Tazewell  County,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  that 
vrar  removed  to  McLean  County.  There  he  se- 
cured Government  and  railroad  land,  consisting  of 
new  prairie,  from  which  he  improved  a  farm  and 
was  very  prosperous.  In  1868  he  retired  from 
active  labor  and  since  that  time  has  been  consider- 
ably engaged  as  a  money-lender. 

When  flret  establishing  himself  on  his  new  farm 
in  McLean  Connty,  Mr.  Tucker  had  no  neighbors 
for  some  years  nearer  than  two  miles.  A  native 
of  Washington  County,  Ky.,  he  was  born  Sept.  4, 
1816,  and  is  the  son  of  Truman  and  Esther  (Fitz- 
gerald) Tucker,  who  were. natives  of  Maryland 
and  were  of  Scotch  ancestry.  They  were  married 
in  Maryland  and  soon  afterward  emigrated  to  the 
wilds  of  Washington  County,  Ky.,  where  they  im- 
proved their  time  and  where  several  of  their  chil- 
dren were  born.  From  Washington  they  removed 
to  Bullitt  County,  and  from  there  to  Meade 


County,  where  the  household  circle  was  completed 
by  the  birth  of  several  more  children.  Of  the 
twelve,  eleven  came  to  Illinois  with  the  parents- 
One  of  the  sons  was  already  married  and  removed 
to  Missouri.  All  but  one  lived  to  mature  years, 
the  deceased  being  a  daughter  who  died  in  her  girl- 
hood days. 

The  only  survivors  of  this  once  large  family  are 
our  subject  and  his  sister  Dorothy,  Mrs.  Thomas,  a 
widow,  and  living  in  Washington  County,  Ky. 
The  father  died  in  Tazewell  County,  111.,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-six  years,  and  his  wife,  the  mother  of  our 
subject,  passed  from  earth  three  years  lateral  about 
the  age  of  her  husband.  Both  were  Catholics  in 
religion.  William  F.  was  about  twenty  years  of 
age  when  he  accompanied  the  family  to  Illinois. 
He  was  married  near  Pekin  to  Miss  Margaret  Cul- 
lom,  a  relative  of  ex-Governor  and  now  Senator 
Cullom.  She  was  born  in  Boone  County,  Ky., 
July  22,  1818,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Francis 
and  Elizabeth  (Bennett)  Cullom,  who  were  natives 
respectively  of  Maryland  and  New  Jersey.  The 
latter  were  married  either  in  Ohio  or  Kentucky. 
A  part  of  what  is  now  the  city  of  Cincinnati  was 
once  the  homestead  of  George  Cullom,  the  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Tucker,  who  sojourned  there  many 
years,  but  finally  died  at  the  home  of  his  son, 
Francis,  in  Kentucky.  Francis  Cullom  and  wife 
emigrated  to  Tazewell  County,  111.,  as  early  as 
1827,  when  the  present  site  of  Pekin,  near  which 
they  settled,  was  marked  only  by  two  log  cabins. 
They  established  themselves  in  a  similar  domicile 
on  a  squatter's  claim  before  a  Government  land 
office  had  been  opened.  Mr.  Cullom  immediately 
set  about  the  improvement  of  the  farm  in  which 
he  succeeded  admirably,  and  there  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  passing  away  at  the  age  of 
sixty-two  years.  The  mother  died  in  her  prime 
when  comparatively  a  young  woman. 

Of  the  nine  children  born  to  the  parents  of  Mrs. 
Tucker,  seven- lived  to  mature  years  and  five  of 
these  were  married.  Two  of  the  song  served  as 
privates  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  Two  of  the 
others  went  to  California  in  1849.  and  both  met 
their  death  by  being  murdered  it  is  believed.  Mrs. 
Tucker  was  a  young  girl  upon  coming  to  Illinois, 
and  she  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  her 


552 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


marriage.  Her  union  with  our  subject  resulted  in 
the  birth  of  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased. Four  of  these  were  named  respectively, 
Green  W.,  Evert,  Alice  and  James  C.  The  three 
first  mentioned  died  when  quite  young;  James 
adopted  the  profession  of  a  teacher  and  died  in 
Arkansas  when  a  young  man.  Of  the  survivors 
Francis  T.  married  Miss  Catherine  Socks,  and  is 
farming  in  Shasta  County,  Cal.;  William  T.  mar- 
ried Miss  Luella  S.  Smith,  and  they  live  near  Col- 
fax,  McLean  County,  111.,  on  a  farm;  John  S.  is  a 
dentist  by  profession  and  a  resident  of  Blooming- 
ton.  He  married  Mrs.  Jennie  (Worley)  Bowers. 
Mr.  Tucker,  politically  is  an  uncompromising 
Democrat  and  has  held  the  minor  offices.  He  and 
his  family  are  possessed  of  more  than  ordinary  in- 
telligence and  are  greatly  respected  in  the  social 
circles  of  their  community.  Mrs.  Tucker  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


ORGAN  BUCKINGHAM,  deceased,  and 
his  father,  were  early  settlers  of  Wood  ford 
County,  and  occupied  a  prominent  place 
among  its  sturdy,  self-reliant,  enterprising 
pioneers  who  in  those  days  when  the  country  was 
new,  worked  so  vigorously  to  open  it  up  for  settle- 
ment and  develop  its  vast  resources.  Thus  they 
laid  the  foundation  of  a  solid,  enduring  prosperity, 
and  their  names  will  ever  be  held  in  reverence  by 
coming  generations  for  the  part  they  performed  in 
transforming  the  wild  prairies  into  cultivated 
farms.  Our  subject  was  a  large  land-owner  in 
Cazenovia  Township,  where  he  was  extensively  en- 
gaged in  fanning  till  his  untimely  death  while  in 
life's  prime  removed  one  of  the  foremost  citizens 
of  this  community.  Near  the  center  of  section  16 
he  erected  a  commodious  hewed  log  house,  that 
was  considered  one  of  the  most  elegant  houses  in 
the  county  at  the  time,  and  that  substantial  resi- 
dence is  still  standing  as  a  relic  of  pioneer  days. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Greene  County,  Pa., 
Sept.  9,  1803.  His  father,  Isaac  Buckingham,  was 
born  in  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  April  15,  1752. 


He  was  married  Sept.  20,  1802,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Jones,  who  was  born  March  25,  1781,  and  was  the 
daughter  of  Morgan  and  Mary  Jones  and  a  niece 
of  that  David  Jones  who  was  chaplain  in  the  Con- 
tinental Army  during  the  Revolutionary  War  and 
was  one  of  Washington's  trusted  counselors.  Isaac 
Buckingham  remained  a  resident  of  Pennsylvania 
till  1832,  when  he  emigrated  with  his  family  to 
Illinois,  coming  on  a  steamer  by  way  of  the  Ohio 
and  Mississippi  rivers  to  St.  Louis,  whence  they 
propelled  themselves  on  a  flatboat  up  the  Missis- 
sippi and  Illinois  rivers  to  Lacon  (then  known  as 
Columbus),  where  they  landed  on  the  29th  day  of 
April.  They  made  their  way  to  the  house  of 
Squire  Barnes,  a  pioneer  of  Lacon,  with  whom  the 
family  rendezvoused  while  the  father  sought  a 
suitable  location.  He  finally  selected  a  tract  of 
land  in  what  is  now  known  as  Cazenovia  Town- 
ship, Woodford  County,  and  built  a  house  on  sec- 
tion 9,  into  which  the  family  removed  when  it 
was  completed.  He  and  his  sons  then  and  subse- 
quently invested  in  upward  of  3,000  acres  of  land 
in  Cazenovia  Township,  besides  buying  lands  in 
other  parts  of  the  county,  and  they  placed  them- 
selves among  the  wealthiest  and  most  prosperous 
pioneers  in  this  part  of  the  State.  The  elder 
Buckingham  made  his  home  here  till  his  death, 
Feb.  19,  1849.  He  was  a  man  of  sturdy  qualities, 
upright,  honest  and  highly  respected  by  the  entire 
community.  After  his  death  his  wife  made  her 
home  with  her  children,  and  died  at  the  residence  of 
her  daughter-in-law,  Mrs.  Hammers,  May  27,1855. 
Both  she  and  her  husband  were  faithful  members 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  religious  services  were 
often  held  in  their  house.  Eight  of  their  children 
grew  to  maturity,  as  follows:  Morgan,  Jane,  Mary, 
Eleanor  Ruth,  Hannah,  William  and  Sarah. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  eldest  son  of 
his  parents.  He  was  reared  to  man's  estate  in  the 
place  of  his  birth,  and  in  early  life  became  an  ex- 
pert blacksmith  and  cooper,  learning  those  trades  of 
his  father  and  following  them  in  Pennsylvania  till 
1832,  when  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents. 
He  made  a  claim  to  and  entered  large  tracts  of 
Government  land,  and  at  once  commenced  the  im- 
provement of  the  same.  Being  a  single  man  he 
lived  with  his  parents  till  his  marriage,  when  he 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


555 


located  on  section  16,  erecting  as  before  mentioned 
a  large  hewed  log  house,  built  in  a  most  substantial 
manner,  with  porches  in  front  and  rear;  it  was  then 
considered  a  very  handsome  residence,  and  it  is 
still  standing,  well  preserved,  as  a  relic  of  pioneer 
days.  It  was  his  home  till  death  called  him  from 
his  earthly  labors,  Aug.  26,  1845,  in  the  midst  of  a 
busy  and  useful  career,  ere  he  had  reached  the 
meridian  of  life.  In  his  death  the  township  and 
county  suffered  the  loss  of  a  good  citizen  who  had 
never  been  unmindful  of  their  interests  while  work- 
ing hard  to  promote  his  own,  and  had  displayed 
proper  public  spirit  on  all  occasions.  He  bore  an 
honorable  part  in  the  management  of  public  affairs, 
proving  a  valuable  civic  official,  and  after  the  or- 
ganization of  the  township  he  was  appointed  the 
first  Justice  of  the  Peace.  Of  the  three  children 
born  to  him  and  his  wife,  two  grew  to  maturity, 
one  having  died  in  infancy.  Their  daughter  Mar- 
garet, the  elder  of  the  two,  is  now  the  wife  of  the 
Hon.  P.  A.  Coen  (of  whom  see  sketch  on  another 
page  of  this  volume).  A  biographical  account  of 
their  son  Morgan  is  appended  to  this  review  of  the 
father's  life. 

The  wife  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Greene 
County,  Pa.,  July  20,  1814.  Her  father,  Jacob 
Garrison,  was  born  in  German y,  and  coining  to 
America  when  quite  young  with  his  parents,  was 
a  resident  of  Greene  County,  Pa.,  until  his  death 
in  the  year  1843.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife 
was  Margaret  Six,  and  she  was  also  a  German  by 
birth.  She  died  in  Pennsylvania  many  years  be- 
fore the  decease  of  her  husband.  The  wife  of  our 
subject  made  her  home  with  her  father  till  she 
came  to  Illinois  in  1841,  accompanied  by  two  of 
her  sisters  and  joined  her  brother  in  Cazenovia 
Township.  For  some  years  after  her  marriage  with 
our  subject  she  used  to  cook  by  the  open  fireplace, 
and  would  spin  and  weave  all  the  cloth  and  make 
all  the  clothes  worn  by  the  family.  After  Mr. 
Buckingham's  death  she  married  a  second  time, 
May  4,  1851,  to  Jesse  Hammers,  now  deceased 
(see  sketch).  She  makes  her  home  with  her  son 
Morgan,  one  of  the  leading  farmers  in  this  section 
of  the  State  of  Illinois,  of  which  he  is  a  native 
born  citizen.  His  birth  took  place  in  Cazenovia 
Township,  Oct.  22,  1845,  and  litre  he  grew  to  a 


strong  and  vigorous  manhood,  receiving  the  ad- 
vantages of  an  education  in  the  public  schools. 
He  was  but  a  boy  when  the  great  rebellion  broke 
out,  but  he  was  fired  with  patriotism  and  with 
youthful  ardor  longed  to  defend  the  old  flag  under 
whose  folds  he  had  been  born,  and  as  soon  as  cir- 
cumstances permitted  he  enlisted  and  his  name  was 
enrolled  as  a  member  of  Company  G,  134th  Illi- 
nois Infantry.  He  served  till  the  following  Decem- 
ber, being  on  duty  mostly  in  Kentucky  and 
Missouri.  Our  young  volunteer  then  became  very 
ill  from  the  hardships  and  exposure  that  he  had  to 
endure,  and  was  taken  home  to  die,  as  it  was 
thought,  receiving  his  honorable  discharge  after 
his  return  to  Illinois.  His  naturally  vigorous  con- 
stitution triumphed  over  his  ills,  and  by  the  good 
care  of  his  friends  he  was  enabled  to  defy  death 
and  recover  his  wonted  health.  As  soon  as  he 
was  able  to  work  he  resumed  farming,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  marriage  settled  on  the  farm  where  he 
now  resides.  This  estate,  including  his  father's 
homestead,  embraces  800  acres  of  exceptionally 
fine  farming  land,  some  of  which  is  said  to  be  the 
most  productive  in  the  county,  it  producing  hazel 
brush  nineteen  feet  high  at  eleven  years  growth. 
Mr.  Buckingham  has  erected  a  good  set  of  frame 
buildings  on  the  southwest  part  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  16,  Cazenovia  Township,  and 
here  he  and  his  family  have  a  very  pleasant  home, 
the  seat  of  that  genuine  hospitality  that  "welcomes 
the  coming  and  speeds  the  parting  guest."  A  view 
of  this  residence  and  its  rural  surroundings  is 
given  on  another  page  of  this  volume.  Mr.  Buck- 
ingham has  quite  a  collection  of  relics  and  curios, 
and  among  other  things  is  a  very  peculiar  relic  of 
pioneer  days  in  the  shape  of  a  piece  of  soap  that 
his  grandmother  brought  from  Pennsylvania  in 
1832,  fifty-seven  long  years  ago. 

Mr.  Buckingham  has  been  twice  married.  His 
first  marriage,  which  took  place  Dec.  21,  1865, 
was  to  Miss  Melissa  A.  Safford,  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Edna  Safford.  She  was  born  in  Caze- 
novia Township,  June  14,  1848,  and  Aug.  24, 1875, 
fell  into  that  dreamless  sleep  that  knows  no  earthly 
waking.  In  her  death  her  family  experienced  the 
bitter  loss  of  a  considerate  wife  and  a  tender 
mother.  Three  children  were  born  to  our  subject 


556 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


by  that  marriage:  Clarence  M.,  Lonnie  A.  and 
Maggie.  Mr.  Buckingham  was  married  to  his 
present  amiable  wife,  Feb.  4,  1878.  Her  maiden 
name  was  Lucinda  Finch,  and  she  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  Sept.  2,  1857,  a  daughter  of  James 
and  Dorcas  (Casey)  Finch.  The  following  children 
have  come  to  bless  her  marriage  with  our  subject: 
Ruah  E.,  William,  James  I.,  L.  B.,  John  and  Jesse 
Harrison. 

As  a  worthy  descendant  of  an  honored  pioneer, 
our  subject  is  zealously  carrying  on  the  work  in 
which  his  father  and  grandfather  and  their  fellow- 
pioneers  so  well  began,  and  he  has  materially 
aided  in  the  progress  and  added  to  the  prosperity 
of  his  native  county,  which  finds  in  him  one  of  the 
most  deserving  sons  and  most  lo_yal  citizens.  He 
is  a  man  of  good  parts,  of  strong  common  sense, 
keen  business  tact  and  displays  great  ability  n  the 
management  of  his  large  property. 


ETER  BELSLEY,  President  of  the  Roa- 
noke Mining  Co.,  an  extensive  farmer  and 
stock-raiser,  residing  at  Roanoke,  is  prom- 
inently identified  with  the  leading  interests 
of  Woodford,  his  native  county.  He  was  born  in 
this  part  of  Illinois,  Dec.  7,  1841,  the  son  of  Jo- 
seph Belsley,  a  pioneer  of  this  part  of  the  State. 
His  father  was  born  in  the  German  province  of 
Alsace  when  it  belonged  to  France,  and  his  father, 
Michael  Belsley,  is  supposed  to  have  been  born  in 
the  same  province,  being  descended  of  Swiss  ances- 
try. The  grandfather  of  our  subject  came  to 
America  about  1834,  and  located  in  Spring  Bay 
Township,  of  which  he  thus  became  a  pioneer. 
He  was  a  farmer,  and  took  up  a  tract  of  wild  land 
which  he  improved  into  a  farm  ere  his  death.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Catherine  Schertz,  and 
she  was  likewise  a  native  of  Alsace.  She  spent  her 
last  years  with  her  children.  The  father  of  our 
subject  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  land, 
and  continued  to  reside  there  until  he  was  nineteen 
years  old.  At  that  age  lie  came  to  America  in 
1831  with  an  uncle  who  paid  his  passage,  lie 


worked  for  him  two  years  after  his  arrival  here, 
and  then  started  out  in  life  for  himself  square  with 
the  world.  When  he  came  to  this  country  he  had 
landed  at  Baltimore,  and  thence  he  went  to  Penn- 
sylvania and  stayed  there  a  short  time.  He  next 
made  his  way  to  Ohio  and  resided  near  Cincinnati 
for  a  time.  After  that  he  came  to  Illinois,  and 
commenced  working  by  the  day  or  month,  with 
headquarters  at  Peoria  or  Hilton,  across  the  river 
from  the  former  city.  Peoria  was  then  known  as 
Fort  Clark,  there  being  a  stockade  there.  The 
country  was  very  sparsely  inhabited,  it  being  but 
a  few  years  since  the  first  white  settlers  had  made 
their  appearance  in  this  region,  and  Woodford 
County  had  not  then  been  organized.  Mr.  Belsley 
lived  in  Peoria  for  some  years  and  then  came  to 
Woodford  County,  and  in  the  southwestern  part 
rented  land  for  a  time,  and  then  bought  a  tract 
on  section  24,  Spring  Baj7.  There  was  a  log  cabin 
on  the  place  and  a  few  acres  of  the  land  were 
broken  and  under  cultivation.  He  carried  on 
farming  there  till  1852,  when  he  rented  it  out  and 
bought  a  larger  tract  of  land  on  the  same  section, 
on  which  he  resided  the  remainder  of  his  life,  his 
death  occurring  Oct.  23,  1879.  He  led  a  busy, 
active  life,  and  by  the  exercise  of  those  traits  of 
character  which  lead  a  man  to  success  he  became 
prosperous  and  secured  a  competence.  He  was  a 
thoroughly  estimable  man.  well  liked  by  all  and 
regarded  with  great  respect.  His  good  wife  sur- 
vived him  till  February.  1880.  making  her  home 
on  the  old  homestead  till  she  too  passed  from  the 
scene  of  their  pioneer  labors.  There  were  twelve 
children  in  their  family:  Peter  (our  subject); 
Christian,  who  lives  in  Bellwood.  Xeb. :  Joseph,  a 
resident  of  Peoria;  John;  David,  a  resident  of 
Bellwood,  Neb.;  Solomon,  a  resident  of  Spring 
Bay;  Benjamin,  of  Roanoke;  Catherine,  the  only 
daughter,  died  in  her  seventeenth  year;  four  sons 
died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Belsley's  maiden  name  was 
Barbara  Engel,  and  she  was  born  in  Lorraine, 
France.  Her  father  and  mother,  Joseph  and  Bar- 
bara Engel,  were  born  in  the  same  province  and 
came  to  America  with  their  family  about  1835. 
Mr.  Engel  settled  in  what  is  Worth  Township, 
Woodford  County,  of  which  he  thus  became  a 
pioneer.  lie  reclaimed  a  farm  from  its  wild  state, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


557 


and  made  his  home  on  it  till  death.  The  parents 
of  our  subject  were  devout  members  of  the  Men- 
uonite  Church  and  reared  their  children  in  the 
same  faith. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  was 
reared  and  educated  in  Wood  ford  County  and  has 
spent  his  entire  life  within  its  precincts.  He  was 
born  about  the  time  the  county  was  organized,  and 
has  been  a  witness  of  almost  its  entire  growth. 
When  lie  was  young  wolves  were  plenty,  and  deer, 
wild  turkeys  and  other  wild  game  often  added  a 
rich  feast  to  the  pioneers'  scant}-  supply  of  food. 
There  were  no  railways  here,  and  for  many  years 
Spring  Bay  was  the  most  flourishing  town  in  the 
county  and  was  quite  a  trading  and  shipping  point. 
Young  Belsley  lived  with  his  parents  till  he  was 
twenty-six  years  old,  and  then  his  father  gave  him 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  25,  Roanoke  Town- 
ship, on  which  was  a  small  frame  house  and  a 
small  stable,  and  in  the  spring  of  1869  he  settled 
on  that  place.  He  lived  there  until  the  spring  of 
1876,  when  lie  located  where  he  now  resides  on 
the  same  section.  He  is  extensively  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  stock-raising,  and  in  his  ca- 
reer as  an  agriculturist  of  more  than  average  abil- 
ity, he  has  displayed  great  enterprise,  far-reaching 
forethought  and  profound  judgment,  which  traits 
have  placed  him  among  the  foremost  farmers  of 
the  county.  The  home  farm  comprises  320  acres 
of  well  improved  land,  with  a  handsome  and  con- 
veniently arranged  set  of  frame  buildings  and  all 
the  conveniencies  for  carrying  on  farming  after 
the  most  approved  methods.  Mr.  Belsley  also  has 
160  acres  of  choice  land  on  section  13.  Roanoke 
Township,  and  owns  a  quarter  of  section  19,  Waldo 
Township,  Livingston  C9unty.  Our  subject  is 
prominently  connected  wit'h  the  mining  interests 
of  his  native  county.  He  was  active  in  securing 
the  organization  of  the  Roanoke  Mining  Com- 
pany, and  has  served  as  its  president  ever  since  its 
organization,  a  position  for  which  his  line  business 
talents  amply  qualify  him. 

Mr.  Belsley  and  Miss  Catherine  Schertz  were 
united  in  marriage  in  1867,  and  to  them  have 
been  born  nine  children:  Annie  H..  John  ,T.,  Chris- 
tian D.,  Edward  M.,  Magdalena  Emma,  Amos  A., 
Mary  B.,  Kate  A.  and  Benjamin  R.  Mrs.  Belsley 


is  also  a  native  of  Woodford  County,  born  in 
Worth  Township,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Magda- 
lena Schertz. 

Mr.  Belsley's  course  in  life  has  been  such  as  to 
reflect  credit  on  the  citizenship  of  his  native 
county.  A  man  of  many  resources,  possessing  a 
clear,  acute  intellect,  and  a  capacity  for  business 
unsurpassed,  he  has  been  a  prominent  factor  in  ad- 
vancing the  financial  prosperity  of  Roanoke  as 
well  as  in  extending  its  agricultural  interests,  and 
this  township  finds  in  him  a  citizen  of  public  spirit 
who  never  hesitates  to  use  his  influence  to  forward 
all  schemes  that  are  in  anyway  likely  to  benefit  the 
community.  In  politics  a  strong  Democrat,  he 
has  been  a  delegate  to  county  and  district  conven- 
tions, and  his  means,  his  ability  and  his  energy 
have  always  been  at  the  disposal  of  his  party  to  a 
most  generous  extent. 


"ILLIAM  R.  RICHARDSON,  who  is  the 
owner  of  a  valuable  farm  of  290  acres  sit- 
uated on  section  18,  Palestine  Township, 
has  passed  his  entire  life  in  this  county.  He  was 
born  in  Bowling  Green,  on  the  3d  of  June,  1836,  and 
is  a  son  of  James  Madison  Richardson.  His  paternal 
grandfather  in  an  early  day  removed  from  his  na- 
tive State,  Virginia,  to  Kentucky,  where  he  made 
his  home  for  some  years,  when,  accompanied  by 
two  of  his  sons,  he  went  to  Ohio.  The  Buckeye 
State  was  then  in  a  wild  and  uncultivated  condi- 
tion. One  could  travel  miles  through  the  forests 
without  coming  upon  a  single  settlement,  and  the 
red  men  were  still  numerous.  Mr.  Richardson, 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  met  his  death  in  that 
State.  He  was  murdered  by  a  stealthy  Indian  who 
had  been  living  witli  him  in  the  hunting  regions. 
The  fellow  had  deliberately  planned  to  perform  the 
deed,  and  used  Mr.  Richardson's  gun  in  taking  the 
life  of  that  worthy  gentleman. 

James  Madison  Richardson,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Floyd  County,  Ind.,  and  was  fif- 
teen years  of  age  when  he  went  with  his  father  to 


558 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Maumee,  Ohio.  A  few  years  later  he  returned  to 
his  mother,  who  was  still  living  in  Floyd  County, 
and  while  there  making  his  home,  wooed  and  won 
Miss  Nancy  Russell,  sister  of  Charles  Russell,  .in 
whose  sketch,  found  elsewhere  in  this  work,  is  a 
history  of  the  family.  The  young  couple  began 
their  domestic  life  in  the  county  where  their  mar- 
riage was  celebrated,  and  unto  them  was  born 
one  child,  Charles  R.  In  1831,  accompanied  by 
his  little  family,  Mr.  Richardson  came  to  Illinois, 
in  company  with  a  man  from  the  same  neighbor- 
hood. They  brought  all  their  earthly  possessions 
in  a  one-horse  wagon  and  at  night  encamped  by 
the  road-side.  At  length  they  reached  Woodford 
County,  and  settled  in  what  is  now  Palestine  Town- 
ship, where  Mr.  Richardson  preempted  land  from 
the  Government,  and  from  that  time  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  founded  the  village  of 
Bowling  Green,  he  and  his  brother  laying  out  the 
village.  He  and  his  brother  at  one  time  owned 
and  operated  a  gristmill  and  sawmill  near  that  vil- 
lage. From  time  to  time  he  added  to  his  claim 
until  his  landed  possessions  aggregated  2,000  acres, 
the  greater  part  of  which  was  under  cultivation 
at  the  time  of  his  death.  Near  the  close  of  his 
life  he  laid  aside  all  business  cares,  determined  to 
spend  his  declining  years  in  retirement.  He  died 
at  his  home  in  Secor,  Palestine  Township,  Aug.  12, 
1875,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years,  his  death  re- 
sultijag  from  a  cancer.  Industry  and  energy  char- 
acterized his  entire  career,  and  his  life  was  one  of 
usefulness.  His  wife,  too,  passed  away,  her  death 
occurring  on  Jan.  31, 1886,  when  seventy-five  years 
of  age,  at  the  same  place  as  that  of  her  husband, 
Secor.  They  were  both  charter  members  of  the 
first  C'hiistian  Church  organized  in  Woodford 
County,  and  for  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Richard- 
son was  one  of  its  leading  county  officials.  They 
were  charitable  and  benevolent  people,  who  by 
their  many  acts  of  kindness  won  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  died  respected  by  all. 

The  family  to  which  our  subject  belongs  num- 
bered ten  children,  of  which  he  was  third  in  order 
of  birth.  He  was  reared  to  manhood  upon  his 
father's  farm  and  received  his  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  the  neighborhood.  His  mar- 
riage was  celebrated  at  Quincy,  111.,  the  lady  of  his 


choice  being  Miss  Nancy  N.  Butler,  who  was  born 
in  Harrison  County,  Ind.,  on  the  7th  day  of  Octo- 
ber, 1832,-and  is  a  daughter  of  Hiram  and  Maria 
(Nance)  Butler,  the  former  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
and  the  latter  of  Floyd  County,  Ind.,  where  their 
wedding  occurred.  For  a  little  more  than  a  year 
after  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Butler  resided 
in  Indiana,  when,  with  their  only  child,  Mrs. 
Richardson,  they  removed  to  Pekin,  111.,  the  jour- 
ney being  made  over  the  river  route.  Some  time 
after  that  they  became  residents  of  Woodford 
County,  and  in  Palestine  Township  Mr.  Butler  en- 
tered a  farm  which  he  improved  and  cultivated. 
His  next  place  of  residence  was  Bowling  Green, 
where  he  carried  on  a  store  for  some  years,  when 
he  went  with  his  family  to  Adams  County,  111., 
where  he  made  his  home  for  twelve  years.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time  they  became  residents  of 
Hancock  County,  where  the  death  of  Mr.  Butler 
occurred  in  18C8,  at  his  home  near  Carthage.  He 
was  then  fifty-eight  years  of  age.  His  widow  still 
survives  him,  and  is  now  living  in  Clay  County, 
Iowa,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  She  is  a 
most  estimable  lady,  and  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Church,  to  which  her  husband  also  belonged. 

Three  children  have  been  born  of  the  union  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richardson,  all  yet  living:  Mary  is 
now  the  wife  of  Hector  M.  St.  Clair,  a  native  of 
Illinois,  who  was  educated  in  Naples,  and  is  now  a 
prominent  attorney  of  Kearney,  Neb.  Five  chil- 
dren graced  their  marriage:  William  H.,  Jay  E., 
Mildred,  Ella  and  Clara  (deceased).  Dora  and  Eva 
C.  are  at  home.  Like  their  mother,  the  daughers 
are  intelligent  and  refined  young  ladies,  of  whom 
the  parents  may  justly  be  proud.  The  household 
is  noted  for  its  hospitality,  and  their  circle  of 
friends  is  indeed  extensive.  Mrs.  Richardson  and 
her  daughters  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church 
and  are  held  in  the  highest  regard  by  all  who 
know  them. 

Throughout  his  entire  life  Mr.  Richardson  has 
followed  the  occupation  of  farming  and  has  been 
very  successful  in  that  line.  For  more  than  half  a 
century  lie  has  made  his  home  in  this  county,  hav- 
ing always  resided  in  Palestine  Township,  where 
he  now  owns  one  of  the  best  farms  of  the  commu- 
nity. It  has  been  his  home  for  the  past  thirty- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


559 


three  years  and  comprises  290  acres  of  rich  and" 
highly  cultivated  land,  which  pays  tribute  to  his 
care  and  cultivation.  He  is  a  representative  citi- 
zen, smd]  takes  a  deep  interest  in  public  affairs, 
doing  all  in  his  power  to  promote  the  general 
welfare.  Like  his  honored  father  and  grandfather, 
he  supports  the  Democratic  party  and  is  a  warm 
advocate  of  its  principles. 


EWIS  B.  WILLIAMS.  M,  D.,  was  born  in 
Woodford  County,  on  the  10th  of  January, 

1859.  More  fortunate  than  many  others, 

he  was  able  to  take  the  advantages  of  a  classical 
education.  He  was  a  student  at  Miller's  Commer- 
cial School,  Keokuk.  Iowa,  also  attended  college  in 
Peoria.  He  took  a  thorough  course  of  study  at  the 
Rush  Medical  College,  and  after  three  years'  study 
was  graduated,  in  1889,  as  a  physician  and  surgeon. 
Having  thus  ably  prepared  himself  for  his  life  work 
Dr.  Williams  settled  in  Spring  Bay,  where  he  has 
built  up  a  good  practice,  and  is  justly  considered 
one  of  the  rising  physicians  of  the  present  day.  In 
future  years  many  will  have  occasion  to  be  grate- 
ful to  Dr.  Williams,  as  they  have  in  the  past,  for 
his  quick  perception  of  diseases,  and  his  ability  to 
get  at  the  root  of  the  trouble. 

Milton  Williams,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
a  native  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  began  to  fight 
with  the  world  for  his  daily  bread  when  he  was  but 
a  lad.  His  capital  was  a  pair  of  willing  hands  and 
a  courageous  mind,  but  armed  with  these  he  had 
no  fear  for  the  future.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  left 
at  his  death  a  fine  farm  of  400  acres,  all  improved 
and  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  Not  only  was 
he  prospered  financially,  but  he  enjoyed  the  confi- 
dence and  respect  of  all  who  knew  him,  for  such 
was  the  uprightness  of  his  life,  and  so  great  his 
personal  honesty  that  the  world  was  benefited  by 
his  having  lived  in  it. 

In  1849  Mr.  Williams  was  induced  by  reports  of 
the  wonderful  gold  mines  of  California  to  cross  the 
plains  for  that  State.  It  was  then  a  wilderness  in- 
habited by  a  bold,  desperate  class  of  people.  For 


five  years  he  worked  there  in  the  mines,  and  while 
he  gained  money,  the  hardships  and  deprivations  of 
that  far-off  land  were  scarcely  compensated  for  by 
the  financial  gain.  So  he  gladly  returned  to  his  own 
State  in  1854. 

The  willing  helpmate  and  companion  of  Milton 
Williams,  his  comforter  in  trouble  and  his  sharer 
in  every  joy,  was  his  wife,  whose  maiden  was  Cor- 
delia Delong.  Her  parents  had  for  many  years 
been  residents  of  Ohio,  but  came  West  at  a  time 
when  people  sought  fortunes  in  Illinois.  To  Mil- 
ton Williams  and  his  wife  there  were  born  three 
children,  namely:  Ira,  Ailsie  and  Lewis  B.  our  sub- 
ject. Ira  is  a  grain  dealer  and  resides  in  Cedar 
Bluffs,  Neb.;  Ailsie  married  George  W.  Deford, 
who  is  a  prosperous  farmer  of  this  county. 

Milton  Williams  passed  to  his  final  rest  in  1873, 
mourned  by  a  large  circle  of  friends.  His  wife  sur- 
vives him,  and  is  at  present  residing  in  this  county, 
having  reached  the  age  of  forty-eight  years.  Mr. 
Williams  was  in  political  affairs  a  sympathizer  of 
the  Democratic  party,  and  was  a  man  who  exerted 
a  great  influence  not  only  at  the  polls  but  in  any 
prominent  political  matter.  He  left  the  priceless 
heritage  of  a  good  name  to  his  descendants,  who 
will  have  reason  to  be  proud  of  their  ancestry. 


AMUEL  STITT,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
and  representative  citizens  of  Woodford 
County,  has  since  1855  been  prominently 
identified  with  the  history  of  this  commu- 
nity as  one  of  its  most  successful  farmers.  He  now 
resides  on  section  11,  Palestine  Township,  where 
he  has  made  his  home  for  almost  a  quarter  of  a 
century.  TheStitt  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent, 
and  was  founded  in  America  during  the  days  of 
the  Revolutionary  War  by  Samuel  Stilt,  grand- 
father of  onr  subject.  That  gentleman  was  a  native 
of  the  Emerald  Isle,  and  made  his  home  in  the  land 
of  his  birth  until  the  Colonies  began  their  struggle 
for  independence,  when  he  embarked  for  America. 
He  took  passage  on  a  war  vessel  and  remained  on  it 
as  a  soldier,  taking  an  active  part  in  various  marine 


560 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


engagements  and  fighting  for  the  liberty  of  the 
country  he  had  resolved  to  make  his  future  home. 
After  three  years  of  warfare  he  settled  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  made  his  home  for  a  number  of 
years. 

Prior  to  his  emigration  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject  had  married  a  lady  of  Irish  birth, who  died  a 
short  time  after  becoming  a  resident  of  the  Key- 
stone State,  and  left  two  children  to  her  husband's 
care.  Mr.  Stitt  again  married,  his  second  union, 
which  occurred  in  Pennsylvania,  being  with  Eliza- 
beth Orin,  who,  it  is  thought,  was  born  in  this  coun- 
try of  Irish  parentage.  Some  time  after  his  marriage 
Mr.  Stitt  removed  with  his  family  to  Kentucky, 
and  later  became  a  resident  of  Ohio.  He  was  num- 
bered among  the  early  settlers  of  Brown  County, 
where  he  passed  .the  remainder  of  his  life.  Possess- 
ing a  rigorous  constitution,  he  seemed  especially 
adapted  to  the  hardships  and  trials  which  come  to 
those  establishing  homes  on  the  frontier.  He  died 
at  the  asre  of  fifty  years,  and  his  wife  departed  this 
life  in  Highland'  Count}',  at  the  advanced  age  of 
fourscore  years,  leaving  a  large  family  of  children. 

John  Stitt,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  one  of 
the  younger  members  of  the  family  of  three  sons 
and  four  daughters,  which  graced  the  union  of 
Samuel  Stitt  and  Elizabeth  Orin.  He  was  born 
during  the  residence  of  his  parents  in  Kentucky, 
and  in  1799,  when  but  three  years  of  age,  came 
with  them  to  Highland  County,  and  when  about 
eighteen  years  old  accompanied  them  on  their  re- 
moval to  Brown  County,  Ohio,  then  almost  a  wil- 
derness. The  red  men  far  outnumbered  the  white 
settlers  of  the  community,  for  the  country  was  then 
in  its  early  infancy.  Mr.  Stitt  was  reared  to  man- 
hood in  the  midst  of  these  wild  surroundings,  and 
on  attaining  mature  years  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Hannah  Cooper,  a  native  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  daughter  of  John  and  Hannah  (Dunseth) 
Cooper,  who  were  natives  of  Ireland.  Her  father 
came  to  America  in  the  days  of  his  youth,  and 
when  eighteen  years  of  age  enlisted  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War,  in  which  he  served  for  seven  37ears  as 
a  lieutenant.  He  was  a  brave  and  worthy  soldier, 
and  his  gallant  conduct  on  the  field  of  battle  won 
him  high  praise.  After  the  close  of  the  war,  when 
the  Colonies  were  freed  from  the  yoke  of  British 


tyranny,  he  was  married,  and  with  his  young  bride 
began  life  in  Pennsylvania,  making  it  his  home  for 
about  twenty  years,  then  settling  in  Brown  County, 
Ohio,  he  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days,  dy- 
ing at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years.  His  wife  after- 
wards removed  to  Indiana,  where  she  died  at  the 
home  of  one  of  her  children  when  past  the  age  of 
eighty  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cooper  were  members 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  the  members  of  the 
Stitt  family  were  originally  Presbyterians. 

When  the  parents  of  our  subject  were  married 
they  at  once  settled  upon  a  farm  in  Brown  County, 
Ohio,  where  five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, were  born  unto  them.  Mr.  Stitt  followed  ag- 
ricultural pursuits  throughout  the  greater  part  of 
his  life.  He  died  on  the  homestead  in  Byrd  Town- 
ship, Brown  County,  of  heart  disease,  at  the  age  of 
fifty  years,  and  by  his  death  the  community  lost 
one  of  its  best  citizens.  In  his  early  years  he  was 
a  member  of  the  New  Light  Church,  then  a  strong 
religious  organization  in  the  Buckeye  State,  but 
later  united  with  the  Christian  Church,  of  which 
he  was  a  faithful  member  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
In  1854  his  excellent  wife  came  to  Illinois  and 
made  her  home  with  our  subject  until  she  too  passed 
away,  March  14,  1884.  Had  she  been  spared  but 
twenty  days  longer  she  would  have  attained  her 
ninetieth  year.  She  died  in  the  faith  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  of  which  she  had  been  a  member  for 
half  a  century.  Samuel,  of  this  sketch,  and  his 
brother  Joseph  are  the  only  members  of  the  family 
yet  surviving.  The  latter,  who  is  a  farmer  and 
mechanic,  is  still  a  resident  of  Brown  County,  Ohio. 
However,  with  one  exception,  all  of  the  family 
grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood  and  were  mar- 
ried. , 

Samuel  Stitt,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  was  reared 
by  worthy  Christian  parents,  and  was  early  taught 
habits  of  industry  and  honesty.  His  education  was 
received  in  the  public  schools  of  Brown  County, 
Ohio,  where  his  birth  occurred  March  7,  1823.  On 
arriving  at  man's  estate  he  left  his  home  and  came 
to  Illinois,  settling  in  Woodford  County,  the  date 
of  his  arrival  being  1855.  Five  years  later,  Dec. 
20,  1860.  he  returned  to  his  childhood's  home  and 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  A.  Picker- 
ell,  who  was  born  in  Brown  County,  Sept.  9,  1 836. 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


561 


Her  parents,  William  and  Abigail  (Fisher)  Picker- 
ell,  were  also  natives  of  the  same  county,  and  were 
probably  of  English  descent.  William  Pickerel! 
passed  his  entire  life  in  Brown  County,  his  death 
occurring  on  the  old  homestead  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
eight  years.  His  wife  survived  until  1887,  when 
she  too  departed  this  life  at  the  old  home,  at  the 
age  of  fourscore  years.  The  paternal  grandfather 
of  Mrs.  Stitt,  Samuel  Pickerell,  was  also  a  brave 
soldier  and  hero  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  having 
served  his  country  for  seven  years  in  its  struggle 
for  Independence.  lie  died  at  the  extreme  old  age 
of  ninety  years,  in  Brown  County,  where  the  death 
of  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  Lowe, 
also  occuncd  at  a  ripe  age.  The  Pickerell  family 
were  firm  believers  in  the  principles  of  the  Christian 
Church. 

Mrs.  Stitt,  the  honored  wife  of  our  subject,  made 
her  home  in  her  native  county  until  her  marriage, 
and  by  her  union  with  Samuel  Slitt,  ten  children 
have  been  born,  one  of  whom,  William  ().,  died 
unmarried  at  the  age  of  twent.y-thrce  years.  Those 
living  are:  Frank  B.,  who  married  Miss  Flora 
Gardner  of  El  Paso,  and  is  now  the  efficient  cash- 
ier of  the  El  Paso  National  Bank;  George  is  mana- 
ger of  a  large  lumber  yard  at  Hutchinson,  Kan., 
where  he  now  resides ;  Harry  K,,  J.  Oscar,  L.  Gay, 
Byron  L.,  S.  Spencer,  Maude  M.  and  Lutie  M.  are 
still  at  home. 

When  Mr  Stitt  came  to  Woodford  County,  he 
settled  in  Metamora  Township,  but  one  year  later 
removed  to  Linn  Township,  purchasing  land  and 
engaging  in  farming  until  1865,  when  he  removed 
to  his  present  home.  At  that  time  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land,  but  has  since  bought  another 
tract  of  forty  acres,  so  that  his  farm  now  comprises 
120  acres.  He  has  made  farming  his  principal 
occupation  through  life,  and  has  been  very  success- 
ful in  that  line.  He  is  industrious  and  enterpris- 
in»,  and  his  farm  is  now  one  of  the  best  in  the 

O  " 

township,  almost  the  entire  amount  being  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation.  Aside  from  his  business, 
however,  he  has  found  time  to  devote  to  public 
affairs,  and  has  identified  himself  with  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  community,  and  has  aided  in  the  pro- 
motion of  those  enterprises  which  tend  to  advance 
the  general  welfare.  He  has  participated  in  the 


growth  a^d  progress,  the  advancement  and  develop- 
ment which  has  been  carried  on  since  his  settlement, 
and  to  him  a  debt  of  gratitude  is  due  for  the  part 
which  he  has  taken  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  county. 
His  wife  is  an  active  member  of  the  Christian  Church 
and  is  held  in  high  regard  in  the  social  world.  Politi- 
cally, he  is  independent,  aiming  to  support  by  his 
vote  the  candidate  whom  he  regards  as  best  quali- 
fied to  represent  the  people. 

Mr.  Stitt  and  his  wife  have  a  very  pleasant  and 
comfortable  residence,  which  is  represented  by  a 
fine  lithographic  engraving  on  another  page  of  this 
volume,  and  in  it  they  welcome  their  many  friends, 
passing  hours  of  social  enjoyment  in  games,  music 
and  other  diversions  from  work-a-day  cares. 


ENRY  KRUG.  This  gentleman  is  worthy 
of  mention  as  one  of  the  younger  farmers 
of  Panola  Township,  where  he  is  successfully 
operating  a  fine  tract  of  land  on  section  8. 
His  native  State  was  Massachusetts,  and  the  date  of 
his  birth  March  14,  1853.  His  parents  were  Michael 
and  Catherine  (Benson)  Krug,  who  were  natives  of 
Bavaria,  and  the  latter  of  whom  died  at  her  home 
in  Panola  Township,  in  December,  1880;  the  father 
is  living  with  our  subject. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  emigrated  to  America 
about  1850,  and  settled  first  in  the  Bay  State.  Their 
family  consisted  of  five  children:  The  eldest 
daughter,  Kate,  is  the  wife  of  George  Saltsman,  of 
Bloomington,  111.;  George  is  living  in  this  town- 
ship; Henry,  our  subject,  is  the  third  child;  John 
is  in  this  township,  and  Rosa  is  the  wife  of  Daniel 
Longman,  a  resident  of  Panola  Township.  About 
1857  the  Krug  family,  leaving  New  England, 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  first  -in  Panola  Village, 
when  it  was  in  its  embryo  state.  The  father  for  a 
time  thereafter,  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad  Company.  Finallj'  he  was  enabled 
to  purchase  forty  acres  of  land  which  is  now  in- 
cluded in  the  farm  occupied  by  our  subject,  and 
which  he  secured  from  the  above-named  company. 
He  was  prospered  in  bringing  this  to  a  good  state 
of  cultivation,  and  as  soon  as  able  doubled  the 
amount  of  his  land.  It  was  only  by  the  most  per- 
severing industry  and  the  closest  economy,  that  he 


562 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


managed  to  make  both  ends  meet,  sowing  and  har- 
vesting his  crops  and  paying  for  his  land.  He  is  still 
living  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  labors.  Politically, 
he  votes  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  in  his  religious 
views  believes  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  with  which  he  has  been  connected  for 
many  years. 

Our  subject  developed  into  manhood  under  the 
parental  roof,  becoming  familiar  with  the  various 
pursuits  of  farm  life,  as  carried  on  in  the  pioneer 
days,  and  receiving  a  limited  education  in  the 
primitive  schools.  He  remained  a  member  of  his 
father's  household  until  desirous  of  establishing  a 
home  of  his  own  and  was  then  married  Feb.  4, 
1886,  to  Miss  Lena  Foskule.  This  lady  was  born 
May  27,  1868,  in  Panola,  and  is  now  the  mother 
of  two  children — William  Michael  and  Nellie  J. 
The  farm  of  our  subject  embraces  200  acres  of 
thoroughly  cultivated  land  which  he  purchased  with 
the  results  of  his  early  industry ;  by  laboring  early 
and  late  he  has  brought  it  to  a  good  state  of  culti- 
vation, and  has  established  upon  it  the  buildings 
required  for  the  prosecution  of  agriculture  in  a 
successful  manner.  On  another  page  of  the  ALBUM 
is  presented  a  lithographic  engraving  of  the  pleasant 
home  of  our  subject.  Although  having  very  little 
to  do  with  public  affairs,  Mr.  Krug  uniformly  casts 
his  vote  in  support  of  the  Democratic  party. 
Aside  from  serving  as  School  Director  six  years, 
he  has  declined  the  responsibilities  of  office.  Pos- 
sessing more  than  ordinary  intelligence,  he  is  a 
man  who  is  looked  up  to  in  his  community,  and 
one  whose  opinions  are  generally  respected.  Com- 
paratively young  in  years,  he  has  before  him  a  fair 
outlook,  and  hosts  of  friends  who  wish  him  well  in 
all  his  undertakings. 


ENRY  H.  SIMPSON,  one  of  the  well-to-do 
farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  Montgomery 
Township,  residing  on  section  1,  is  num- 
bered among  the  early  settlers  of  this 
county,  where  he  has  made  his  home  for  about 
thirty-eight  years.  The  traditions  of  the  family 


trace  the  ancestry  back  to  Ireland.  It  was  prob- 
ably founded  in  America  during  the  early  Colonial 
days,  and  for  several  generations  its  members  were 
residents  of  North  Carolina.  The  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  Benjamin  Simpson,  was  a  native  of 
that  State,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  his  childhood 
home  was  reared  and  married,  the  lady  of  his 
choice  being  also  a  native  of  North  Carolina. 
They  began  their  wedded  life  in  the  community 
whore  their  marriage  was  celebrated,  and  a  large 
family  of  children  graced  their  union.  In  the  early 
part  of  the  nineteenth  century,  probably  between 
the  years  1815  and  1820,  Benjamin  Simpson,  ac- 
companied by  his  family,  emigrated  to  Indiana,  lo- 
cating in  Putnam  County,  where  he  is  numbered 
among  the  pioneer  settlers.  Purchasing  a  farm,  he 
turned  his  attention  to  its  development  and  con- 
tinued its  cultivation  until  his  death,  which  occur- 
red at  the  age  of  threescore  years  and  ten.  His 
•wife  afterward  became  a  resident  of  Illinois,  mak- 
ing her  home  in  the  family  of  her  son  Jacob  for 
some  years.  She  then  went  to  Howard  Count}', 
Ind.,  where  she  spent  the  remainder  of  her  days, 
dying  at  the  home  of  her  second  son,  Zimmerah, 
when  eighty  years  of  age.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Simpson  were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and 
were  faithful  and  consistent  Christian  people. 

Jacob  Simpson,  father  of  our  subject,was  the  eld- 
est child  of  the  family.  When  a  lad  he  accompa- 
nied his  parents  to  Indiana,  and  in  Putnam  County 
attained  his  majority.  He  there  married  Miss 
Sarah  Neff,  a  native  of  Ohio  and  daughter  of 
Adam  and  Margaret  (Mclntosh)  Neff,  who  were 
also  born  in  the  Buckeye  State.  For  many  years 
her  father  followed  farming  in  his  native  county 
but  at  length  removed  to  Putnam  County.  After 
a  residence  of  some  years  in  that  community,  they 
came  to  Woodford  County,  111.,  and  later  made 
their  home  in  Clay  County,  where  the  death  of 
both  parents  occurred.  They  were  also  followers 
of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Jacob  Simpson  for  some  years  after  his  marriage 
resided  in  Putnam  Count}',  where  a  family  of  six 
children,  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  were  born 
of  his  union  with  Miss  Neff.  In  1851,  accompa- 
nied by  his  family,  he  carne  lo  Illinois  and  cast  his 
lot  with  the  early  settlers  of  Woodford  County. 


RESIDENCE  OF  H.  H.  SIMPSON.SEC.I.  MONTGOMERY  TOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCE  OF  LEVI  STUMBAUGH,  5  EC.  33.  PAN  OLA  TOWNSHIP. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


565 


Locating  on  a  farm  on  section  36,  Montgomery 
Township,  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits  for  a 
number  of  years.  The  wife  and  mother  was  not 
long  permitted  to  enjoy  her  new  home,  for  in 
1853,  two  years  after  their  arrival,  she  was  called 
to  her  final  rest,  dying  at  the  age  of  thirty-five 
years.  She  was  a  woman  of  excellent  character, 
and  like  the  other  members  of  the  family  had  em- 
braced the  faith  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mr.  Simp- 
son was  twice  afterward  married.  By  his  second 
union  the  family  circle  was  increased  by  the  birth 
of  four  children,  and  by  his  present  wife  he  has  one 
child.  On  removing  from  Illinois  he  settled  in 
Arkansas,  where  he  made  his  home  for  nine  years, 
then  became  a  resident  of  the  Cherokee  Nation,  in 
the  Indian  Territory,  where  he  has  now  resided  for 
six  years.  At  this  writing  he  is  seventy-six  years 
of  age  but  enjoys  comparatively  good  health. 

II.  II.  Simpson,  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Put- 
nam County,  Ind.,  June  25,  1840,  and  is  the  sec- 
ond in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  six  children. 
He  was  a  lad  of  eleven  years  when  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Woodford  County,  which  from  that  time 
has  been  his  home.  The  prairies  were  then  wild 
and  uncultivated,  the  few  settlements  were  widely 
scattered,  the  cities  were  mere  hamlets  and  the 
count}'  seemed  just  emerging  from  its  primitive 
condition.  The  farm  on  which  the  family  located 
had  not  yet  been  broken  nor  had  any  improve- 
ments been  made.  The  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  were  passed  under  the  parental  roof,  but 
on  attaining  his  majority  he  left  home  and  began 
life's  battle  for  himself.  Though  he  had  but  little 
capital  with  which  to  embark  in  business  he  is  now 
one  of  the  extensive  land-owners  of  the  county, 
389  acres  paying  tribute  to  his  care  and  cultivation. 
Of  that  amount  220  acres  are  comprised  in  the 
home  farm,  while  a  47-acre  tract,  also  in  Mont- 
gomery Township,  is  numbered  among  his  posses- 
sions, and  he  owns  102  acres  in  Olio  Township. 
In  connection  with  general  farming  he  devotes 
considerable  attention  to  the  raising  of  fine  stock, 
which  he  feeds  and  ships  to  foreign  markets.  His 
entire  business  career  has  been  marked  with  hon- 
esty and  fair  dealing,  and  his  success  is  due  to  his 
industry,  energy  and  perseverance,  supplemented 
by  good  business  ability. 


Mr.  Simpson  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss 
Mar}'  Galbraith,  who  was  born  in  Olio  Township 
in  1836.  Her  parents,  Andrew  and  Jane  (Gay ley) 
Galbraith,  were  natives  of  Maryland  and  came  to 
Woodford  County  at  an  early  day.  The  mother 
died  at  her  home  in  Olio  Township  at  the  age  of 
forty  years.  Mr.  Galbraith  was  a  second  time 
married,  and  afterwards  removed  to  Livingston 
County,  where  he  died  at  the  age] of  seventy-two 
years.  The  parents  were  both  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  Four  children  have  been  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simpson,  but  three  are  now  de- 
ceased, namely:  Clara,  Charley  and  one  who  died 
in  infancy.  William,  the  only  living  child,  was 
educated  in  Eureka  College,  and  is  now  assisting 
his  father  in  the  labors  of  the  farm.  In  1871  Mr. 
Simpson  purchased  the  pleasant  home  of  the  fam- 
ily, and  witli  the  exception  of  four  years  spent  in 
Ekireka,  they  have  since  resided  here.  The  house- 
hold is  noted  for  its  hospitality,  and  by  their  many 
friends  they  are  held  in  high  regard.  Mr.  Simp- 
son and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Elpiscopal  Church,  and  are  active  workers  in  the 
Master's  vineyard.  He  is  Superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-school  and  is  a  faithful  laborer  for  its  in- 
terest and  success.  In  political  sentiment  he  sup- 
ports the  Republican  party  and  is  a  warm  advocate 
of  its  principles.  A  lithographic  view  of  Mr. 
Simpson's  residence  appears  elsewhere  in  this  vol- 
ume. 


CORBLY.  There  is  probably  not 
within  the  limits  of  El  Paso  Township  a 
more  thorough  and  skillful  farmer  than  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  He  has  labored  upon  the 
theory  put  forth  by  Horace  Greeley  that  a  moder- 
ate area  of  land  well  cultivated  is  more  prolific  of 
good  results  than  a  large  area  partially  neglected. 
He  has  a  snug  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  El  Paso 
Township,  section  28,  to  which  he  has  given  the 
best  efforts  of  the  last  twenty  years,  and  has  reason 
to  feel  proud  of  his  achievements. 

A  native  of  County  Meath,    Ireland,  our  subject 
wns  born   in  1835,  and  when   a   small   child  came 


566 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


with  his  mother,  Ellen  (Hanley)  Corbly,  to  America. 
John  Corbly,  father  of  our  subject,  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation, '.and  died  in  his  native  Ireland  early  in 
life.  After  emigrating  to  America,  the  mother, 
with  her  children,  located  in  Morris  County,  N  ..I., 
where  she  spent  the  remainder  of  her  life,  dying 
in  1863,  when  about  sixty  years  old.  Thomas  so- 
journed  in  New  Jersey  until  1856,  and  then  came 
to  the  West,  and  in  1861  located  in  El  Paso 
Township,  of  which  he  has  since  been  a  resident. 

Mr.  Corbly  began  the  battle  of  life  at  a  very 
early  age,  working  on  a  farm  in  New  Jersey,  and 
acquiring  those  habits  of  industry  which  have  led 
him  to  success  in  later  life.  He  came  to  Illinois  a 
single  man,  but  in  1859  was  married,  in  Blooming- 
ton,  to  Miss  Margaret  Dempsey.  This  lady  was, 
like  himself,  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  born  about 
1835.  When  a  child  of  twelve  years  she  came  to 
the  United  States  with  her  mother,  her  father  hav- 
ing died  in  Ireland.  The  family  lived  for  a  time 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  then  coming  to  Illinois,  lo- 
cated in  Hudson  Township,  McLean  County.  The 
mother  subsequently  removed  to  the  home  of  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  Corbly,  where  her  death  took  place 
in  1885,  after  she  had  reached  the  advanced  age 
of  ninety  years.  Both  she  and  her  husband  were 
Catholics  in  religion,  as  were  also  the  Corblys. 

Soon  after  their  marriage  our  subject  and  his 
wife  settled  on  a  farm  in  McLean  County,  which 
Mr.  Corbly  operated  as  a  renter  until  he  could 
make  a  purchase.  He  first  secured  eighty  acres, 
upon  which  he  has  since  operated,  beginning  from 
first  principles  in  the  construction  of  a  farm.  It 
was  a  wild,  unbroken  tract  of  prairie  without  a 
building  or  any  fencing,  and  it  is  hardly  neces- 
sary to  state  that  in  bringing  it  to  its  present  con- 
dition there  has  been  employed  a  large  amount  of 
labor,  time  and  money.  Each  year,  however,  saw 
Mr.  Corbly  making  headway,  and  he  is  now  en- 
abled to  rest  upon  his  oars  and  view  with  satisfac- 
tion the  result  of  his  labors. 

The  four  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Corbly 
are  recorded  as  follows:  John  W.  married  Miss 
Margaret  McGaw,  of  Kappa,  and  they  live  on  a 
farm  in  Gridley  Township;  Peter  M.  pursued  his 
studies  at  Cape  Girardeau,  Mo.,  and  at  Karikakee, 
111.,  intending  to  enter  the  ministry,  but  later  aban- 


doned it,  and  is  now  employed  as  a  machinist  in 
Bloomington;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  John  Cleary, 
and  they  live  on  a  farm  in  McLean  County;  Ann 
remains  at  home  with  her  parents.  The  latter  and 
all  the  children  belong  to  the  Catholic  Church. 
Mr.  Corbly  votes  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  has 
held  most  of  the  local  offices.  He  is  numbered 
among  the  substantial  residents  of  his  township, 
and  has  contributed  his  full  share  to  her  growth 
and  development. 


OHN  SPENCER.  Few  people  sojourning 
very  long  in  Olio  Township  fail  to  recog- 
nize this  gentleman  as  one  of  its  most  prom- 
inent citizens.  He  has  been  a  useful  man  in 
his  community,  contributing  his  quota  to  its  prog- 
ress and  prosperity,  discharging  the  duties  of  the 
local  offices,  School  Director,  Trustee  and  Road 
Commissioner,  and,  with  his  wife  and  children,  is 
prominently  identified  with  the  Christian  Church. 
Politically,  he  is  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party.  The  homestead  forms  one  of  the  most 
attractive  spots  in  this  part  of  the  county  and  com- 
prises 120  acres  of  prime  land  under  a  thorough 
state  of  cultivation,  while  he  has  eighty  acres  else- 
where. 

Mr.  Spencer  settled  on  his  present  place  in  the 
fall  of  1864,  and  has  himself  effected  most  of  the 
improvements  which  are  now  observable.  He  has 
neat  and  substantial  buildings,  a  goodly  assortment 
of  live  stock  and  the  requisite  farm  machinery  for 
carrying  on  agriculture  in  a  profitable  manner.  His 
family  consists  of  his  wife  and  four  interesting 
children,  the  latter  named  respectively,  Thomas, 
Alice,  Fanny  and  Minnie.  Two  children,  Ella  and 
Hannah,  died  when  young;  Thomas  married  Miss 
Clara  Bullock,  and  lives  in  Elm  Creek,  Neb.;  Alice 
is  the  wife  of  Charles  Gresham:  Fanny  married 
Thomas  E.  Shaw  and  Minnie  is  the  wife  of  William 
Blanchard.  The  mother  of  these  children,  with 
whom  he  was  united  in  marriage  on  the  9th  of  Au- 
gust, 1855,  in  this  county,  was  formerly  Miss  Mary 
Jane  Tool.  Her  parents  were  John  J.  and  Eliza- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


567 


beth  Tool,  who  were  born  in  Virginia  and  came  to 
this  county  in  1831.  They  settled  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Metamora,  where  they  spent  their  last 
days,  both  being  now  deceased.  Mrs.  Spencer  was 
born  four  miles  from  Washington  in  Tazewell 
County,  Feb.  6,  1836. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Thomas  Spencer, 
a  native  of  AVorcestev,  Yorkshire,  England.  He 
came  to  America  early  in  life,  about  1829,  and 
making  his  way  directly  to  Illinois,  settled  first  in 
Morgan  County.  He  engaged  in  farming  and  made 
the  acquaintance  of  a  maiden  of  his  own  country, 
Miss  Hannah  Norwood,  to  whom  in  due  time  he 
was  married.  The  young  people  settled  on  a  farm 
in  Morgan  County,  where  the  husband  died  when 
his  son,  our  subject,  was  only  six  years  old.  The 
mother  was  subsequently  married  the  second  time 
and  is  now  a  resident  of  Jacksonville,  this  State. 

John  Spencer  was  born  in  Morgan  County,  111., 
Dec.  4,  1831.  His  boyhood  and  youth  was  spent 
in  the  manner  of  most  farmers'  sons,  he  attending 
the  district  school  mostly  during  the  winter  season 
and  in  summer  assisted  in  the  various  employments 
of  the  farm,  becoming  thoroughly  familiar  with  the 
dnties  connected  therewith.  He  remained  a  resi- 
dent of  his  native  county  until  the  spring  of  1855, 
then  came  to  this  county  where  he  has  since  resided, 
with  the  exception  of  two  years  spent  in  Tazewell 
County,  and  three  years  in  Morgan.  Farming  is 
congenial  to  his  tastes,  and  the  pure  air  of  the 
country  has  built  up  a  vigorous  frame  compara- 
tively free  from  the  ills  which  frequently  fall  to 
the  lot  of  man.  As  a  citizen  who  has  exerted  a 
good  influence  upon  those  around  him  and  given 
his  support  to  every  worthy  object,  the  life  of  Mr. 
Spencer  may  with  propriety  be  called  a  success. 


1  OHN  L.  PATTON,  a  prosperous  farmer  of 
|  Greene  Township  and  one  of  its  prominent 
citizens,  who  resides  on  section  24,  is  the 
owner  of  246  acres  of  valuable  land,  160  of 
which  is  situated  on  section  23  while  the  remaining 
eighty-six  acres  is  located  on  section  24.  His  farm 


is  nicely  laid  out  and  has  been  his  home  since 
1869.  The  many  improvements  which  he  has 
made  are  both  useful  and  beautiful.  His  residence 
is  a  neat  and  tasty  dwelling,  the  buildings  are  all 
that  are  necessary  to  a  model  farm,  the  home  is 
surrounded  by  flowering  shrubs  and  shade  and  or- 
namental trees,  and  an  orchard  and  vineyard  have 
been  planted.  The  neat  surroundings  and  the 
well  tilled  fields  indicate  the  thrift  and  enterprise 
of  the  owner,  who  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  lead- 
ing and  progressive  farmers  of  Wood  ford  County. 

Mr.  Patton  was  born  in  Dunkard  Township, 
Greene  Co.,  Pa.,  on  the  29th  day  of  February, 
1836,  and  is  a  son  of  S.  R.  and  Jane  (Haj'nes) 
Patton,  the  former  born  in  Northumberland,  Pa., 
in  1805,  while  the  latter  was  a  native  of  Greene 
County.  The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject. 
John  Patton,  was  born  in  Delaware,  where  his 
father,  the  progenitor  of  the  family  in  America,  lo- 
cated during  the  early  Colonial  days.  He  was 
reared  in  his  native  State,  and  wus  a  minister  by 
profession  but  also  followed  the  occupation  of 
farming.  He  belonged  to  the  Primitive  Baptist 
Church  and  was  a  prominent  preacher  of  that 
faith.  His  ministerial  duties  at  length  called  him 
from  his  home  in  Delaware,  to  Northumberland 
County,  and  in  1 809  he  removed  to  Fayette  County, 
Pa.  His  death  occurred  in  the  easiern  part  of  the 
Keystone  State.  His  son  James  Patton  also  fol- 
lowed the  ministry  and  in  connection  worked  at 
the  carpenter's  trade.  He,  too,  was  born  in  Dela- 
ware, but  became  a  resident  of  Eastern  Pennsylva- 
nia. He  died  in  Greene  County,  Pa. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  S.  R.  Patton,  was  reared 
to  manhood  in  his  native  State  and  on  attaining  his 
majority  was  united  in  marriage  with  Jane  Haynes. 
Eleven  children  were  born  of  their  union,  but  two 
died  in  infancy,  Caleb  and  Joshua,  who  were  twins. 
The  other  members  of  the  family  were  Elizabeth, 
Mary,  James,  John,  Lucinda,  Margaret.  Catherine, 
Martha  E.  and  George  W.  In  1851,  accompanied 
by  his  family,  Mr.  Patton  left  his  Pennsylvania 
home  for  the  West.  Boarding  a  small  boat,  they 
proceeded  to  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where  they  transferred 
to  a  larger  vessel  and  sailed  down  the  Ohio  River 
and  up  the  Mississippi  to  St.  Louis,  whence  they 
came  up  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  rivers  to  La- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


eon  and  thence  by  teams  to  Wood  ford  County,  and 
two  years  later  settled  on  the  farm  upon  which  our 
subject  now  makes  his  home.  The  mother  of  the 
family  was  called  to  her  final  rest  Sept.  13,  1870, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years.  Mr.  Patton  was 
afterwards  again  married,  his  second  union  being 
with  Cynthian  Probasco,  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  Iowa. 
She  died  in  January,  1884.  Like  his  fnthcr  and 
grandfather,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church 
and  a  firm  believer  in  predestination  as  taught  by 
the  followers  of  the  primitive  church. 

In  his  native  county  our  subject  spent  his  boy- 
hood days  until  fifteen  years  of  age,  when  he  came 
with  the  family  to  Woodford  County.  His  school 
life  was  begun  in  Greene  County,  Pa.,  but  he  com- 
pleted his  education  in  the  schools  of  this  commu- 
nity. In  1863  he  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss 
Louisa  Livingston,  a  daughter  of  Lewis  and  Amy 
(Powell)  Livingston,  who  emigrated  to  Illinois  at 
ail  early  day  and  located  in  Tazewell  County, 
whence  they  removed  to  Woodford  Count}'.  Both 
parents  were  natives  of  Loudoun  County,  Va.  The 
father  died  at  his  home  in  this  neighborhood  in 
1871.  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years,  but  his  wife  is 
still  living  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years,  and 
makes  her  home  in  Hoopeston,  Vermilion  Co., 
111.  They  were  parents  of  ten  children,  namely: 
Pleasant,  Mary,  Louisa,  Joseph,  William,  Euphema, 
Sarel,  Oscar,  Charles  and  James. 

Mrs.  Patton  was  born  in  Tazewell  County,  and 
was  a  maiden  of  fourteen  years  when  her  parents 
settled  in  this  county,  where  she  became  acquainted 
with  and  married  Mr.  Patton.  They  began  their 
domestic  life  on  the  farm  upon  which  they  now 
reside  and  which  has  since  been  their  home  with 
the  exception  of  four  years  spent  on  a  farm  in 
Panola  Township.  Three  children  graced  their 
union,  two  of  whom  are  now  living,  Frank  R.  and 
Arthur  L.,  who  are  still  with  their  parents.  Will- 
iam Leslie,  their  first  born,  died  when  a  babe  of 
eight  months.  Both  parents  are  members  of  the 
primitive  Baptist  Church,  and  are  ranked  among 
the  best  citizens  in  the  community  where  they 
have  so  long  made  their  home.  Mrs.  Patton  is 
a  most  estimable  lady,  intelligent  and  refined,  and 
possesses  many  excellencies  of  character,  which 
commend  her  to  the  confidence  and  high  regard  of 


all.  She  is  ever  ready  to  extend  a  helping  hand 
to  the  poor  and  needy,  and  is  greatly  beloved  for 
her  many  acts  of  kindness. 

Mr.  Patton  is  numbered  among  the  self-made 
men  of  Woodford  County.  To  his  own  efforts  may 
be  attributed  his  success  in  life.  He  was  without 
capital  when  he  left  the  parental  roof,  but  by  in- 
dustry, economy  and  perseverance,  supplemented 
by  good  business  ability,  has  secured  a  competency 
and  is  numbered  among  the  prosperous  farmers  of 
the  township.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat  and  has 
held  various  local  offices  of  trust.  He  filled  the  office 
of  School  Director,  and  from  1881  until  1887  was 
Supervisor;  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Board  two 
years  in  succession.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  he 
proved  an  efficient  officer,  as  his  long  continued 
service  indicates  that  fact.  He  discharged  his  du- 
ties with  credit  to  himself  and  in  a  manner  highly 
satisfactory  to  his  constituents.  His  cordial,  gen- 
ial manner  and  gentlemanly  deportment  have 
made  him  very  popular  in  social  circles,  and  his 
sterling  worth  and  strict  integrity,  have  won  him 
the  confidence  and  good  wishes  of  all  with  whom 
he  has  come  in  contact. 


ETER  D.  SCHERTZ,  dealer  in  grain  and 
lumber,  is  one  of  the  most  intelligent  and 
enterprising  of  the  leading  business  men  of 
Metamora,  and  he  and  his  partner,  his 
brother-in-law,  Peter  Schertz,  have  an  extensive 
and  flourishing  trade  throughout  the  county  and 
even  beyond  its  limits.  Our  subject  is  a  native  of 
this  count}',  born  in  Worth  Township  June  26,1848, 
his  father.  David  Schertz,  having  been  an  early 
settler  there.  He  was  a  native  of  France,  as  was 
his  father,  Joseph  Schertz.  who  came  to  America 
in  1837,  and  was  a  pioneer  of  Worth  Township, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  at 
a  ripe  old  age.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  a 
young  man  when  he  came  to  this  country  and  be- 
c:ime  an  early  settler  of  Worth  Township.  He 
bought  a  tract  of  timbered  land  there,  and  built  a 
log  house  in  which  his  children  were  born.  He  was 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


569 


a  hard  worker,  and  managed  to  clear  quite  a  tract 
of  his  land  ere  his  premature  death,  in  the  month 
of  January,  1851,  cut  short  his  useful  career  while 
he  was  yet  in  the  prime  and  vigor  of  life.  He  left 
his  widow  with  five  children,  of  whom  the  follow- 
ing is  recorded:  Christian  is  a  farmer  in  Roanoke 
Township;  Magdalena  is  the  wife  of  John  Smith, 
of  Metamora  Township;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of 
John  Schertz,  of  Roanoke  Township;  Peter  D.,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch ;  Joseph  is  a  farmer  in  Roan- 
oke Township. 

When  the  father  of  our  subject  died,  the  eldest 
son,  Christian,  went  to  live  with  an  uncle  for  two 
years,  but  the  mother  managed  to  keep  the  remain- 
ing members  of  the  family  together,  and  on  Chris- 
tian's return  he  and  the  others,  as  soon  as  large 
enough,  carried  on  the  farm  that  remained  in  the 
possession  of  the  family  until  1875,  and  then  it 
was  sold,  and  the  good  mother  made  her  home 
with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Smith,  until  her  death. 
Our  subject  lived  on  the  home  farm  until  it  was 
sold,  assisting  in  its  management,  and  then,  in  1875, 
bought  a  farm  in  Metamora  Township,  and  was 
prosperously  engaged  in  farming  until  1887.  •  The 
farm  is  finely  located  on  section  13,  and  comprises 
160  acres  of  exceedingly  fertile  soil,  under  good 
tillage,  and  supplied  witli  all  the  modern  improve- 
ments, including  a  neat  set  of  buildings.  In  the 
year  just  mentioned  Mr.  Schertz  rented  his  farm 
and  moved  into  Metamora  for  the  purpose  of  en- 
•  gaging  in  the  lumber  and  grain  business  with  his 
brother-in-law,  Peter  Schertz,  and  they  have  suc- 
cessfully carried  on  the  same  ever  since.  They 
conduct  their  business  by  legitimate  methods,  and 
have  already  gained  a  large  trade. 

Mr.  Schertz  and  Miss  Ann  Schertz  were  united 
in  marriage  in  1874.  She  is,  like  himself,  a  native 
of  Worth  Township,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Annie  Schertz.  (For  parental  history  see  sketch 
of  Peter  Schertz.)  The  pleasant  household  circle 
of  our  subject  and  his  wife  is  completed  by  the 
four  children  that  have  been  horn  to  them,  namely, 
Benjamin,  Annie,  Peter,  Harry. 

Mr.  Schertz  is  a  man  of  intelligence  and  ability, 
and  his  judgment  in  regard  to  business  matters  is 
keen  and  far-seeing.  His  success  in  life  is  attribu- 
able  to  the  fact  that  he  always  pays  close  attention 


to  his  affairs.  His  credit  is  good  and  he  stands 
high  in  financial  circles.  His  friendly,  genial  man- 
ner, willingness  to  oblige,  and  other  agreeable 
social  qualities  make  him  popular  among  his  asso- 
ciates, and  have  won  him  many  warm  friends.  lie 
is  influential  in  the  community,  and  his  enterprise 
is  beneficial  to  the  commercial  interests  of  the  city. 
In  politics  he  affiliates  with  the  Republican  party. 
Religiously,  he  and  his  wife  are  worthy  members 
of  the  Mennonite  Church. 


1C  A  J  AH    STAMPER    PHILLIPS.      The 

name  of  this  eminently  good  man  and 
highly  respected  citizen,  will  long  be  held 
in  kindly  remembrance  by  a  large  number 
of  the  older  citizens  of  Woodford  County,  as  one 
representing  some  of  the  best  elements  of  human 
character.  lie  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ky., 
Dec.  19,  1829,  and  died  at  his  home  on  section  3 
in  Panola  Township,  Aug.  20,  1887.  He  had  been 
for  many  years  a  sufferer  from  cancer  of  the  cheek, 
but  it  is  a  comfort  to  his  friends  to  remember  that 
his  last  hours  were  comparatively  painless. 

Perhaps  we  cannot  do  better  than  to  extract 
from  a  letter  of  his  brother,  Isaac  N.  Phillips, 
something  pertaining  to  the  personal  history  of  our 
subject,  and  also  to  his  qualities  of  character  as  a 
son,  brother,  husband,  father  and  citizen.  His  sec- 
ond name  was  given  him  in  honor  of  Jonathan 
Stamper,  a  distinguished  minister  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  whom  the  parents  had  heard 
upon  one  occasion  amid  the  hills  of  Kentucky,  and 
whose  discourse  impressed  them  greatly.  When  the 
child  was  ten  months  old,  the  heroic  mother  car- 
ried him  in  her  arms  on  horseback  in  the  tedious 
emigration  of  the  family  to  Illinois,  which  occurred 
in  October,  1830.  Senator  Shelby  M.  Cullom,  then 
also  a  babe  in  arms,  was  of  the  same  party  on  that 
memorable  journey.  The  Phillips  family  settled  in 
what  is  now  the  northern  part  of  Tazewell  County, 
three  and  one-half  miles  south  of  the  present  vil- 
lage of  Washington,  and  at  the  age  of  one  year 
Stamper's  wondering  eyes  looked  through  the 


570 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


chinks  of  a  rude  log  cabin  upon  the  historic  deep 
snow  of  Illinois.  His  early  years  were  spent  liter- 
ally in  the  wilderness,  amid  the  scenes  which  "tried 
men's  souls." 

Growing  up  amid  such  surroundings,  the  oppor- 
tunities of  young  Phillips  for  an  education  were  of 
course  meager.  He  acquired  "more  strength  than 
polish — more  sense  than  education";  hut  he  was  a 
diligent  reader  concerning  men  and  events,  and 
was  not  without  that  sturdj-  independence  of 
thought  which  is  sometimes  wanting  in  those  more 
favored  of  fortune.  If,  however,  pioneer  life  in 
Illinois  did  not  favor  technical  hook  education,  it 
favored  in  a  high  degree  the  formation  of  a  good 
character.  Stamper  was  rigidly  and  scrupulously 
honest.  No  farthing  that  was  not  his  own  lin- 
gered in  his  hand,  and  in  this  respect  he  was  one 
of  those  who  stand,  so  to  speak,  above  the  law.  Ali 
who  came  near  to  the  inner  circle  of  his  life,  and 
especially  those  of  his  immediate  family,  can  bear 
witness  to  the  greatness  of  the  satisfaction  he  took 
in  doing  good  to  others  and  making  them  happy. 
He  was  slow  to  anger,  but  courageous  in  the  defense 
of  right.  When,  however,  his  anger  was  once  thor- 
oughly aroused  it  fell  little  short  of  being  terrible. 
Perhaps  his  highest  endowment  was  courage,  using 
that  term  in  the  broader  and  better  sense  which 
includes  fortitude  and  strength  of  will.  Particu- 
larly was  this  exemplified  in  his  last  illness.  Strug- 
gling for  years  in  the  grasp  of  a  mysterious  and 
horrible  disease,  which  wore  away,  inch  by  inch, 
the  magnificent  fabric  of  his  constitution,  he  bore 
his  hard  lot  without  repining,  making,  while  hope 
lasted,  a  valiant  struggle  for  life,  and  when  hope 
failed,  meeting  his  fate  with  unflinching  bravery. 
In  the  evil  day  when  no  resource  was  left  him  but 
courage,  his  heroism  was  equal  to  the  emergency. 

In  the  spring  of  1861  Mr.  Phillips  came  to  his 
late  home  with  his  wife  and  one  or  two  of  their 
children.  He  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land,  la- 
bored industriously,  and  in  the  course  of  time 
added  forty  acres  more  to  his  possessions.  As  a 
neighbor  or  friend  his  life  was  blameless,  and  passed 
in  a  comparatively  uneventful  manner  until  the  ap- 
proach of  the  dread  disease  to  which  he  fell  a  victim. 
The  funeral  services  were  conducted  at  the  house  by 
Revs.  North  and  Steele  in  the  presence  of  a  very 


large  congregation,  the  most  of  which  followed  the 
remains  to  their  place  of  sepulture  in  Baughman 
Cemetery,  one  and  one-fourth  miles  away,  making 
a  procession  probably  half  a  mile  long. 

On  the  31st  of  December,  1857,  occurred  the 
marriage  of  Micajah  S.  Phillips  and  Mrs.  Elmira 
(Frederick)  Corder.  This  lady  was  born  in  Schuyl- 
kill  County,  Pa.,  July  16,  1833,  and  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  and  Hannah  (Maurer)  Frederick, 
likewise  natives  of  the  Keystone  State.  Mrs.  Phil- 
lips when  a  child  of  eleven  years  removed  with 
her  parents  to  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  where  she 
was  reared  to  womanhood,  and  was  first  married, 
July  18,  1854,  to  Jackson  Corder,  by  whom  she 
became  the  mother  of  one  child,  Mary  E.,  now 
deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Corder  came  to  Illinois 
the  year  after  their  marriage,  settling  in  Tazewell 
County,  and  the  death  of  Mr.  Corder  occurred 
about  nine  days  later. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phillips  there  were  born  nine 
children,  six  of  whom  are  living,  viz:  Alfred; 
Rosa,  the  wife  of  Joseph  Engel,  of  Clay  County, 
Kan.;  Dora,  Mrs.  Oscar  Besett,  of  S*.  Louis,  Mo.; 
Lulu,  Lottie  and  Ezra  S.  The  deceased  are  Emma, 
Lydia  and  Frank.  Mrs.  Phillips  continues  to  oc- 
cupy the  homestead  left  h-3r  by  her  husband,  hav- 
ing her  children  with  her. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  wore  Alfred  and 
Susan  Phillips.  One  brother,  Isaac  N.,  is  an  emi- 
nent lawyer  of  Bloomington.  Another  brother, 
James,  lives  near  Morton,  in  this  State,  and  his  sis- 
ter, Mrs.  Banta,  is  a  resident  of  Eureka,- 111.  John 
T.  lives  in  McLean  County,  and  Edward  resides 
in  Louisburgh,  Kan. 


•HOMAS  SUTTON,  veterinary  surgeon  and 
farmer,  was  reared  in  the  moorlands  and 
hilly  districts  of  the  Wolds,  in  East  Riding, 
Yorkshire,  England.  He  was  born  June  10.  1815, 
to  John  and  Susan  (Killam)  Sutton,  also  natives  of 
Yorkshire,  England.  The  father  was  a  farmer  of 
untiring  industry,  and  Thomas  early  learned  to  as- 
sist him  in  the  work.  In  the  meantime  he  received 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


571 


such  limited  education  as  the  school  facilities  of 
that  time  afforded.  Mr.  John  Sutton  was  a  kind, 
indulgent  father,  ever  endeavoring  to  prepare  his 
children  for  their  place  in  life's  battles.  He  and 
his  wife  were  prominent  people  in  their  native 
county,  and  were  universally  respected  by  all  who 
knew  them.  They  died  where  they  had  for  so 
man}7  years  made  their  home,  the  father  when 
about  sixty-five  years  of  age,  while  the  mother 
survived  him  until  she  was  seventy  years  old, 
when  she  too  passed  to  rest.  In  their  live-time 
they  had  been  consistent  members  of  the  Primitive 
Methodist  Church,  and  were  every  ready  to  listen 
to  the  pleading  voices  of  the  wronged  and  suffer- 
ing. Thus  benevolent  and  philanthropic,  the}' 
made  their  lives  sweet  by  self-devotion  and  self- 
restraint. 

Thomas  Sutton,  our  subject,  upon  arriving  at  an 
age  to  enter  upon  the  work  of  his  life,  became  a 
railroad  contractor,  which  occupied  his  time  for  ten 
years.  In  this  line  of  work  he  was  very  proficient, 
and  considered  one  of  the  best  men  in  that  respect  in 
all  his  native  county.  He  married  Miss  Harriet 
Scales,  like  himself  a  native  of  East  Riding,  York- 
shire, and  born  Feb.  11,  1820.  Mrs.  Sutton  was 
the  only  daughter  in  her  father's  family,  and  had 
three  brothers,  Edward,  who  lives  in  Australia; 
William  and  George.  William  was  a  minister  in  the 
Methodist  Church  for  a  great  many  years,  and  did 
much  good  in  his  chosen  work,  but  has  retired  from 
active  labor  and  now  resides  on  Lake  Ontario,  in 
Canada.  The  other  brother,  George,  lived  in  Eng- 
land, married  there,  and  finally  died,  leaving  a 
family,  most  of  whom  are  in  this  country. 

After  marriage  Mr.  Sutton  commenced  to  work 
in  earnest,  and  has  by  severe  and  protracted  efforts 
accomplished  much  in  the  way  of  becoming  finan- 
cially independent.  Becoming  discouraged  in 
England,  and  hearing  of  the  prosperity  of  emi- 
grants to  the  United  States,  he  took  his  family  and 
came  to  this  country.  They  took  passage  on  the 
steamer  "  Sarah  Sands,"  Dec.  1,  1852.  Leaving 
the  famed  shores  of  Albion  for  the  new  country  so 
alluringly  described  to  them,  they  landed  at  Port- 
land, Me.,  after  a  very  pleasant  and  fair  voyage. 
From  Portland  they  made  their  way  across  the 
border  into  Canada,  and  in  the  Province  of  Que- 


bec our  subject  found  work  as  a  railroad  construc- 
tion contractor.  This  occupied  his  time  for  the 
succeeding  two  years,  when  he  settled  in  Morgan 
County,  111.  In  1 855  he  came  to  this  county,  locat- 
ing first  near  Metamora.  the  county  seat,  and  there 
lived  three  years.  He  also  resided  for  a  time  in 
Olio  Township,  at  Walnut  Grove.  But  it  is  his 
present  farm  which  represents  his  first  purchase  of 
land.  It  is  situated  on  section  23,  in  Palestine 
Township,  and  includes  160  acres  of  fine  land,  all 
under  good  cultivation,  and  having  substantial 
farm  buildings,  and  a  comfortable  residence.  This 
has  been  his  home  since  the  year  1864,  when  he 
bought  it  in  an  uncultivated,  unbroken  condition. 
It  has  been"  truly  said  that, 

"  Into  each  life  some  rain  must  fall, 
Some  days  must  be  dark  and  dreary." 

Mr.  Sutton's  life  has  not  proven  to  be  an  excep- 
tion to  the  general  rule.  The  hitherto  happy  house- 
hold was  plunged  into  the  depths  of  sorrow  by  the 
death  of  the  wife  and  mother.  She  passed  to  rest 
at  her  home,  Aug.  4,  1875,  when  she  was  fifty-five 
years  of  age.  It  is  a  rather  striking  coincidence 
in  the  family  history  that  her  death  occurred  at 
the  same  age  when  her  parents  also  were  called  to 
rest.  She  was  a  good  woman,  a  kind,  devoted 
mother  and  wife,  and  highly  esteemed  by  the 
neighborhood  in  which  she  resided. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sutton  were  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  of  whom  four  are  deceased;  William,  who 
died  in  England;  Harriet  A.,  Ed  ward,  and  George, 
who  died  in  this  country.  The  latter  was  married 
and  left  six  children.  The  children  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Sutton  who  are  now  living,  are  as  follows: 
John,  who  married  Mary  Render,  and  lives  in  Kan- 
sas Township,  this  county;  Thomas  W.,  who  chose 
as  his  wife  Margaret  C.  Bevis,  and  is  a  farmer  of 
Palestine  Township;  Mary,  who  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  E.  Durth,  a  resident  of  Kansas  Township, 
this  county;  Elizibeth  and  Samuel, who  are  at  home. 
Mr.  Sutton  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
to  the  maintenance  of  which  he  has  contributed 
liberally  of  his  means,  and  is  always  willing  to  give 
his  time  and  money  to  aid  any  project  calculated 
to  benefit  the  county  and  the  people.  He  and  his 
sons  are  strong  Democrats,  and  uniformly  vote  that 


572 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ticket,  and  assist  in  the  election  of  the  nominees  of 
that  party.  In  the  leading  circles  of  the  county 
Mr.  Button  and  his  refined  family  are  ever  wel- 
comed as  respected  citizens,  and  cultured  represen- 
tatives of  the  worth  of  the  community.  He 'is 
related  to  many  of  the  best  families  in  Illinois; 
some  of  his  relatives  settling  west  of  Jackson- 
ville, including  the  Richardson  and  Killam  fami- 
lies, and  others  equally  influential. 

Mrs.  Thomas  Sutton,  wife  of  our  subject  was  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Mary  (Oldgate)  Scales, 
who  were  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England.  After 
they  were  married  they  removed  to  Yorkshire,  and 
there  Mr.  Scales  founded  a  smithy,  and  worked  at 
his  trade  until  his  death.  He  survived  his  wife  ten 
years.  In  religious  matters  they  were  Wesleyan 
Methodists,  and  were  faithful  to  the  principles  ex- 
pounded by  the  devout  and  sainted  founder  of  that 
sect. 


)EORGE  THORPE,  Sn.,  silent  partner  in  the 
firm  of  Thorpe  &  Sons,  is  numbered  among 
the  solid  men  of  Woodford  County,  and  one 
who  has  been  largely  instrumental  in  bringing  it 
to  its  present  position  as  representing  a  high  de- 
gree of  intelligence  and  prosperity.  A  native 
of  Derbyshire,  England,  he  was  born  March  3, 
1819,  and  received  careful  parental  training  and  a 
good  education  in  the  common  school.  He  was  at 
an  early  age  taught  to  make  himself  useful,  and 
served  a  thorough  apprenticeship  as  a  successful 
general  mechanic,  becoming  an  expert  in  the  hand- 
ling of  tools.  This,  with  his  habits  of  industry 
and  frugality,  laid  the  foundation  of  his  future 
success  in  life. 

This  branch  of  the  Thorpe  family  is  of  pure 
English  stock,  and  the  father  of  our  subject  was 
William  Thorpe,  a  Yorkshireman  by  birth,  and  the 
son  of  George  Thorpe,  who  followed  the  trade  of  a 
carpenter.  The  latter  when  a  young  man  made  a 
trip  to  America  about  100  years  ago,  and  spent 
one  year  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.  He,  how- 
ever, was  warmly  attached  to  the  old  country,  to 
which  he  finally  returned,  and  died  there  at  the 


advanced  age  of  ninety-two  years.  He  married  a 
lady  of  his  own  county,  who,  like  her  husband,  was 
of  remarkably  strong  constitution  and  possessed  of 
great  force  of  character.  She,  too,  lived  to  be  ripe 
in  years,  and  spent  her  entire  life  in  her  native 
shire. 

William  Thorpe,  the  father  of  our  subject,  like- 
wise learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  worked  as 
a  general  mechanic  during  his  early  manhood. 
Later,  he  became  a  contractor  of  considerable  im- 
portance. When  a  young  man  he  changed  his 
residence  to  Glossop,  in  Derbyshire,  where  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Boden.  This  lady  was 
the  daughter  of  a  Derbyshire  farmer,  James  Boden 
by  name,  whose  chief  characteristic  was  sturdy 
honesty  and  industry,  by  which  he  maintained  his 
family  comfortably,  and  was  universally  respected. 
William  Thorpe  after  his  marriage  sojourned  in 
Glossop  until  a  man  of  forty-two  years,  when  he 
was  accidentally  shot  dead  by  the  game-keeper  of 
the  Duke  of  Norfolk.  The  wife  and  mother  after 
the  melancholy  death  of  her  husband  went  to  live 
with  her  son,  John  Thorpe,  in  the  city  of  Manches- 
ter, where  she  died,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five 
years. 

In  England  the  Thorpe  family  were  mostly  Wes- 
leyan Methodists.  To  the  parents  of  our  subject 
there  were  born  eight  children,  six  of  whom  lived 
to  mature  years  and  were  married.  George  was  the 
first  of  the  family  to  set  foot  on  American  soil,  he 
making  the  journey  in  1841,  when  twenty-two 
years  old.  He  embarked  from  Liverpool  on  the 
sailing-vessel  "Constantino,"  which  landed  him  in 
New  Orleans  after  a  voyage  of  six  weeks  and  four 
days.  From  the  Crescent  City  he  made  his  way  to 
Peoria,  this  State,  and  began  in  earnest  the  struggle 
before  him  to  maintain  existence  and  obtain  some- 
thing for  the  future.  Being  a  stranger  in  a  strange 
place,  he  felt  great  need  of  companionship  and  of 
a  home,  and  in  due  time  formed  the  acquaintance 
of  Miss  Eliza  Morris,  which  resulted  in  their  mar- 
riage, Oct.  16,  1842. 

Mrs.  Thorpe  was  born  in  Lancashire,  England, 
July  11,  1821,  and  is  the  daughter  of  James  and 
Ann  (Manock)  Morris,  who  were  natives  of  the 
same  county  as  their  daughter,  and  were  descend- 
ants of  an  old  family  who  had  long  been  residents 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


573 


of  that  locality.  Differing  somewhat  from  the 
Thorpes  in  their  religious  views,  they  were  strong 
adherents  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  James  Morris 
and  his  wife,  with  most  of  their  children,  finally 
set  out  from  their  home  in  Haywood,  England,  for 
Liverp'ool,  and  there  took  passage  in  the  early  part 
of  February.  1841,  for  the  New  World.  After  a 
voyage  of  six  weeks  on  a  sailing-vessel,  they  landed 
in  New  York  City,  and  thence  came  directly  to 
Peoria,  111.  The  father  secured  a  tract  of  land,  and 
began  farming,  but  died  in  less  than  a  year  after 
his  emigration,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  The 
mother  after  coming  to  this  country  identified  her- 
self with  the  Methodist  Church.  She  died  when 
sixty-nine  years  old. 

The  wife  of  our  subject,  like  her  brothers  and 
sisters,  was  carefully  reared  and  well  educated,  and 
remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  her  mar- 
riage. Of  her  -union  with  our  subject  there  were 
born  seven  children,  three  of  whom,  James,  Annie 
and  Henry,  are  deceased.  The  latter  was  taken 
from  the  home  circle  when  a  bright  boy  of  twelve 
years;  the  others  died  in  early  childhood.  Of  the 
survivors,  the  record  is  as  follows  :  William  married 
Miss  Addie  Smith,  and  is  connected  with  the  hard- 
ware business  at  El  Paso;  George  married  Miss 
Annie  Engle,  and  also  belongs  to  the  firm;  Mary 
is  the  wife  of  John  Engle,  and  lives  on  a  farm  in 
Panola  Township;  Joseph  Albert  is  unmarried,  and 
living  with  his  parents.  The  parents  and  children 
all  belong  to  the  Methodist  Church.  Our  subject, 
upon  becoming  a  naturalized  citizen,  identified 
himself  with  the  Republican  party,  to  which  he 
gives  his  unqualified  support. 

Mr.  Thorpe,  upon  coming  to  Peoria,  May  20, 
1841,  found  a  city  of  1,100  inhabitants,  and,  as 
soon  as  possible,  secured  employment  at  his  trade 
of  a  carpenter.  He  soon  began  taking  contracts, 
and  later,  being  a  pattern-maker  and  a  foundry 
workman,  was  employed  for  some  time  in  a  ma- 
chine shop  at  that  place.  He  lived  in  Peoria 
County  until  the  year  18G9,  and  then  changed  his 
residence  to  Woodford  County.  In  the  meantime 
he  had  also  operated  as  a  farmer  for  a  period  of 
ten  years.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  400  acres  in 
Panola  Township,  and  in  Livingston  County  ad- 
joining, which  he  purchased  in  1869,  and  where  he 


made  his  home  until  removing  to  El  Paso  in  1883. 
Since  the  latter  date  he  has  been  partially  retired 
from  active  business,  while  he  keeps  a  general  over- 
sight of  it,  and  gives  to  his'  sons  the  benefit  of  his 
experience.  He  owns  a  good  farm  in  Peoria 
County,  and  some  good  property  in  the  city.  He 
also  has  property  in  Brim  field,  Peoria  County,  and 
in  Minonk,  this  county.  He  has  been  a  Director 
of  the  El  Paso  National  Bank  since  its  organization. 
Without  question,  Mr.  Thorpe  has  been  one  of 
the  most  successful  men  of  his  vicinity.  The  en- 
forced industry  and  frugality  of  his  early  years, 
although  perhaps  seeming  severe  at  the  time,  de- 
veloped within  him  a  self-reliance  and  strength  of 
character  which  has  served  him  well  later  in  life. 
The  firm  of  Thorpe  &  Sons  succeeded  W.  A.  John- 
son in  August,  1885,  and  have  conducted  the  busi- 
ness with  much  success.  In  addition  to  a  full  stock 
of  hardware,  tinware  and  stoves,  they  deal  in  Mc- 
Cormick  Reapers  and  Mowers,  and  receive  a  gener- 
ous patronage  from  the  farmers  around.  Their 
correct  business  methods  and  promptness  in  meet- 
ing their  obligations  have  commended  them  to  the 
business  men  of  El  Paso  and  vicinity,  as  well  as  to 
its  residents  generally.  They  occupy  a  neat  and 
comfortable  home  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the 
city,  where  their  cultivated  tastes  and  ample  means 
have  drawn  around  them  all  of  the  comforts  and 
many  of  the  luxuries  of  life. 


AVID  SNYDER,  a  native  of  Ohio,  has  for 
many  years  been  intimately  connected 
with  the  farming  interests  of  Woodford 
County ,more  especially  of  Roanoke  Town- 
ship, the  place  of  his  residence,  whose  growth  and 
prosperity  he  has  greatly  promoted.  He  owns  a 
large,  well  ordered  farm  in  this  township,  which  is 
classed  among  the  best  in  this  part  of  the  count}'. 
Our  subject  was  born  Dec.  20,  1820,  ten  miles 
northeast  of  the  town  of  Chillicothe,  in  Ross 
County,  Ohio.  His  father,  John  Snyder,  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  born  in  Westmoreland  County, 
Pa.,  and  was  there  reared  and  married,  Elizabeth 


574 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Campf,  a  native  of  that  State,  becoming  his  wife. 
Soon  after  their  marriage  they  emigrated  to  Ohio, 
and  were  pioneers  of  Ross  County,  buying  a  tract 
of  timbered  land,  on  which  the  father  erected  a  log 
house,  which  was  the  birthplace  of  our  subject. 
Having  no  cook  stove  the  mother  used  to  cook  by 
the  open  fire,  and  she  spun  and  wove  wool 
and  flax,  and  taught  her  daughters  those  useful 
arts,  and  they  used  to  manufacture  all  the 
cloth  used  in  the  family.  Mr.  Snyder  cleared  a 
farm  from  the  primeval  forests  of  Ohio,  and  was  a 
resident  there  till  death  claimed  him,  as  was  also 
his  wife;  both  died  on  the  old  homestead.  To 
those  worthy  people  were  born  twelve  children, 
eleven  of  whom  grew  to  maturity:  Catherine.  Mar- 
garet, Elizabeth,  Anthony.  Mathias,  Barbara,  Chris- 
tiana, John,  David,  Conrad,  Henry. 

David  Snyder  grew  to  man's  estate  in  his  native 
county,  remaining  an  inmate  of  the  parental  house- 
hold till  he  was  twenty-one.  At  that  age  he  started 
out  in  life  for  himself,  finding  employment  by  the 
day  or  month,  and  receiving  payment  at  the  rate 
of  $9  a  month,  and  worked  in  this  way  for  some 
years. 

In  1848  he  engaged  in  driving  cattle  from  Ohio 
across  the  mountains  to  Philadelphia  and  New 
York,  receiving  as  compensation  a  dollar  a  day  and 
board  for  himself  and  horse.  He  made  two  trips 
that  year  and  three  in  1849,  and  three  trips  in 
1850.  In  the  fall  of  1850  he  came  to  Illinois, 
having  been  employed  by  one  of  his  neighbors  to 
drive  a  team  from  Ohio  to  Bloomington.  He  spent 
that  winter  in  McLean  County,  working  at  chop- 
ping wood  and  cutting  down  trees,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1851  came  to  Woodford  County,  and  in 
the  month  of  March  made  his  first  purchase  of 
land,  comprising  the  northwestern  part  of  section 
C,  Roanoke  Township,  for  which  he  paid  $2.50  an 
an  acre.  It  was  a  tract  of  wild  prairie  land,  and 
he  at  once  entered  upon  the  task  of  improving  it, 
though  he  did  not  settle  on  it  till  1853.  After  that 
he  resided  on  it  till  1883,  and  bad  besides  devel- 
oping it  into  a  fine  farm,  bought  320  acres  more 
land  adjoining  it.  In  1883  he  rented  a  part  of  his 
farm,  and  moving  to  Greene  Township,  he  bought 
240  acres  of  good  farming  land  there.  Five  years 
later  he  sold  that  place  and  returned  to  his  Roan- 


oke  farm,  and  has  ever  since  resided  here.  It  has 
been  his  pleasure  to  witness  the  gradual  develop- 
ment of  this  township  and  the  surrounding  coun- 
try from  its  primitive  wildness,  and  not  only  that, 
but  he  has  helped  not  a  little  in  advancing  it  to  its 
present  prosperity  as  a  wealthy  agricultural  com- 
munity. There  were  but  few  habitations  when  he 
first  came  here,  and  prairie  wolves,  deer  and  other 
animals  roamed  over  the  wild  prairies  that  have 
since  become  valuable  farms. 

Mr.  Snyder  and  Miss  Mary  Whittaker  were 
united  in  marriage  March  29,  1871,  and  to  them 
have  been  born  six  children:  John,  David  L., 
Howard  L.,  Thomas  B.,  Anthony  K.;  a  daughter, 
Mary  Elizabeth,  died  at  the  age  of  about  nine 
years.  Mrs.  Snyder  was  born  in  Greene  Count}'. 
Pa.,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Rebecca  (Hammers) 
Whittaker,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  His  father, 
Thomas  AV'hittaker,  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  after 
coming  to  America  he  had  settled  in  Little  York, 
where  he  engaged  in  teaching  school,  and  also 
served  several  terms  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  that 
place,  spending  his  last  years  there.  He  was  a  de- 
vout member  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  Mrs.  Sny- 
der's  grandmother  spent  her  last  years  in  Greene 
County,  Pa,,  and  in  Monongalia  County,  W.  Va., 
dying  in  the  latter  county.  The  father  of  Mrs. 
Snyder  lived  in  his  native  State  until  1869,  when 
he  came  to  Woodford  County,  and  settled  first  in 
Greene  Township,  but  afterwards  he  came  to  Roan- 
oke Township  and  resided  here  until  his  death. 
The  maiden  name  of  his  wife,  mother  of  Mrs.  Sny- 
der, was  Rebecca  Hammers,  and  she  was  a  native 
of  Greene  County,  Pa.  Her  father.  Joseph  Ham- 
mers, came  from  Pennsylvania  to  Illinois  in  1847, 
coming  by  the  way  of  the  Monongahela,  Ohio, 
Mississippi  and  Illinois  rivers  to  Peoria,  and  thence 
to  Greene  Township.  He  bought  a  tract  of  partly 
improved  land  there  and  remained  a  resident  of  the 
count}-  till  death.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife, 
Mrs.  Snyder's  grandmother,  was  Elizabeth  Will- 
iams, and  it  is  thought  that  she  was  born  in  West- 
moreland County,  Pa.  She  died  at  the  home  of  a 
daughter  in  Cazenovia  Township.  Mrs.  Snyder's 
mother  died  in  Greene  County,  Pa. 

The  life  record  of  our  subject  shows  him  to  be  a 
man  of  industrious  habits,  whose  energetic,  push- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


575 


ing  disposition,  combined  with  excellent  judgment 
and  prudent  thrift,  have  placed  him  among  the 
most  substantial  of  the  well-to-do  farmers  of  Roan- 
oke  Township.  He  is  a  man  of  strict  morals  and 
upright  principles,  true  to  his  religious  beliefs  as 
a  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  His  amiable  wife  also  belongs  to  that 
church. 


RTHUR  LEE  HEREFORD  is  editor  of  the 
Wood  ford  Sentinel,  and  his  facile  pen  and 
able  management  have  made  it  one  of  the 
best  and  most  popular  newspapers  in  this 
part  of  the  State.  Our  subject  is  a  native  of  the 
county,  born  in  Palestine  Township,  April  1, 1858. 
His  father,  Levan  P.  Hereford,  a  pioneer  settler  of 
Woodford  Count}',  was  a  Virginian  by  birth,  born 
near  the  town  of  Leesburg,  Loudoun  County,  March 
3,  1815.  His  father,  Ammon  Hereford,  is  thought 
to  have  been  a  native  of  the  same  county,  while 
his  father,  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Herefordshire,  England,  and  later  in  life, 
coming  to  America  with  his  family,  bought  a  large 
tract  of  land  in  Virginia,  and  became  the  owner  of 
a  fine  plantation  and  a  large  number  of  slaves.  He 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  his  Virginia 
home.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject  served  in 
the  navy  during  the  War  of  1812,  and  never  en- 
joyed good  health  after  his  experience  of  military 
life,  but  died  a  few  years  after  leaving  the  marine 
service.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Miss 
Virginia  Powell.  She  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and 
a  grandaughter  of  the  illustrious  Gen.  Greene,  of 
Revolutionary  fame.  She  came  to  Illinois  with  her 
children,  and  passed  her  last  days  in  this  State.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  but  nine  years  old  when 
his  father  died,  and  he  was  reared  by  his  grand- 
parents after  that  event.  He  continued  to  live  in 
old  Virginia,  among  the  pleasant  scenes  of  his 
childhood,  till  1836,  when  he  joined  the  tide  of 
emigration  that  was  flowing  westward,  and  came  to 
this  State  by  those  great  highways  of  travel — the 
Ohio,  Mississippi,  and  Illinois  rivers — to  Peoria, 
and  thence  to  Tazewell  County,  to  the  part  of  it 


now  embraced  inWoodford  County.  He  commenced 
life  by  working  by  the  day  or  month,  as  chance  of- 
fered, and  after  he  had  saved  money  enough  to  buy 
an  ox  team,  he  went  to  Clark  County,  where  he 
rented  land,  and  farmed  a  little,  and  chopped  wood. 
During  his  residence  there,  be  made  a  few  trips 
down  the  Mississippi  River  to  New  Orleans,  with 
flatboats  loaded  witli  produce.  On  his  arrival  at 
that  city  he  would  sell  the  flatboats  as  well  as  the 
produce.  In  a  few  years  he  returned  from  Clark 
County  to  Washington,  and  buying  a  threshing 
machine,  he  operated  it  a  part  of  each  year,  and 
the  remainder  of  the  time  engaged  in  teaming.  He 
used  to  take  grain  to  Chicago,  and  on  the  return 
trip  brought  back  merchandise  from  that  city. 
About  1852  he  came  to  Woodford  County,  and  en- 
tered a  tract  of  land  in  Palestine  Township,  a  part 
of  it  lying  near  the  village  of  Secor.  He  devel- 
oped a  good  farm,  and  meeting  with  more  than 
ordinary  success,  he  bought  more  land,  and  became 
quite  wealthy.  For  some  time  he  was  agent  for 
Isaac  Underbill,  a  large  land  owner,  of  Peoria.  He 
continued  to  reside  in  Secor  till  his  demise,  Dec.  23, 
1876,  when  a  valuable  citizen  was  lost  to  that  place, 
one  who  had  been  instrumental  in  bringing*about 
its  prosperity.  He  was  known  and  honored  through- 
out the  county,  and  took  a  prominent  part  in  pub- 
lic affairs.  He  was  an  influential  member  of  the 
County  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  served  as  Chair- 
man of  that  august  body  several  terms.  He  took 
a  lively  interest  in  politics,  and  was  one  of  the 
leaders  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  was  a  dele- 
gate to  many  county,  district  and  State  conven- 
tions. The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our 
subject  was  Louisa  M.  Powell,  and  she  was  born 
in  Loudoun  County, Va.,  a  daughter  of  M  ah  Ion  and 
Johanna  (Schohagan)  Powell.  She  is  still  living  in 
Secor.  She  is  the  mother  of  eight  children,  seven 
of  whom  grew  to  maturity. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Secor,  and  at  the  youthful  age  of  seven- 
teen he  commenced  teaching,  and  taught  very 
successfully  the  ensuing  year.  In  1876  he  com- 
menced studying  law  with  Judge  Shaw,  of  Lacon, 
and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  became  a  stu- 
dent at  the  Union  College  of  Law  at  Chicago.  He 
was  graduated  from  that  institution  in  the  spring 


576 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


of  1878,  having  gained  a  good  knowledge  of  his 
profession,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Mt.  Ver- 
non  in  1879.  He  then  went  to  the  town  of  Clyde, 
Cloud  Co.,  Kan.,  and  opened  an  office,  and  was 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  there  with 
very  good  success  till  the  month  of  December, 
1880.  At  that  time  he  renounced  law  to  enter  the 
more  inviting  field  of  journalism,  for  which  he  has 
a  decided  taste,  and  returning  to  Woodford  County, 
he  bought  the  El  Paso  Journal.  He  was  prosper- 
ously engaged  in  its  management  till  January, 
1885,  and  from  that  time  till  1888  he  was  connected 
with  the  Chicago  Tribune  and  News.  In  that 
year  he  became  the  editor  of  the  Woodford  Sen- 
tinel. Under  his  able  editorship  this  paper  is  un- 
doubtedly becoming  an  educator  of  the  people,  a 
guide  in  political  matters  and  in  public  affairs. 
Through  its  columns  our  subject  uses  his  influence 
to  rouse  public  spirit,  and  promote  all  schemes  for 
the  benefit  of  the  city  or  county. 

Mr.  Hereford  is  of  an  active  temperament,  is  a 
keen  observer  of  men  and  things,  possesses  marked 
literary  talent,  and  bringing  a  well-trained  mind  to 
bear  on  his  work,  in  the  few  short  years  since  he 
entered  the  journalistic  field,  lie  has  made  a  name 
for  himself  in  the  editorial  world,  and  has  placed 
himself  among  the  most  progressive  members  of 
his  profession. 


ALEB  WYLIE  GOODRICH.  Among  the 
honored  and  respected  pioneers  of  Wood- 
ford  County,  no  one  is  more  deserving  of 
mention  in  this  biographical  volume  than  this  gen- 
tleman, whose  recent  death  saddened  the  commu- 
nity, and  was  a  blow  to  the  business  interests  of 
Minonk,  of  which  he  was  so  many  years  a  resident. 
lie  was  born  in  Hancock,  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass., 
Oct.  22,  1811,  being  a  son  of  Caleb  and  Hannah 
(Wylie)  Goodrich,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
the  Ba}'  State.  The  Goodrich  fami^-  originated  in 
England,  and  our  subject  could  trace  the  family 
record  back  to  a  William  Goodrich,  who  came  from 
there  to  the  United  States  in  1640. 

The  subject   of  this  brief  biographical   sketch. 


spent  only  the  first  five  years  of  his  life  in  Massa- 
chusetts, his  parents  moving  in  1816  to  Oneicla 
County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  grew  to  man's  estate.  He 
learned  the  trades  of  a  millwright  and  carpenter,  and 
worked  at  them  until  the  fall  of  1854,  when,  with  a 
view  to  bettering  his  financial  condition,  he  came 
to  Woodford  County,  and  located  on  section  3, 
Minonk  Township,  where  he  remained  until  the 
following  year.  He  then  removed  with  his  family 
to  the  place  now  occupied  by  his  widow,  on  the 
present  site  of  the  city  of  Minonk,  his  being  the 
second  or  third  family  to  locate  in  this  place.  Mr. 
Goodrich  embarked  in  the  lumber  business  in  com- 
pany with  James  Parker  continuing  this  for  two 
years.  He  was  also  for  a  short  time,  during  Buch- 
anan's administration,  Postmaster  at  Minonk.  He 
afterward  resumed  his  trade  of  a  carpenter,  follow- 
ing it  for  several  years.  He  then  engaged  for  a 
second  time  in  the  lumber  business,  and  in  1874  ad- 
mitted R.  Newton  into  partnership  continuing  thus 
until  1878,  when  Mr.  Goodrich  again  became  sole 
proprietor,  and  carried  on  the  business  himself  un- 
til the  admission  of  his  son,  Frank  II.,  into  part- 
nership, and  the  firm  WHS  afterward  known  as  C. 
W.  Goodrich  &  Son.  In  all  his  undertakings  our 
subject  met  with  good  success,  due  mainly  to 
excellent  judgment,  strict  integrity,  and  careful  at- 
tention to  the  minor  details  of  his  business,  not  even 
succumbing  to  the  disasters  that  occurred  during 
the  panic  of  1857,  but  paying  his  creditors  100 
cents  on  the  dollar,  although  he  met  with  serious 
losses  through  his  debtors.  He  took  a  genuine  in- 
terest in  the  advancement  and  growth  of  his  adopted 
town,  and  proved  an  important  factor  among  the 
wise  men  who  have  given  it  a  high  standing  and 
position,  and  in  his  death,  which  occurred  after  an 
illness  of  three  years,  May  29,  1889,  his  commu- 
nity lost  in  him  a  man  who  was  in  all  respects  one 
of  its  truest  citizens,  friendliest  neighbors,  and 
kindest  and  most  devoted  of  husbands  and  fathers. 
Mr.  Goodrich  amassed  a  comfortable  competency 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  owned  240  acres  of 
land,  which  he  purchased  from  the  Government  in 
1854,  beside  his  business  and  resident  property  in 
Minonk.  He  was  very  systematic  in  his  ways,  and 
during  his  whole  life  kept  a  diary,  which  is  now  a 
source  of  pleasure  and  profit  to  his  family,  and  full 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


577 


of  valuable  information  for  all.  The  last  few 
weeks  of  his  illness  he  was  unable  to  use  his  pen, 
but  liis  wife,  at  his  request,  kept  a  daily  record  of 
events  for  him.  Although  a  man  of  unassuming 
and  retiring  disposition,  he  was  widely  known,  and 
possessed  a  large  circle  of  friends  who  esteemed  him 
for  his  sterling  worth.  In  politics,  Mr.  Goodrich 
was  in  early  life  a  Whig,  later  a  strong  Republican, 
voting  in  1840  for  W.  H.  Harrison,  and  in  1888 
for  Benjamin  Harrison.  He  never  sought  political 
honor,  and  allowed  himself  to  be  elected  only  to 
some  of  the  minor  offices  of  the  township. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Goodrich  to  Miss  Nancy  E. 
Pratt,  was  solemnized  April  8,  1849.  She  was  born 
in  Westmoreland,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  20, 
1826,  being  a  daughter  of  James  H.  and  Apama 
(Bell)  Pratt.  Of  their  happy  union  four  children 
were  born,  namely:  Frank  II.,  Arthur  M.,  Amreth 
L.,  (wife  of  T.  P.  Clark);  and  Helen.  Mrs.  Good- 
rich is  a  very  intelligent  and  amiable  woman,  well 
adapted  for  the  high  position  she  holds  in  the  com- 
munity, is  devoted  to  her  family,  and  ever  mind- 
ful of  the  comfort  of  others. 


DELBERT  B.  KIPP.  Among  the  busi- 
ness men  of  Minonk,  a  prominent  rank 
should  be  given  the  above-named  gentle- 
man, who  is  a  dealer  in  lumber  and  hard- 
ware in  that  place.  He  has  been  a  resident  here 
since  April,  1866,  at  which  time  he  engaged  with 
his  brother,  H.  R.  Kipp,  in  the  lumber  trade.  In 
1874  the  firm  of  Kipp  Bros,  became  Kipp  &  Gor- 
don, and  in  1883  the  gentleman  of  whom  we  write 
became  sole  proprietor  of  the  business,  which  he 
has  since  conducted  alone. 

Before  relating  the  main  events  in  the  life  of  our 
subject,  a  few  words  in  regard  to  his  family  will 
not  be  amiss.  His  parents  were  Charles  A.  and 
Eliza  A.  (Briggs)  Kipp,  both  of  whom  were 
born  in  New  York  State.  Their  home  was  in 
Lexington,  Greene  County,  for  many  years.  Mr. 
Kipp  was  Colonel  of  the  20th  New  York  State 
Millitia,  and  more  or  less  prominent  in  public 


life.  He  served  as  Sheriff  of  that  county,  and  later 
of  Placer  County.  Cal.  Upon  the  discovery  of  gold 
in  that  territory  in  1848,  Mr.  Kipp  was  one  of  the 
first  to  start  for  that  Eldorado  of  the  West.  His 
journey  was  made  by  the  overland  route,  and  he 
remained  on  the  Slope  for  thirteen  years.  He  en- 
gaged in  mining,  and  when  railroads  began  to  be 
built,  as  contractor  in  that  work.  He  met  the 
usual  fortune  of  a  California!!  in  suffering  some 
serious  reverses,  but  was  financially  successful  on 
the  whole,  and  returned  to  the  States  with  quite  a 
fortune.  Soon  after  his  return  from  the  West  he 
located  in  Illinois,  his  first  home  being  at  Tonica, 
where  he  resided  from  1863  to  1866.  At  that 
date  he  came  to  Minonk,  and  here  died  two  years 
later,  being  then  sixty-seven  years  old.  His  wife 
is  still  living  here.  The  five  children  who  comprise 
the  family  are  all  living;  H.  R.  is  a  resident  of 
Chicago,  111.;  O.  S.  and  E.  B.,  of  Elliott,  Iowa; 
Othelia,  the  wife  of  O.  A.  Newton,  of  this  place. 
The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch  is  the 
third  in  order  of  this  family. 

Adelbert  B.  Kipp  was  born  in  Lexington,  N.  Y., 
Oct.  12,  1844.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  academy  of  his  native  place.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  he  came  to  Illinois  and  stopped  at 
Tonica,  where  two  brothers  and  his  sister  were 
already  living.  The  day  after  his  journey  he  en- 
gaged as  a  farm  hand,  and  served  as  such  for  one 
year.  He  then  (1862)  enlisted  in  Company  D, 
65th  Illinois  Infantry,  and  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  He  was  present  in  all  the  engagements 
in  which  the  regiment  participated,  and  was  one  of 
the  few  fortunate  ones  who  escaped  without  wounds. 
At  the  battle  of  Harper's  Ferry  he  was  taken  pris- 
oner by  the  enemy,  but  was  at  once  paroled  and 
sent  to  Chicago.  After  being  exchanged  he  re- 
joined his  command,  which  was  sent  into  Kentucky 
and  Tennessee.  Mr.  Kipp  was  present  at  the  siege 
of  Knoxvillc,  after  which  he  made  one  of  the 
60,000  gallant  men  who  accompanied  Sherman  to 
the  sea.  After  their  victorious  entry  into  At- 
lanta, the  regiment  returned  to  Tennessee,  and 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Franklin,  Pulaski  and 
Nashville.  They  next  went  to  Ft.  Fisher,  N.  C., 
following  which  came  the  battles  of  Taylor's  Creek, 
Millington,  Goldsboro,  and  Johnstown,  at  which 


578 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


place  Gen.  Johnson  surrendered  and  the  war 
closed.  Mr.  Kipp  returned  to  Chicago,  where  he 
was  mustered  out  of  service.  He  was  a  faithful 
and  efficient  soldier,  and  the  term  "  honorabty  dis- 
charged," is  more  than  an  empty  name  when  applied 
to  him. 

Mr.  Kipp  returned  to  Tonica,  and  engaged  as 
clerk  in  the  old  Union  store  at  that  place.  Ten 
months  later  he  changed  his  residence  to  this  place, 
as  before  mentioned.  At  the  home  of  the  bride  in 
Tonica,  in  November,  1866,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Margaret  Belle  Shepherd.  She  was  born  in  Ripley, 
Ohio,  and  with  her  parents,  Campbell  A.  and  Mary 
A.  Shepherd,  came  to  Tonica,  in  the  year  1852. 
She  finished  her  education  at  the  Miami  University 
of  Ohio.  She  bore  her  husband  two  children: 
Campbell  S.  and  Sherwood  N.  She  departed  this 
life  on  the  6th  of  March,  1888,  aged  forty-five 
years.  She  was  an  educated  and  refined  lady,  a 
faithful  wife  and  loving  mother.  Her  death  was 
deeply  regretted  by  many  friends  outside  the  be- 
reaved family  circle. 

Mr.  Kipp  is  a  Democrat,  and  for  some  years  was 
active  in  political  life.  He  was  a  delegate  to  county, 
district  and  State  conventions,  and  has  served  his 
fellow-citizens  as  Supervisor,  Alderman  and  Mayor 
of  Minonk.  Ha  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  His 
religious  views  coincide  with  the  doctrines  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  he  holds  member- 
ship. Mr.  Kipp  is  a  shrewd  and  successful  business 
man,  and  the  property  which  he  possesses  is  the 
result  of  his  pwn  efforts.  He  is  a  man  who  enjoys 
the  good  things  of  life,  and  his  home  is  a  pleas- 
ant and  hospitable  one.  He  delights  in  hunting  and 
fishing,  and  is  a  capital  sportsman. 


/RANK  D.  LEARNED  is  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  1858,  at  which  date  he  settled  on 
section  18,  Clayton  Township.  He  was  born 
in  Dublin,  Cheshire  Co.,  N.  H.,  Nov.  15,  1831. 
His  father,  Harvey  Learned,  was  also  born  in  that 
county,  and  is  still  residing  there,  at  an  advanced 
age.  His  mother,  Elvira  (Derby)  Learned,  died 


in  1882,  at  the  age  of  seventy- two  years.  The 
family  comprised  thirteen  children,  one  of  whom 
died  at  the  age  of  four  years.  Of  those  who  grew 
to  maturity,  two  have  since  departed  this  life. 
Adams  D.  was  a  soldier,  being  a  captain  of  a  com- 
pany of  United  States  colored  troops.  After  the 
war  he  went  to  Texas,  where  he  died  of  yellow 
fever.  Marion  D.  was  a  member  of  the  14th  New 
Hampshire  Infantry,  and  was  killed  at  the  battle 
of  Cedar  Creek.  The  survivors  are:  Samuel  D., 
residing  at  Lonsdale,  R.  I.,  where  he  is  Assistant 
Superintendent  of  the  Lonsdale  Mills;  Harvey  D., 
a  farmer  in  Delaware;  Frank  D.,  our  subject;  Mary 
A.,  residing  with  her  brother  Harvey;  Webster  D., 
a  farmer  in  Delaware;  Louisa  V.,  a  school  teacher 
in  Los  Angeles,  Cal. ;  Elnora  M.,  wife  of  George 
Adams,  of  the  same  place;  Willard  D.,  a  farmer  at 
South  Vineland,  N.  J.;  Henry  D.,  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Dublin;  and  D.,  a  carpenter  in  Los  An- 
geles, Cal.  Harvey  Learned  was  an  old-line  Whig, 
and  is  now  a  Republican.  In  1840  he  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  National  Convention  which  nominated 
Gen.  W*.  H.  Harrison,  and  in  1888  voted  for  Ben- 
jamin Harrison,  now  President  of  the  United 
States.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  moderately  success- 
ful financially.  He  held  local  offices,  and  is  a  man 
of  excellent  repute  among  his  fellow-citizens. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  notice 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
State,  where  he  engaged  in  the  profession  of  teach- 
ing for  two  years.  He  also  devoted  two  years  to 
the  work  of  an  instructor  in  Delaware.  In  1855  he 
came  to  Illinois,  and  first  stopped  at  Lee  Centre, 
Lee  County.  There  he  served  as  a  farm  hand  for 
three  years.  He  next  came  to  Woodford  County, 
and  found  employment  in  breaking  prairie.  He  then 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  railroad  land  on  the  loca> 
tion  noted  at  the  beginning  of  our  sketch,  and  lived 
thereon  until  1872.  At  this  date  he  removed  to 
Benson,  which  village  was  just  founded.  He  was 
the  first  Postmaster  of  the  village,  and  held  the 
office  for  nine  years.  He  was  also  engaged  in  the 
drug  business,  which  he  continued  until  1886.  He 
now  keeps  a  hotel  and  livery,  and  owns  an  interest 
in  an  elevator. 

Mr.  Learned  is  a  Republican,  and  has  held  nu- 
merous local  offices.  He  is  now  Justice  of  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


579 


Peace  and  Notary  Public.  He  has  served  as  dele- 
gate to  the  county,  district  and  State  conventions. 
In  1888,  he  attended  the  National  Convention  as 
an  alternate,  and  was  present  during  the  session. 
Mr.  Learned  has  sold  his  farm  lands  in  Woodford 
Countv,  but  owns  a  residence,  store  and  lots  in 
Benson.  He  also  owns  property  in  Chicago,  and 
160  acres  in  Harvey  County,  Kan.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  is  Deacon  in  that 
society. 

Mr.  Learned  was  united  in  marriage,  in  1860, 
with  Miss  Rosa  Fisher,  a  native  of  Vermont.  The 
union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  three  chil- 
dren. The  only  daughter,  Lydia  C.,  died  in  Dover, 
Del.,  while  her  parents  were  attending  the  Centen- 
nial Exposition.  This  sad  event  occurred  Oct.  1, 
1876,the  child  being  then  six  years  of  age.  The 
surviving  members  of  the  family  are:  Frank  E., 
Postmaster  and  druggist,  at  Benson,  and  Grant  8., 
a  farmer  of  Clayton  Township. 


-5— 


S  S.  FURSMAN.     Panola  Township  is 

II  ' 

|tsS  -     as  much   indebted  to  this  gentleman,  as  to 

/!' — ^  any  one  individual,  for  the  great  advance  it 
has  made  in  the  last  quarter  of  a  century.  He  has 
been  identified  with  the  leading  interests  of  Wood- 
ford  County  in  various  ways  since  1865.  But  at 
the  present  time  lie  is  attending  solely  to  his  farm- 
ing concerns  in  the  township  just  mentioned,  where 
on  section  30,  he  has  one  of  the  pleasantest  and 
coziest  of  homes. 

He  is  a  native  of  Niagara  County,  N.  Y.,  born 
Aug.  16,  1837,  to  William  II.  and  Christine  S. 
Fursman,  the  father  deceased,  and  the  mother 
now  living  in  Chicago.  111.,  at  the  venerable  age 
of  eighty-eight  years.  Both  parents  were  natives 
of  New  York,  and  of  English  origin,  the  Furs- 
man family  coming  to  America  in  Colonial  times 
prior  to  the  Revolution.  The  father  was  a  com- 
missioned officer  in  the  army  in  the  War  of  1812, 
and  fought  bravely  against  the  British.  Our  sub- 
ject passed  the  early  years  of  his  life  in  Niagara 
County  till  he  had  attained  his  eighteenth  year. 


Being  a  youth  of  much  ambition  and  spirit,  he 
then  set  forth  in  the  world  to  see  what  he  could  do 
for  himself  in  the  Great  West,  and  making  his  way 
alone  to  Illinois,  he  sought  and  found  work  as  a 
clerk  in  a  store  in  Bloomington,  and  was  thus  em- 
ployed some  two  years.  In  1857  he  settled  on  a 
quarter-section  of  Illinois  Central  Railway  land  in 
Waldo  Township,  Livingston  County.  He  en- 
gaged in  its  improvement  several  years,  and  then 
disposing  of  it  at  a  good  price,  he  came  to  AVood- 
ford  County  in  the  spring  of  1865,  and  established 
himself  in  the  nursery  business,  purchasing  forty 
acres  of  land  in  Panola  Township,  on  section 
SO,  where  his  house  now  stands.  For  a  number 
of  years  he  was  extensively  employed  in  raising 
ornamental  and  fruit  trees  and  fruit,  and  in  selling 
the  satre,  doing  a  nourishing  and  paying  business. 
In  1874  he  turned  his  attention  to  another  busi- 
ness, which  he  made  no  less  profitable,  buying 
the  right  to  sell  the  Chicago  scraper  and  ditcher 
throughout  the  State  of  Illinois.  He  made  a  finan- 
cial success  of  that  venture,  as  personally  and 
through  agents  he  disposed  of  13,000  of  these  useful 
implements.  In  the  year  1883  he  entered  upon  still 
another  enterprise,  the  manufacture  of  brick,  erect- 
ing in  that  year  the  El  Paso,  111.,  Tile  and  Brick 
Works,  and  operated  the  same  till  the  fall  of  1888 
when  he  sold  out  to  the  present  proprietor  for  a 
good  sum  of  money.  In  the  fall  of  1887  he  built 
four  brick  buildings  in  El  Paso,  known  as  the  Furs- 
man Block,  three  of  which  he  still  owns.  In  con- 
nection with  his  other  business  he  has  always 
superintended  the  management  of  his  farm,  which 
he  had  increased  in  size  by  the  purchase  of  the  re- 
maining 160  acres  of  the  quarter  on  which  lie  first 
located.  He  has  it  under  admirable  tillage,  and  it 
is  better  drained  than  any  other  quarter  section  in 
the  whole  township,  there  being  a  greater  number 
of  rods  of  tile  on  it  than  on  any  other  farm  of  the 
same  size  in  the  vicinity.  There  is  an  excellent 
set  of  farm  buildings  on  the  place,  and  every- 
thing about  is  in  excellent  order. 

Dec.  3,  1863,  Mr.  Fursman  took  unto  himself  a 
wife  in  the  person  of  Miss  Myra  E.  Pool,  who  has 
been  of  invaluable  service  to  him  in  the  upbuild- 
ing of  their  home,  and  knows  well  how  to  make  it 
attractive  to  others.  Mrs.  Fursman  is  a  native  of 


580 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Woodford  County,  111.,  a  daughter  of  Hiram  Pool, 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  county.  By  this 
marriage  five  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fursman:  Mary  A.,  Fred  F.,  Lawrence  S., 
William  H.,  Fannie  E. 

During  the  many  years  he  has  resided  in  Wood- 
ford  Count}',  Mr.  Fursman  has  become  widely 
known  through  business  and  social  relations,  and 
all  of  his  acquaintances  and  friends  acknowledge 
him  to  be  a  man  of  rare  stability  of  character,  who 
lives  up  to  his  principles  and  is  an  influence  for 
good  in  his  community.  As  a  citizen,  Panola 
Township  finds  in  him  one  who  lends  a  ready  hand 
in  support  of  all  its  interests.  Like  others  of  her 
leading  citizens  he  is  a  self-made  man,  and  has 
been  the  architect  of  his  own  fortunes.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  society  at  El  Paso, 
and  also  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen.  He  is 
a  decided  Democrat  in  his  political  views,  and  af- 
fords his  party  strong  support.  He  and  his  wife 
are  identified  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
at  El  Paso,  of  which  he  has  been  a  faithful  steward 
for  many  years,  and  they  are  also  connected  with 
the  Sunday-school. 


times. 


ARTIN    LUTHER    FULLER,    JR.,    is   a 

worthy  descendant  of  an  ancient  New 
England  family,  who  first  settled  in  that 
part  of  the  country  in  early  Colonial 
Our  subject  came  to  Woodford  County  in 
1854,  and  has  since  then  successfully  employed  his 
time  in  developing  a  farm  from  the  wild,  uncul- 
tivated prairies,  and  now  has  it  under  admirable 
tillage,  so  that  its  every  acre  yields  to  the  utmost, 
and  their  abundant  harvests  furnish  an  income 
sufficient  to  support  his  family  in  comfort.  He  has 
put  up  suitable  buildings  for  all  necessarj-  purposes, 
and  the  place  wears  an  air  of  thrift  and  neatness. 

Mr.  Fuller  was  born  Jan.  21,  1828,  in  the  town 
of  Hamilton,  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  his  father 
being  the  Rev.  Martin  Luther  Fuller,  a  former 
well-known  divine  of  the  Baptist  persuasion,  who 
was  born  in  Grafton,  Windsor  Co.,  Vt.,  Feb.  7, 


1803.  He  can  trace  his  lineage  back  many 
generations  to  one  Asa  Fuller,  who  was  of  early 
English  ancestry.  His  son  Thomas,  the  great- 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of 
New  England,  as  was  his  son  Thomas,  great  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  and  in  the  next  generation 
Bartholomew  Fuller,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  The  two  last 
named  were  soldiers  in  the  Revolution,  and  did 
good  service  in  the  Continental  army.  The  latter 
was  under  Arnold  at  West  Point  when  he  turned 
traitor  to  his  country.  The  great-grandfather  of 
our  subject  died  in  Massachusetts,  from  which  State 
the  grandfather  removed  to  Vermont,  and  was  a 
pioneer  of  the  town  of  Grafton,  in  Windham 
County.  He  bought  a  tract  of  timbered  land  and 
cleared  a  farm,  on  which  he  passed  his  remaining 
years.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  and 
married  in  his  native  State.  He  was  a  man  of 
studious  habits  and  of  a  deeply  religious  nature, 
and  wishing  to  enter  the  ministry  he  went  to  Madi- 
son County,  N.  Y.,  about  1827,  to  attend  the  theo- 
logical seminary.  After  completing  his  course  he 
went  to  Essex  County,  that  State,  and  was  ap- 
pointed pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Crown 
Point.  At  the  close  of  his  pastorate  there  he 
preached  in  various  places  in  New  York,  and  in 
1855  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Cazenovia 
Township.  He  preached  the  Gospel  very  accep- 
tably in  this  county  and  in  various  towns  in  Peo- 
ria  County.  His  residence  during  the  last  few 
years  of  his  life  was  at  Washington,  in  Tazewell 
County,  but  he  spent  his  last  days  in  the  home  of 
our  subject,  passing  to  the  great  beyond,  May  24, 
1888,  having  rounded  out  a  noble  and  honored  life 
far  beyond  the  Scriptural  allotment.  The  maiden 
name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject  was  Edna  Con- 
verse, and  she  was  born  in  Grafton,  Windham  Co., 
Vt.  She  passed  into  the  life  immortal  from  the 
home  of  our  subject  in  the  month  of  February, 
1865.  Six  children  were  born  of  her  marriage,  of 
whom  the  following  four  grew  to  maturity:  EdnaS. 
married  Erastus  Hall;  our  subject;  Abigail  L. 
married  Alonzo  D.  Stoddard ;  Mary  M.  married 
Cyrus  B.  Arnold. 

lie  of    whom  we  write  was  the  only  son    that 
grew  to  manhood.     He   was  given  the  advantages 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


583 


of  a  good  education,  attending  school  quite  stead- 
ily in  his  youth.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he 
went  to  work  on  a  farm,  and  was  thus  employed 
the  ensuing  three  years.  He  then  entered  the  mer- 
cantile business  as  clerk  in  a  store  at  Mooers,  in 
Clinton  County,  N.  Y.  But  the  sedentary  life 
necessitated  by  that  employment  was  detrimental 
to  his  health,  and  at  the  end  of  two  years  he  was 
obliged  to  abandon  it.  That  was  in  1854,  and  he 
came  directly  to  Illinois.'and  spent  his  first  summer 
in  the  West,  traveling  in  this  State  and  in  Wiscon- 
sin. After  that  he  located  in  Cazenovia  Township, 
and  in  the  following  winter  purchased  an  8(J-acre 
tract  of  land,  which  is  now  included  in  his  present 
farm.  In  1855  he  put  up  a  dwelling,  and  then 
commenced  to  improve  his  land,  and  has  ever 
since  resided  here.  He  has  erected  a  suitable  set 
of  frame  buildings,  and  has  otherwise  greatlj'  in- 
creased the  original  value  of  his  place,  and  in  all 
respects  it  compares  favorably  with  the  many  other 
good  farms  in  this  township. 

In  the  month  of  October,  1855,  Mr.  Fuller  took 
an  important  step  in  the  direction  of  establishing  a 
home  by  his  marriage  with  Miss  Annie  M.  Fisher. 
They  have  two  children  living — Lydia  E.  and 
Francis  E.  Lydia  married  the  Rev.  Emil  Tri- 
bolet. 

Mr.  Fuller  is  a  man  of  steady,  well-regulated 
habits,  and  is  systematic  in  carrying  on  his  work. 
His  reputation  for  unswerving  integrity  and  abso- 
lute truthfulness  and  honesty,  is  second  to  that  of 
none  other  in  the  neighborhood.  Religiously,  he 
and  his  family  are  exemplary  members  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  and  politically,  he  is  a  true  Republican. 


|  OSEPH  TOOL  is  the  owner  and  occupant  of 
a  pleasantly  located  farm  one  and  a  half 
miles  northwest  of  El  Paso.  The  estate 
j)  comprises  the  east  half  of  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  36,  Greene  Township,  and  has, 
through  intelligent  tillage,  been  brought  to  a  high 
state  of  productiveness. 

John  J.  and  Elizabeth  (Hayberger)  Tool,  parents 


of  our  subject,  were  pioneers  in  this  county  to 
which  they  came  in  October,  1832.  Both  were 
natives  of  Virginia,  the  father  having  been  born  in 
Washington  County,  and  the  mother  in  Augusta 
County.  Mr.  Tool  was  a  cooper  by  trade,  and 
also  carried  on  farming.  He  removed  from  his  na- 
tive State  to  Illinois,  and  settled  four  miles  west  of 
Washington  in  Tazewell  County.  When  Wood- 
ford  County  was  divided  off,  the  boundary  line  ran 
through  Mr.  Tool's  house.  Mr.  Tool  was  a  soldier 
during  the  War  of  1812,  and  served  under  Gen. 
Jackson.  He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Nor- 
folk, Va.  He  was  an  old  line  Whig.  His  death 
took  place  in  1871,  when  he  was  past  the  age  of 
eighty-seven.  The  mother  died  in  1885.  having 
arrived  at  about  the  same  age.  The  paternal  fam- 
ily comprised  seven  boys  and  two  girls:  Conrad  H., 
Catherine  E.,  John  B.,  William,  Matthew,  Jacob, 
James,  Mary  J.,  and  Joseph. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  Jan.  13, 
.1839,  and  grew  up  on  the  farm,  which  we  have 
already  said  was  divided  off  into  Wood  ford  County. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  M.  Capron, 
in  1862,  and  after  his  marriage  settled  on  eighty 
acres  on  section  1,  Greene  Township.  He  after- 
wards sold  that  land,  and  in  1880  purchased  his 
present  farm.  While  yet  a  boy,  Mr.  Tool  began 
work  with  a  threshing  machine.  During  twenty- 
one  consecutive  seasons  he  has  followed  threshing, 
and  is  counted  one  of  the  best  threshers  in  the 
county1. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Joseph  Tool  were  Edgar 
and  Adaline  (Edison)  Capron.  They  were  born 
in  Vermont,  and  in  1844  settled  in  Metamora 
Township,  this  county,  where  the  father  subse- 
quently died.  Mrs.  Capron  removed  to  Kansas 
to  reside  with  her  son.  She  was,  however,  married 
a  second  time,  and  again  became  a  widow  in  1887. 
She  is  now  living  at  the  age  of  seventy-six.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Capron  had  a  family  of  six  children, 
named  respectively :  Edwin,  Mary,  Sarah  M.,  My- 
ron and  Milo  (twins)  and  Mj'ra.  Sarah  M.  was 
born  in  Vermont  and  was  a  babe  of  two  years 
when  she  came  to  Illinois,  where  she  grew  to  ma- 
turity. She  is  an  excellent  lady,  whose  husband 
and  children  "arise  up  and  call  her  blessed." 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tool  nine   children   have  been 


584 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


born:  Lawrence  E.,  Ernest  LeRoy,  Minnie  F.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  two  and  a  half  years;  Myron 
W.,  who  died  when  eighteen  years  old;  Jesse,  Oli- 
ver-L.,  Pearl  0.,  Ellis  and  Ray.  Lawrence  E., 
resides  on  a  farm  in  Butler  County,  Kan.;  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Louisa  Meyers  of  that  State.  Ernest 
LeRoy  resides  on  a  farm  in  the  same  county ;  he 
married  Miss  Anna  Barnett  and  has  one  child — 
Myrtie.  The  remaining  members  of  the  family 
are  still  residing  under  the  parental  roof. 

Mr.  Tool  votes  the  Republican  ticket.  He  is 
interested  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  education 
and  has  been  an  efficient  School  Director.  He  has 
also  served  his  fellow  citizens  as  Pathmaster. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church  of  Clayton  Township,  which  he  helped  to 
build.  He  has  given  liberally  to  various  charitable 
institutions,  and  has  donated  money  to  nine  differ- 
ent churches.  He  is  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary 
intelligence,  industrious  and  efficient,  and  of  a 
warm-hearted  and  generous  nature;  with  his  wife 
and  family  he  commands  the  hearty  respect  of 
those  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 

-« *~ 


H.  STRATHMAX.  The  subject 
of  this  notice  is  a  worthy  representative  of 
two  of  the  most  important  branches  of  busi- 
ness in  a  community,  dealing  extensively  in 
furniture,  and  also  operating  as  an  undertaker  at 
El  Paso.  The  business  was  established  by  his 
father,  August  Strathman,  about  1864,  and  is  thus 
among  the  oldest  enterprises  in  the  city.  For  a 
number  of  years,  until  January,  1888,  the  business 
was  conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  Strathman 
&  Son,  and  then  Jacob  H.  assumed  control  under 
the  simple  firm  title  of  J.  H.  Strathman.  He  has 
a  monopoly  of  this  business  here,  being  prompt 
and  reliable,  keeping  first  class  goods  and  signal- 
izing himself  as  a  thorough  business  man  in  all  his 
transactions. 

The  father  of  our  subject  in  instituting  this 
enterprise,  located  on  the  east  side  of  the  city,  but 
removed  to  the  west  side  in  1879,  having  his  head- 
quarters in  the  Eagle  Block — one  of  the  most  im- 


portant buildings  in  the  city,  and  where  it  has 
since  remained.  The  business  is  now  conducted 
with  a  capital  stock  of  $5,000,  and  the  present  pro- 
prietor, as  did  his  honored  father,  enjoys  a  lucra- 
tive patronage.  The  latter  began  his  business 
career  as  a  practical  cabinet-maker,  which  calling 
he  prosecuted,  more  or  less,  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  June  1,  1888.  He  was  not  only  a  skilled 
workman,  but  a  first-class  business  man — one  who 
enjoyed  in  a  marked  degree  the  esteem  and  confi- 
dence of  his  fellow-citizens. 

August    Strathman  was'  born   in    Prussia,  July 
2,  1833,  and   emigrated  to   the  United   States  in 
1851,  when  a  youth  of  eighteen  years.    He  located 
first  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he  followed  his  trade 
two  years,  and  next  sojourned  for  a  time  in  Chi- 
cago and  Rock  Island.    Finally,  he  came  to  Peoria, 
where   he  was   employed  as   a   cabinet-maker  for 
two  years,  and  in  the  spring  of  1857,  changing  his 
vocation,  repaired  to  Minonk,  and  established  him- 
self in  the  grocery  trade.     Thence,  in  the  spring  of 
1 858,  he  came  to  El  Paso  with  limited  rneans,and  for 
a  time  conducted  a  hotel.  Later,  he  drifted  into  the 
furniture   business  at  a  time  when  he  had  a  capital 
of  less  than  $100.     By  the  exercise  of  untiring,  in- 
dustry and  great  prudence  in  his  expenditures,  he 
built  up  a  paying  business  and  accumulated  a  good 
property.     His   parents   accompanied    him    to  the 
I'uited   States  and  located    near  Lebanon,    Ohio, 
where  the  father.  Henry   Strathman,  pursued  his 
trade  of  a  stonemason,  and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
two  years.     Grandmother  Strathman  survived  her 
husband  only  about  two  months,  and  died  in  Day- 
ton,  Ohio.      In    their   native   country   they    had 
embraced  the  doctrines  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  but 
later,  Grandmother   Strathman   became  identified 
with  the    German-Methodist  Church.     Their  son, 
August,  the  father  of   our   subject,  was  first  a  Lu- 
theran, and  then  joined  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
in  the  faith  of  which  he  died. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  married  in  Peoria, 
111.,  to  Miss  Anna  E.  Balbach,  who  was  born  in 
the  Kingdom  of  Bavaria,  and  came  to  America 
with  her  father,  her  mother  having  died  in  Ba- 
varia. Mr.  Balbach,  upon  coming  to  America,  lo- 
cated first  in  Peoria,  and  later  in  Lacon,  Marshall 
Co.,  this  State,  but  subsequently  removed  to  Wash- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


585 


burn,  where  he  died  when  quite  well  advanced  in 
years.  The  wife  and  mother  afterward  removed 
to  Peoria,  and  was  again  married.  Later  she  came 
with  her  husband  to  El  Paso,  where  her  sudden 
death  took  place  Feb.  17,  1887,  when  she  was  about 
fifty-five  years  old — about  the  same  age  as  her  hus- 
band at  his  death.  In  religious  matters  the  mother 
of  our  subject  was  a  Presbyterian.  The  parental 
household  included  three  children  only — Charles 
A.,  who  is  engaged  as  a  druggist  in  El  Paso;  Jacob 
II. ,  our  subject,  and  Anna  E.,  who  lives  with  the 
latter  and  looks  after  his  domestic  affairs. 

Up  to  the  time  of  his  death  August  Strath  man 
had  the  honor  of   having  been  in  El    Paso  longer 
than  any  other  man.     He  had  put  up  the  first  large 
three-story  frame  building  east  of  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral Railroad,  and  which  was  subsequently  destroyed 
by  fire.  This  building  was  occupied  by  him,  and  con-   j 
tained  the  first  City  Hall,  and  was  familiarly  known    j 
as   Strathman    Hall.      Both    Mr.    Strathman    and    ' 
his  brother  Charles  were  prominent  in  the  Masonic    | 
fraternity,  belonging  to   the  Blue  Lodge,  Council, 
and  the   Commandery.     Mr.   Strathman's   remains 
were   laid    to    rest  with    Masonic  honors,  and  his 
funeral   sermon,   given    by    Rev.  William  Crowes, 
was  a  touching  eulogy  upon  a  character  which  was 
admired  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Mrs.  Anna  E.  (Balbach)  Strathman  was  born 
near  Neustadt,  in  Bavaria,  Oct.  4,  1833,  and  she, 
like  her  husband,  has  been  frugal  and  hard-work- 
ing, devoted  to  her  home  and  family.  It  has  been 
remarked  that  nothing  lovelier  can  be  found  in 
woman  than  to  study  the  welfare  'and  happiness  of 
her  household,  and  Mrs.  Strathman  was  character- 
ized by  this  loveliness  in  a  high  degree.  <£uietand 
retiring  in  manner,  she  sought  by  labor  and  pa- 
tience to  make  home  the  most  attractive  spot  on 
earth  to  those  dearest  to  her.  Her  first  care  was 
for  her  husband  and  children,  and  she  was  of  that 
firm  will  and  loving  heart  which  enabled  her  to 
meet  adversity  with  a  noble  dignity  and  putience, 
which  at  once  indicated  a  character  in  accord  with  • 
the  true  principles  of  Christianity.  Jt  may  be 
truthfully  said  "that  her  life  was  Christ,  and  her 
death  was  gain." 

Our  subject  was  born  Oct.  14,  1858,  in  the  place 
which    remains   his    home,  but  at    a   time  when   it 


gave  little  indication  of  its  present  importance. 
He  received  a  practical  education  in  the  city  schools, 
and  wound  up  with  attendance  at  the  Business 
College,  iu  Louisville,  Ky.  He  is  a  Democrat  po- 
litically, and,  with  his  sister,  belongs  to  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  a 
a  Democrat,  politically,  and  his  son,  Charles,  is  in 
sympathy  with  the  Republican  party.  Charles  and 
Jacob  H.  belong  to  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  the 
Order  of  Knights  Templar. 

The  sons  of  the  Fatherland  are  inseparably  con- 
nected with  the  growth  and  development  of  the 
great  West,  and.  have  become  a  part  and  parcel  of 
its  people,  comprising  a  large  portion  of  its  most 
thrifty  and  enterprising  element.  They  have  iden- 
tified themselves  with  American  institutions,  and 
proved  themselves  the  friends  of  a  great  Republic 
in  times  of  war  as  well  as  in  times  of  peace,  wield- 
ing the  sword  and  musket  whenever  necessary,  and 
when  the  necessity  for  this  has  passed,  retiring 
peacefully  to  the  pursuits  of  civil  life,  and  here 
performing  their  part  equally  well.  Their  sturdy 
muscles  and  usually  temperate  habits  have  as- 
sisted greatly  in  the  development  of  the  rich  re- 
sources of  the  West,  while  the  principles  of  honesty 
and  integrity  which  they  inherit  from  their  sub- 
stantial ancestry  have  aided  in  strengthening  the 
foundations  of  one  of  the  greatest  nations  on  the 
face  of  the  earth.  Too  much  cannot  be  said  in 
their  favor  as  a  nation,  and  as  individual  citi- 
zens, the  Strathmans  have  been  most  worthy  repre- 
sentatives of  their  ancestry. 


GOODWIN,  brick  manufacturer,  has 
been  a  resident  of  Minonk  since  1869.  His 
present  dwelling  is  an  imposing  two-story 
brick  structure,  and  is  the  best  residence  in  the 
city.  It  was  erected  in  1886,  and  the  grounds  be- 
longing to  it  comprise  forty  acres  adjoining  the 
city  limits.  In  addition  to  this,  Mr.  Goodwin  owns 
200  acres  of  valuable  farm  land. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Leicestershire,  England, 
July  8,  1840,  being  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth 


586 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


(Gasby)  Goodwin.  Thomas  Goodwin  was  a  wool- 
comber,  and  during  the  War  of  1812,  a  soldier  in 
the  British  arm}'.  He  died  in  England,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-seven  years.  His  widow  came  with  our 
subject  to  the  United  States  in  1863.  She  subse- 
quently married  Jesse  Manich,  at  Lacon,  111.,  and 
died  at  the  age  of  ninety-one  years.  The  parental 
family  consisted  of  eleven  children,  eight  of  whom 
lived  to  maturity.  Joseph  was  a  brickmaker,  and 
died  at  Streator,  111.;  Sarah  lives  in  England; 
George  was  also  a  brickmaker,  and  died  at  Streator, 
III.;  Maria  died  in  England;  Luke  was  a  brick- 
maker,  and  died  in  Mendota,  111.;  Kate  and  Eliza 
reside  in  England. 

Edwin  Goodwin;  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  is  the 
only  one  of  the  family  left  in  the  United  States. 
Early  in  life  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  brickmaker, 
which  he  followed  in  his  native  country  until  1863. 
He  then  came  to  the  United  States,  and  located  at 
Mendota,  where  at  that  time  he  had  a  brother  liv- 
ing. In  1865  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  army,  and 
was  mustered  into  service  in  Company  G.,  156th 
Illinois  Infantry,  in  which  he  served  for  about  ten 
months.  After  receiving  his  discharge,  he  returned 
to  Mendota,  and  in  1866.  worked  in  Earlville  dur- 
ing one  season.  Returning  to  Mendota,  where  he 
was  proprietor  of  the  business,  he  remained  until 
his  removal  to  this  place.  On  coming  here,  he  im- 
mediately engaged  in  the  same  business.  His  were 
the  first  bricks  ever  made  here,  and  it  was  at  first 
hard  to  get  people  to  believe  that  good  brick  could 
be  made  on  the  prairie.  Mr.  Goodwin  persevered 
in  his  business,  however,  and  in  a  few  years  con- 
vinced the  people  that  he  could  accomplish  that 
end.  From  that  time  on  he  was  successful,  and  he 
now  has  a  trade  which  authorizes  the  manufacture 
of  1,000,000  brick  per  year.  The  fine  property 
which  he  owns  has  nearly  all  been  acquired  since 
his  arrival  in  this  place. 

In  1860,  Mr.  Goodwin  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Fannie  Ratliffe,  who  was  born  in  Kings- 
ton, England,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Mary  Ratliffe.  She  has  one  sister,  Anna,  in  Phila- 
delphia, now  Mrs.  Vaily.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodwin 
are  the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  nine  of  whom 
are  now  living.  The  oldest,  Erbert,  lives  with  his 
grandparents  in  England.  The  remainder  brighten 


the  parental  fire-side.     They  are  Anna,  Luke,  Kate, 
John  Maria,  Lillie,  Arthur,  and  Bert. 

Mr.  Goodwin  is  an  adherent  of  the  Republican 
party.  He  has  held  several  local  offices,  among 
them  that  of  School  Trustee,  of  which  he  has  been 
an  incumbent  for  about  fifteen  years.  He  is  a 
member  of  Minonk  Lodge  No.  372,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  in 
which  he  has  passed  all  the  Chairs,  as  he  likewise 
has  in  the  Encampment.  He  also  belongs  to  Rob- 
ert Morris  Lodge  No.  247,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Rut- 
land Chapter  No.  112,  R.  A.  M.;  and  Coeur  de 
Leon  Commandery  No.  43,  Knights  Templar.  Mr. 
Goodwin  bears  the  reputation  of  a  thoroughly  re- 
liable business  man,  an  enterprising  citizen,  and  a 
man  of  social  nature  and  fine  principles;  and  as 
such  is  esteemed  by  his  fellow-citizens. 


SCAR  SHUGART  is  a  native  born  citizen  of 
Illinois,  coming  of  good  pioneer  stock,  and 
is  now  a  worthy  member  of  its  farming  com- 
munity. He  is  aiding  in  the  sustenance  and  exten- 
sion of  the  vast  agricultural  interests  of  Woodford 
County,  and  is  the  proprietor  of  a  very  desirable 
farm,  finely  located  in  Cazenovia  Township,  one 
and  one-half  miles  south  of  the  village  of  Wash- 
burn.  Mr.  Shugart  was  born  in  the  adjoining 
county  of  Marshall,  twelve  miles  northeast  of  La- 
con,  Oct.  18,  1846.  His  father  Isaac  Shugart,  was 
born  either  in  New  York  or  Illinois,  and  after  at- 
taining manhood,  he  became  a  pioneer  of  Marshall 
County,  where  he  spent  his  last  years. 

Our  subject  was  reared  in  his  native  count}-,  and 
-was  educated  in  its  public  schools.  He  was  bred 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  receiving  a  thorough  prac- 
tical training  in  that  line  on  the  home  farm,  and  he 
followed  farming  quite  successfully  in  Marshall 
County  until  1869.  In  that  year  he  came  to  Wood- 
ford  County,  and  in  1873  he  invested  some  of  his 
money  in  the  farm  that  he  now  owns  and  occupies. 
It  contains  161  acres  of  as  fine  and  productive 
farming  land  as  is  to  be  found  in  this  part  of  the 
count}-.  Mr.  Shugart  has  busied  himself  about  its 
improvement,  and  in  the  years  of  hard  labor  that 


RESIDENCEOF  JOHN  TYLER,  SEC. I.  ELPASO  TOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCE  OF  HENRY  KRUG, SEC. 8.  PANOLA  TOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCE  OF  J .  L.  HOYT,  SEC. 36.  CRUGE.R  TOWNSHIP. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


589 


have  ensued  since  it  came  into  his  possession,  he 
lias  brought  about  many  changes,  and  has  devel- 
oped it  into  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, providing  it  with  a  substantial  set  of  buildings 
and  all  the  conveniences  for  making  farming  easy. 

Mr.  Shugart  has  been  blessed  with  a  good  wife  to 
aid  him  in  his  undertakings,  he  having  been  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Crawford,  May  22, 
1872.  She  was  born  in  Cazenovia  Township,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Mathew  and  Jane  Crawford,  of 
whom  see  sketch  on  another  page  of  this  work. 
Three  children  complete  the  happy  household  cir- 
cle of  our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife — Warren, 
Maggie,  and  Wilbur. 

Mr.  Shugart  possesses  a  g9od  degree  of  acumen, 
shrewdness,  a  self-reliant  spirit,  and  other  attri- 
butes that  have  already  placed  him  in  an  assured 
position  among  the  substantial  farmers  of  his  com- 
munity, and  is  looked  upon  as  an  intelligent  and 
hard  worker,  who  knows  well  how  to  direct  his  la- 
bors so  as  to  produce  the  best  results.  He  and  his 
wife  occupy  a  good  position  in  social  circles,  and 
have  numerous  warm  friends,  with  whom  they 
often  share  the  generous  hospitalities  of  their  cozy 
home. 


Z=ACI 
for 
wit 


?ACHARIAH    II.  WIIITMIRE,   M.   D.,  has 

for  many  years  been  prominently  identified 
/£=£l  with  the  medical  profession  of  Wood  ford 
County,  and  is  still  practicing  in  Metamora,  al- 
though his  ill-health  limits  his  sphere  of  useful- 
ness. He  is  well  known  throughout  the  county, 
and  is  greatly  honored  not  only  as  an  intelligent 
and  successful  physician,  but  as  a  man  and  citizen. 
The  Doctor  was  born  in  Sydney,  Shelby  Co., 
Ohio,  June  25,  1823,  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Robinson)  Harris  Whitmire.  (For  parental  his- 
tory see  sketch  of  Dr.  J.  S.  Whitmirt1.)  Our  sub- 
ject received  his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  State,  and  when  eighteen 
years  of  age  accompanied  his  parents  to  Illinois. 
He  assisted  his  father  in  improving  his  farm  in 
Cass  County,  and  after  lie  had  attained  his  major- 
ity resumed  his  attendance  at  school,  being  a  pupil 


in  the  one  in  Virginia,  Cass  County,  taught  by 
Prof.  Loomis.  After  that  the  Doctor  taught  school 
himself  one  term.  He  had  commenced  studying 
medicine  at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  and  in  the 
season  of  1848-49  and  in  1849-50  he  attended  lec- 
tures at  Rush  Medical  College,  and  was  graduated 
from  that  celebrated  institution  in  March  or  Feb- 
ruary, 1850.  In  April  of  that  year  he  established 
himself  as  a  physician  at  Spring  Bay,  then  one  of 
the  most  flourishing  towns  in  the  county,  its  situ- 
ation on  the  river  making  it  quite  a  point  for 
trade  and  shipping,  in  the  absence  of  competition 
from  railways.  In  1851  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  his  brother,  Dr.  J.  S.  Whitmire,  and  they  con- 
tinued together  till  1873,  enjoying  a  large  and  lu- 
crative practice.  In  April,  1863,  our  subject  was 
appointed  by  President  Lincoln,  Surgeon  of  the 
Board  of  Enrollment  for  the  8th  District  of  Illi- 
nois, with  headquarters  at  Springfield.  He  was 
amply  qualified  for  that  position,  performed  his 
duties  admirably,  and  did  good  service  for  the 
Government  while  he  held  it.  But  Jan.  6,  1865, 
he  was  obliged  to  resign  the  position  on  account 
of  ill-health,  and  he  immediately  resumed  his  prac- 
tice here,  and  has  continued  ever  since  to  pursue 
his  profession,  although  his  physical  powers  have 
never  regained  their  former  vigor.  He  is  highly 
thought  of  as  a  skillful,  practical  physician,  with  a 
fine  knowledge  of  his  profession  in  all  its  branches. 
Dr.  Whitmire  has  been  twice  married.  In  1854 
he  was  wedded  to  Mary  Dorrence  Kellogg,  a  na- 
tive of  Connecticut.  Her  father,  the  Rev.  Ezra 
B.  Kellogg,  was  a  clergyman  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  he  organized  the  society  and  built  a 
church  for  that  denomination  here.  He  was  a  na- 
tive of  New  England,  but  his  last  years  were  spent 
in  California.  After  a  brief  but  happy  wedded 
life,  Mrs.  AVhitmire  passed  away,  in  Metamora,  in 
the  month  of  October,  1855,  leaving  one  son,  Ed 
B.,  as  the  fruit  of  her  marriage.  In  1858  the  Doc- 
tor was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Melissa  A.  Morse, 
and  they  have  three  children  now  living:  James  H., 
who  resides  on  St.  Simond's  Island,  Ga. ;  Mabel, 
the  wife  of  Joel  Morse,  and  the  mother  of  one 
child,  Hazel;  Will  L.,  a  medical  student,  who  has 
been  a  pupil  in  the  Medical  Department  of  the 
Iowa  State  College,  and  has  attended  Rush  Medica 


590 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


College.  Mrs.  Whitmire  was  born  in  Haverhill, 
N.  H.,  a  daughter  of  Doctor  .Aaron  Morse,  who 
•  was  horn  in  the  same  town,  and  was  there  reared 
and  married.  He  was  graduated  from  a  medical 
school,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion at  Hyde  Park,  Vt.,  to  which  place  he  lemoved 
a  few  years  after  his  marriage.  He  was  actively 
engaged  there  as  a  doctor  for  some  years,  and  then 
established  himself  in  Waterbury,  which  he  made 
his  home  his  remaining  years.  The  maiden  name 
of  his  wife  was  Amelia  Miles,  ai.d  she  was  also  born 
and  reared  in  Haverhill.  She  died  in  Hyde  Park, 
Vt.,  about  1831.  After  her  mother's  death  Mrs. 
Whitnrire  came  to  live  with  an  elder  sister,  and 
was  engaged  in  teaching  till  her  marriage. 

Dr.  Whitmire  is  possessed  of  many  fine  mental 
endowments,  and  is  a  gentleman  of  true  culture. 
During  his  many  years'  residence  here,  he  has  gath- 
ered together  many  warm  friends  from  among 
those  who  have  been  indebted  to  him  for  profes- 
sional services  and  otherwise.  He  has  attained 
high  rank  among  his  brethren  of  the  medical  call- 
ing, and  keeps  himself  well  up  with  the  times  in 
his  profession.  He  is  a  valuable  member  of  the 
Woodford  County  Medical  Society,  and  is  con- 
nected with  the  G.  A.  R.  at  Washington. 


JJ.    YAMBERT,   a   prosperous    farmer   and 
enterprising  citizen  of  Greene  Township,  re- 
,    siding  on  section  35,  is  a  native  of  the  Buck- 
•    eye  State,  having  been  born  in  Montgomery 
County,  near  Dayton,  Dec.  12,  1844.     The  family 
is  of  French  descent,  and  was  founded  in  America 
by  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  who  left 
his   native  land  and  emigrated  to  America  during 
the  Colonial  days  of  this  country.     He  settled  near 
Philadelphia  and  followed  teaming  for  a  livelihood. 
"With  a  six-horse  wagon  he  at  one  time  started,  for 
Florida,  to  secure  a  load  of  roots  and  herbs  for  cer- 
tain  druggists  of  the  city.     lie  loaded  his  wagon 
and  started   on  the  return  trip,  but' never  reached 
home.     It  was  thought   that  he  was  taken  ill  and 


died  on  the  way,  or  perhaps  was  murdered  by  a 
band  of  ruffians,  for  he  was  never  heard  of  again. 
His  son,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  left  an 
orphan  at  an  early  age  and  was  reared  by  a  family 
who  resided  in  the  neighborhood  where  his  parents 
located.  He  made  farming  his  life  occupation,  and 
emigrated  from  the  Keystone  State  to  Ohio,  locat- 
ing in  Seneca  County,  during  the  early  days  of  its 
history.  He  died  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-one 
years. 

Aaron  Yambert,  his  son,  was  born  in  Berks 
County,  Pa.,  prior  to  the  removal  of  the  fami^-  to 
the  West,  and  on  arriving  at  man's  estate  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Huffer,  also  a  native 
of  the  Keystone  State..  At  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years  he  began  studying  for  the  minist^-,  and  for 
twenty-eight  3~ears  traveled  continuously,  dissem- 
inating the  Gospel  throughout  the  States  of  Ohio, 
Pennsylvania,  Indiana  and  Michigan.  He  died  in 
Seneca  Comity.  Ohio,  July  4, 1888,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty  years.  His  life  was  a  long  and  use- 
ful one,  and  in  the  Master's  service  he  accomplished 
a  work  which  cannot  be  measured  by  any  special 
standard.  His  excellent  wife  died  in  1887,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-three  years.  They  were  the  parents 
of  thirteen  children,  four  of  whom  died  in  infancy, 
while  nine  are  yet  living,  as  follows:  Caroline, 
Mary  A.,  Lavina,  Joshua  J.,  Aaron  II.,  Sarah  C'., 
Susanna,  Syblla  and  Julia  M. 

Though  born  in  Montgomery  County,  Ohio,  at  an 
early  age  our  subject  became  a  resident  of  Seneca 
County,  where  he.  w;is  reared  to  manhood.  His 
primary  education  was  received  in  the  Common 
schools,  ami  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  entered 
the  Heidleberg  University  at  Tiffin,  Ohio,  where 
he  pursued  his  studies  until  the  spring  of  1865. 
when  he  laid  aside  his  Greek  lexicon  and  in 
its  place  shouldered  the  musket  in  his  country's 
defense.  He  enlisted  as  a  member  of  Company  B. 
195th  Ohio  Infantry,  and  was  mustered  in  at  Camp 
Chase,  whence  with  his  regiment  he  marched  to 
,  Richmond,  but  on  arriving  in  that  city  learned 
.  that  the  day  previous  it  had  surrendered.  The 
regiment  then  returned  to  Alexandria,  where  it  re- 
lieved some  of  the  old  troops  and  for  some  time 
was  engaged  in  guard  duty.  In  December,  18G5, 
with  his  comrades  of-  the  195th  regiment,  he  was 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


591 


discharged  at  Alexandria,  and  on  the  day  before 
Christinas  reached  home. 

Mr.  Yambert  afterward  again  resumed  his  studies, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1866,  engaged  in  teaching. 
The  following  year  he  led  to  the  marriage  altar 
Miss  Luticia  Starkey,  of  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  a 
lady  of  culture  and  refinement.  Her  parents  were 
natives  of  Wyandotte,  Ohio.  In  the  spring  of  1869, 
the  young  couple  removed  to  Illinois,  taking  up 
their  residence  upon  the  farm  which  Mr.  Yambert 
has  since  made  his  home.  Five  children  were  born 
of  their  union:  James  A.,  Sarah  A.,  Lavina  J., 
Chalmers  II.,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  Those 
yet  living  still  make  their  home  with  their  father. 
In  1878,  Mrs.  Yambert  was  called  to  her  final  rest, 
dying  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine  years. 

Mr.  Yambert  was  again  married  in  1879.  the  lady 
of  his  choice  being  Miss  Susan  Ellenberger.  who 
was  born  in  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Rudolph  and  Sarah  (Ferner)  Ellenberger, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  Keystone  State, 
but  removed  to  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  soon  after 
their  marriage.  In  1876  they  became  residents  of 
El  Paso,  where  the  father  died  in  1880,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-one  years.  His  wife  still  survives  him, 
and  is  now  residing  in  Woodford  County  with  her 
son.  Of  their  children  the  following  are  living — 
Sarah,  Lena,  Samuel,  George  \V.,  Daniel  P.  and 
Susan,  wife  of  our  subject. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yambert  have  a  pleasant  home,  sur- 
rounded by  manj'  of  the  comforts  and  luxuries  of 
life,  conveniently  situated  about  three  and  a  half 
miles  northwest  of  El  Paso.  Hospitality  there 
abounds,  and  the  guests  receive  a  hearty  welcome 
and  cordial  greeting,  for  its  mistress  is  a  lady  of 
high  social  attainments,  who  knows  how  to  make 
each  one  feel  at  his  ease.  Mr.  Yambert  is  now  the 
owner  of  his  large  farm,  comprising  170  acres  of 
arable  land,  highly  improved  and  cultivated,  on 
sections  25  and  35,  Greene  Township.  Public- 
spirited  and  progressive,  he  is  a  valued  citizen,  and 
though  liberal  in  his  views,  is  always  true  to  jus- 
tice and  principle.  In  educational  matters,  lie  takes 
a  warm  interest.  In  political  sentiment,  lie  is  a 
Republican,  and  a  warm  advocate  of  the  party  prin- 
ciples, having  affiliated  with  that  organization  since 
attaining  his  majority.  In  the  early  days  his  peo- 


ple were  strong  friends  of  the  abolition  movement, 
and  supported  that  party  until  the  organization  of 
the  Republican  party,  which  was  formed  to  prevent 
the  further  extension  of  slavery.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Yambert  are  members  of  the  Evangelical  As- 
sociation, of  El  Paso,  and  are  active  workers  for 
the  interests  of  that  denomination.  He  is  a  man 
of  commanding  presence.  Nature  has  endowed 
him  with  a  splendid  physique.  As  representative 
citizens  and  highly  respected  people,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Yambert  are  well  worthy  of  representation  in  the 
volume  of  Woodford  County's  history,  and  it  is 
with  pleasure  that  we  record  their  sketch. 


IIOHULIN,  Montgomery  Town- 
'  besides  having  been  for  about  twenty- 
six  years  a  minister  of  the  new  Mennonite 
Church,  is  also  a  teacher  of  the  German  language, 
and  likewise  carries  on  a  farm  of  120  acres  on  sec- 
tions 5  and  6.  This  is  well-improved,  and  is  lo- 
cated on  the  road  to  Eureka,  and  has  been  the 
home  of  its  present  proprietor  for  nearly  eighteen 
years. 

Mr.  Hohulin  has  been  a  resident  of  this  county 
since  1859,  and  made  his  first  purchase  of  land  in 
Montgomery  Township.  He  was  born  in  the  Grand 
Duchy  of  Baden,  Germany,  not  many  miles  from 
the  city  of  Freiburg,  March  30,  1834,  and  is  of 
pure  German  stock,  being  the  son  of  Christian 
Hohulin,  who  died  when  Gottlieb  was  about  seven- 
teen years  old,  at  the  age  of  fifty-one  years.  He 
spent  his  entire  life  in  farming  pursuits.  The 
maiden  name  of  the  mother  was  Mary  Lescher. 
She  likewise  spent  her  entire  life  on  her  native  soil, 
dying  when  comparatively  a  young  woman,  at  the 
age  of  forty-three  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  learned  linen  weaving 
under  the  instruction  of  his  father,  who  followed 
this  calling  in  connection  with  farming,  and  for 
eight  years  after  his  father's  death  employed  him- 
self at  the  loom.  He  then  determined  to  emigrate 
to  America,  and  repairing  to  the  city  of  Bremen 
set  sail,  reaching  New  York  City  thirty-two  days 


592 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


thereafter.  Thence  he  proceeded  to  Illinois,  where 
he  secured  employment  as  a  laborer  until  after  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  and  then  returned  to 
his  trade,  weaving  homespun  and  jeans,  and  after- 
ward manufactured  coverlets  considerably.  At 
the  same  time  he  carried  on  farming.  He  had  re- 
ceived a  good  education  in  his  youth,  and  being 
industrious  and  intelligent,  was  fairly  well  pros- 
pered in  his  labors. 

Mr.  Hohulin  was  married  in  Wood  ford  County, 
to  Miss  Augusta  Wenger,  a  native  of  his  own 
province  in  Germany,  and  born  May  10,  1832. 
She  lived  in  her  native  country  until  about 
twenty-seven  years  of  age,  and  then  came  to  Amer- 
ica with  her  parents,  they  settling  in  this  county, 
and  her  father,  Conrad  Wenger,  for  a  time  fol- 
lowed his  trade  of  shoemaker.  He  spent  his  last 
days  in  Fairbury,  111.,  dying  when  about  seventy- 
seven  years  old.  He  was  a  member  in  good  stand- 
ing of  the  new  Mennonite  Church.  The  mother 
is  still  living,  making  her  home  with  her  daughter 
in  McLean  County,  111.,  and  has  arrived  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-four  year?.  She  united  witli 
the  Mennonite  Church  many  years  ago. 

The  seven  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hohu- 
lin were  named  respectively :  Julia,  Hannah,  Joseph, 
John,  Samuel,  Timotheus,  and  Elizabeth.  They 
are  a  bright  and  intelligent  group,  and  are  all  liv- 
ing at  home  with  their  parents. 


L.  GIBSON.  To  the  passing  trav- 
eller and  the  casual  visitor,  the  little  city  of 
El  Paso  presents  a  pleasant  appearance.  It 
lies  nestling  in  a  valley  and  adorned  with  beautiful 
shade  trees,  while  its  well-laid  streets  are  a  monu- 
ment to  the  taste  and  industry  of  the  pioneer  set- 
tlers of  the  town.  For  this  beauty  and  symmetry 
much  credit  is  due  Mr.  Gibson,  the  subject  of  our 
notice.  He  has  contributed  of  his  means  and  in- 
fluence to  make  El  Paso  one  of  the  most  attractive 
towns  of  the  West,  and  persuaded  the  citizens  to 
contribute  of  their  time  and  means  to  lay  out  the 
streets,  plant  shade  trees,  and  also  locate  the  public 


park,  which  is  one  of  the  features  of  the  city,  and 
enables  the  people  to  pass  many  pleasant  hours  be- 
neath the  shade  of  its  trees.  Notwithstanding  that 
Mr.  Gibson  has  thus  benefitted  El  Paso,  he  is  not 
now  possessed  of  the  treasures  of  this  world,  but 
has  that  which  is  better  than  gold  and  precious 
jewels,  the.  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow- 
citizens.  He  is  looked  upon  by  others  as  one  of 
the  benefactors  of  El  Paso,  and  was  in  fact  the 
proprietor  and  founder  of  that  part  of  the  town  lo- 
cated east  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  which 
is  perhaps  the  best  resident  portion  of  the  city. 
That  this  is  true,  is  largely  due  to  the  generous  and 
well-directed  efforts  of  Mr.  Gibson,  who  induced 
his  friends  to  help  him  in  the  work  of  laying  out 
the  streets,  and  building  up  that  part  of  the  city. 
He  also  was  fully  aware  of  the  importance  of  a 
good  school,  and  as  that  part  of  the  city  embraces 
one  of  the  school  districts,  he  and  his  neighbors 
have  been  instrumental  in  the  erection  of  a  fine 
schoolhonse  which  is  a  credit  to  them  and  to  the 
community  in  which  they  reside. 

Mr.  Gibson  has  had  an  eventful  life,  and  has 
been  a  resident  of  many  different  towns  and  States, 
and  was  one  of  those  who  in  1849  went  to  Califor- 
nia in  the  search  for  gold.  He  remained  in  that 
then  wilderness  for  a  period  of  two  years,  and  re- 
turned richer  in  experience  as  well  as  in  money. 
He  gained  a  knowledge  of  life  in  the  West,  which 
was  very  beneficial  to  him,  and  felt  that  his  trip 
had  not  been  in  vain,  for  he  could  bring  back  some 
gold  dust  with  him,  as  the  result  of  his  labor. 

Our  subject  was  a  native  of  the  Key-Stone  State, 
being  born  in  Fayette  County,  Oct.  2,  1818.  He 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1831,  and 
settled  in  Tazewell  County,  about  three  miles  above 
Peoria,  which  was  then  a  military  station,  known 
as  Fort  Clark.  The  Government  was  compelled 
to  keep  soldiers  at  all  the  prominent  towns  and 
stopping  places,  for  that  was  during  the  time  of 
the  Indian  troubles;  indeed  the  Black  Hawk  Wai- 
was  not  yet  terminated.  Mr.  Gibson,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  died  the  year  after  their  removal  to 
Illinois,  leaving  a  family  of  nine  children,  of  whom 
George  L.  was  the  oldest.  He  was  then  fifteen 
years  of  age,  and  for  the  succeeding  ten  years  re- 
mained on  the  parental  homestead,  which  his  father 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


593 


had  bought.  It  was  of  course  at  first  unbroken, 
and  in  the  primitive  condition  of  nature,  but  the 
continued  efforts  of  the  family  were  not  in  vain, 
and  it  in  a  few  years  became  one  of  .the  best  farms 
in  the  county. 

George  L.  Gibson  did  not,  however,  remain  idly 
waiting  for  fortune  to  come  to  him.  While  yet 
very  young,  he  built  a  couple  of  flatboats  and  en- 
gaged in  trading  on  the  lower  Mississippi,  then  a 
business  followed  by  many  with  success.  Later 
our  subject  followed  the  warehouse  and  commission 
business  at  Wesley  City,  which  was  his  home  for 
four  years.  Afterward  he  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  in  Washington,  111.,  until  the  year 
1849,  when  as  above  stated,  he  caught  the  gold 
fever,  and  took  an  overland  trip  to  California.  In 
the  fall  of  1851  be  engaged  in  the  lumber  trade  in, 
Henry,  111.,  and  at  the  same  time  entered  160  acres 
of  land,  comprising  that  part  of  El  Paso  which  lies 
east  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad.  In  1854  he 
laid  this  out  in  town  lots,  and  three  years  afterward 
removed  with  his  family  to  the  new  city.  Since 
that  time  he  has  been  identified  with  the  growth 
and  history  of  El  Paso,  and  has  been  ever  prompt 
in  promoting  the  interests  of  his  adopted  home. 

Mr.  Gibson  found  a  willing  assistant  in  his  labors 


in  the  person  of  his  wife,  who  was  Miss  Matilda 
Heath.  She  was  born  Feb.  5,  1825,  in  Muskingum 
County,  Ohio,  and  there  remained  until  her  mar- 
riage with  our  subject  which  took  place  June  1, 
1843.  She  was  for  many  years  bis  faithful  wife 
and  sympathizing  helpmate,  until  death  called  her 
to  her  rest,  Feb.  23,  1872.  She  was  just  entering 
upon  the  autumn  of  life,  and  surrounded  by  an 
affectionate  husband  and  loving  children  looked 
forward  to  a  happy  old  age.  But  it  was  not  to  be 
so.  Since  her  death  her  husband  has  made  his 
home  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Fleming,  in  El  Paso. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gibson  were  the  parents  of  five 
children,  namely: — William  W.,  who  lives  in  the 
West;  Sarah  Nevada,  now  Mrs.  Hereford,  of  Den- 
ver, 111.;  Kate  May,  wife  of  Edward  Hodgson, 
whose  biography  is  given  elsewhere  in  this  volume; 
May,  wife  of  W.  II.  Fleming,  a  traveling  man  of 
this  city;  and  George  F. 

Mr.  Gibson  was  called  to  the  office  of  City 
Mayor  for  two  terms,  and  ably  executed  all  the 
details  and  duties  imposed  upon  him  while  an  in- 
cumbent of  that  position.  He  was  also  a  number 
of  times  a  member  of  the  City  Council,  and  has 
been  in  various  ways  honored  by  his  fellow 
citizens. 


#<»•* 


Adams,  John *3 

Adams,  John  Q 39 

A.lams,  Dr.    ].  Q 253 

Allen,  James  M 591 

Arthur  Chester  A 99 


B 


Baker,  Perry 4°3 

Banta,  Cornelius  D 268 

Banta,  Elizabeth 268 

Baringer,  Jacob   448 

Barton.  Lester  H 210 

Bassett.  Porter  S 33" 

Bcal,  William  L 282 

Bell,  Alfred  C 284 

Bell,  R.  P 353 

Belsly,  Joseph 220 

Belsly,  Peter '. 45s 

Belsley,  Peter   55« 

Belsly,  Solomon 538 

Berg,  John 548 

Berg,  L.N 371 

Beveridge,  John  L 171 

Biebes,  Henry 507 

Bigger.  P.  H 227 

Billinger,  William 218 

Bissell,  William  H 151 

Blackmore,  J.  W 401 

Bond,  Shadrach in 

Bonlier,  Joseph 453 

Bourn,  J.  F 237 

Brubaker,  Hon.  A.  H 425 

Buchanan,  James 75 

Buckingham,  Morgan 552 

Bullock,  W 404 

Bullock,  W.S 329 


Carlin,  Thomas 135 

Cheedle,  Martha  M 22s 


Cheedle.  Orin 225 

Clark,  George  M 465 

Cleveland,  Grover  S 103 

Coen,  Hon.  P.  A 435 

Coles,  Edward 115 

Colburn,  R.  O 512 

Combes,  Alfred    528 

Converse,  N.  N 309 

Corbly,  Thomas. 565 

Crawford,  Matthew 479 

Crawford,  N.  B.,  M.  D 409 

Cribben,  Thomas 310 

Cnllom,  Shelby  M 175 

C  urtiss  &  Evans 264 

Curtiss,  Samuel  T 521 


D 


Danforth,  A.  H. 25 r 

Darst,  John 336 

Davison,  D.  H 505 

Davis,  J.  A 443 

Davison,  James  M 516 

Davison,  P.  H 377 

Dawson,  Samuel  R 432 

Denman,  William  S 346 

Detweiler,  John 311 

DeRevries,  Nicholas  S 416 

Dickinson,  R.  B ..460 

Dodds,  John  E    ...: ....366 

Donner,  Peter I. ,..349 

Down,  John 356 

Duncan,  Joseph 131 


Edwards,  N  in  Ian i  ig 

Eft,  Henry     271 

Ege,  John 373 

Ellis,  John,  Sr 201 

Ellis,  T.  S 542 

Ellwood,  W.  1 289 

Engel,  Christian 488 

Engel,  E.  C    .  ..223 

Engel,  John 344 

Erskin,  John  M 417 

Evans,  David    235 

Ewing,  William   I..  D 127 


Fauber,  D.  T 342 

Fehring,  John -433 

Fifer,  Joe  W ' 183 

Filger,  David 466 

Fill  more,  Millard 07 

Fishburn,  J.  M.,  M.  D 363 

Fisher,  E.  A 248 

Fisher,  Mrs.  Sarah .399 

Ford,  Thomas 139 

Forsyth,  James 328 

Fort.  J.  M 3Q' 

Freese,  Rev.  George  M 299 

French ,  Augustus  C 143 

Fuller,  M.  L.,  Jr   ...    .    580 

Furs  man ,  Ettas  S 579 


Garber,  Peter 386 

Gardner,  Andrew  J 355 

Garfield,  James  A 95 

Gibson,  George  L 592 

Goodrich,  F.  H.. 281 

Goodrich,  C,  W 576 

Goodwin,  Edwin 585 

Gough,  William  R 340 

Glessing,  John  M 338 

Grafft,  Daniel 408 

Giant,  U.S 87 

Grieser,  Charles 318 

Gross,  Henry 407 

Grove,  Benjamin 261 

Grove,  W.  H 47i 

Gudeman,  Joel 430 


H 


Haas,  Joseph 492 

Haase.C 286 

Hall,  Henry 287 

Hallom,  Salatbiel 542 

Hammers,  Jesse 252 

Hamilton,  John  M 179 

Hamm,  W.  H 202 


Harper,  William  W  ..........  3g2 

Harrison,  Benj.  F  ............  I07 

Harrison,  William  Henry  .....  5i 

Harseim,  G  ................  <0g 

Harseim,  Rudolph  ...........  374 

Hayes,  R.    B  ........  .........  9, 

Hazen,  M.O  .............  .Dg 

Hefler,  John  ...............  .'.'3,o 

Held,  Jacob  .................  30I 

Hepperly,  William  P  .........  43, 

Hereford,  A.  L  ..............   J75 

Herr,  Martin  ................  27a 

Herrick,B.  D  .............  jjjv. 

Hill,  Daniel  ' 

Hitch,  Robert 

Hodgson,  Edward  ............  36o 

Hogelucht,WilkeC  ........  470 

Hohulin,  Gottlieb   ...........  5QI 

Hollenback,  Jacob  ...........  49g 

Homer,  George  W  ......  3<g 


548 


Hunzmger,  Frank  ...........  196 

Hurd,  Thomas  J  .............  373 


Irving,  J.C 2, 


•49 


Jackson,  Andrew 43 

Jefferson,  Thomas 37 

Johann,  Carl 389 

John,  Thomas 305 

Johnson,  Andrew 83 

Johnson,  Andrew 255 

Johnson,  Lewis  J 266 

Jury,  John 333 


K 


Kamp,  George  L 4ig 

Kaufman,  John 527 

Kellogg,  John 20» 

Kennel,  Peter 197 

Kerr,  Dr.  Samuel  L 357 


INDEX. 


Kerrick,  A 343 

Kerrick,  Josiah    540 

Kief,  Adam 517 

Kingdig,  A.M   445 

Kingdon,  Henry 413 

Kipp,  A.  B 577 

Knapp,  Jacob 209 

Koehler,  Paul 584 

Krater,  William  E. ... 256 

Krug,  Henry 561 

Kurtz,  Louis 367 


I  .all ma nn,  George 437 

Learned,  F.  D 578 

Lemon,  Henry 429 

Lesch,  Henry 304 

Lincoln,  Abraham   79 

Livingston,  P.  F 354 

Lybarger,  Samuel 496 


M 


Madison,  James 31 

Major,  Jo 283 

Major,  Horace 275 

Marshall,  E.  R 232 

M  aso  n,A.B 324 

Matteson,  Joe]  A 147 

McChesney,  J 270 

McClure,  S.  H 409 

McCord,  T.  A 301 

McCulloch,  J.M  455 

McGuire,  John  L 395 

McHugh,  Charles 341 

McSparran,  Archie 304 

Meek,  J.  W 195 

Meginnes,  William .  .359 

Michael,  Jacob     262 

Miller,  Calvin  S 486 

Miller,  Christian 497 

Molitor,  Charles  325 

Monroe.-James  35 

Montgomery,  M .  W 393 

Moore,  J.  H 393 

Morse,  L.  P 216 

Moschel,  George 331 

Moser,  Christian 434 

Mundell,  Abner   ... 215 

Mundell,  John  C 428 

Mundell,  Samuel 213 

Mundell,  Samuel,  Jr 215 

Murphy,  J.  B 288 

Murray,  John  M 390 

Myers,  Squire  W 398 


N 


Nash.F.  M 212 


O 


Oglesby,  Richard  J 163 

Owen,  D.  M 198 

Owen,  James 198 


Padin,  James 519 

Page,  JohnW 205 

Palmer,  John  M 167 

Parker,  J 345 

Parkin,   Mrs.  Elizabeth 375 

Parnham,  R 400 

Patterson,  Green  L 193 

Patterson ,  M 24  5 

Patton,J.L 567 

Peard,  Martha 194 

Peard,  Richard    194 

Phillips,  John  M 332 

Phillips,  M.  S 5^9 

Pickard,  A . . .  .508 

Pierce,  Franklin   71 

Pierce,  H.  W 365 

Piper,  James 326 

Plackett,  Jesse 384 

Polhemus,  John    519 

Polk,  James  K 59 

Potter,  M 246 

Punke.R.  F 402 


R 


Radford,  R.N 231 

Ramsey,  James. ..    ...    485 

Ramsey,  W.  C 319 

Ranney,  J.  A 208 

Rediger,  Joseph 467 

Reed,  Joseph 211 

Reeser,  Rev.  Christian 509 

Render,  James 274 

Reynolds,  John 123 

Rice,  William  E 417 

Rich ,  Jacob 495 

Richards,  D.S 290 

Richardson,  W.  R 557 

Riehl,  Adam 525 

Rippel,  Charles 337 

Robeson,  J.  W 446 

Robbins,  Thomas 339 

Robinson,   Henry  M 510 

Robinson,  S.  M  ...*   439 

Robinson,  S.  S 229 

Rogers,  Alfred 404 

Roth,  Peter 306 


Russell,  C.  W 378 

Ruvencht,  Christian 236 


Sadler,  John 491 

Schertz,  Christian 298 

Schertz,  Christian  H 258 

Schertz,  Peter 545 

Schertz,  Peter  D 568 

Schofield,  Dr.  J.  A 392 

Schrock,  Joseph . .  ..478 

Scott,  Thomas 350 

Shafer,  Bennett 321 

Shugart,  Oscar 586 

Shu  man,  Henry  S 438 

Shur,  A.O.... 4:4 

Simpson,  H.  H jga 

Simpson,  J  •  A 368 

Slyter,  J.  P s,8 

Smiser,  Adam 268 

Snyder,  David 573 

Snyder,  John 335 

Snyder,  JohnJ .313 

Spencer,  John 566 

Spires,  Richard 529 

Steider,  Joseph 280 

Stephens,  Adam -.276 

Stephens,  Edward 307 

Stephensr  n,  C.  M .530 

Stevenson,   Thomas 440 

Stevenson,   William ....    234 

Stitt,  Samuel 559 

Stoddard,  B.  M    480 

Straight,  L    S 526 

Strath  man,  J.  H 584 

Stumbaugh,  Levi. 300 

Stumbaugh,  Samuel 476 

Stumbangh,  Jacob 411 

Sutton,  Thomas 570 

Swan,  Simon 457 

Swartz.  Joseph  B 535 


T 


Tanton,John 317 

Tanton,  T.  O 440 

Taylor,  Zachary.. 63 

Theena,  Joseph 410 

Thorpe,  George,  Sr 572 

Tjaden,  Jacob  H 263 

Tjaden,  John  J 520 

Tjaden,  Ludwjg 450 

Tomb,  Andrew,  Sr 420 

Tomb,  John  W. 475 

Tool,  Joseph 583 

Tool,  J.  R 549 

Tucker,  William  F 551 

Tweddale,  James,  M.  D 343 


Tyler,  John . , 
Tyler,  John  - . 


•459 
•   55 


u 


Upnoff,  B.  W 397 


Van  Buren,  Martin 47 

Van  Fossen,  John  F 472 

Van  Pelt,C.  J 224 

Vanscyoc,  A 536 

Varble,  J.  B 381 


W 


Waggoner,  G.  J.,  M.  D   421 

Wagner,  D.  C 297 

Wagner,  Jacob 435 

Wagner,  M.  C 294 

Waite,  F.  T   228 

Ward,  Darwin  A 491 

Ward,  John 522 

Warren,  A.  R 376 

Washington,  George 19 

Weber, G-  W 322 

Webber,  Hon.  J.  D 291 

Wheelwright,  J.  F     481 

Whitmire,  James  S.,  M.  D  . . .  489 

Whitmire,  Z.  H 589 

Wickler,  J.C    364 

Wilcox,  Hon.  E.  A...., 191 

Wilson,  M.  W 500 

Williams,  L.  B 559 

Wineteer,  L 398 

Woltzen,  Ede 532 

Wood,  John 155 

Wylie,  Samuel 539 


Yambert,  J .  J 500 

Yates,  Richard 159 

Yerion,  George  A 430 


Zeller,  John  G  . ,  M.  D 250 

Zimmermann,  Rev.  Michael. .379 

Zinser,  B.  F 541 

Zinser,  Rev.  J.  G 501 

Zinser,  S.  L 320, 


INDEX. 


Adams,   John 22 

Adams,  John  Q     38 

Arthur,  Chester  A 98 

Banta.  C.  D a6« 

Bel!,  Reuben  P 352 

Beveridge,  John    L 170 

Bissell,  Wm.  H 150 

Bond,  Shadrach no 

Brubaker,  Hon.  A.  H 424 

Buchanan,  James 74 

Carlin,  Thos.. .  134 

Clark,  Thomas 462 

Clark,  Mrs.  Delency  - 463 

Cleveland,  Grover  S 102 

Coles,  Edward 114 


Cullom,  Shelby  M 174 

Davison,  Daniel   H 504 

Duncan,  Joseph 130 

Edwards,  Ninian 118 

E  wing,  William  L.  D 126 

Ford,  Thos 138 

Fifer,  Joseph  W    182 

Fillmore,  Millard 66 

French ,  Augustus  C 142 

Garfield,  James  A 94 

Grant,  Ulysses  S 86 

Grove,  Benjamin 260 

Hamilton,  John  M 178 

Harrison,  William  H 50 

Harrison,  Benjamin   106 


Hayes,  Rutherford  B  90 

Jackson,  Andrew 42 

Jefferson,  Thos.   26 

Johann,  Carl 388 

Johnson,  Andrew 82 

Kerrick,  Armisted 240 

Kerrick,  Mrs.  A 241 

Lincoln,  Abraham 78 

Madison,  James...  ..  10 


Matteson,  Joel  A 146 

Monroe,  James 34 

Ogelsby,  Richard  J 162 

Page,  Adino 195 

Page,  John  W 204 

Palmer,  John  M 166 


Pierce,  Franklin 70 

Polk,  JamesH sg 

Ramsey,  James 484 

Reynolds,  John 122 

Schertz,  Peter 544 

Tanton,  John 314 

Tanton,  Mrs.  Hannah 315 

Taylor  Zachary. 62 

Tyler,  John 54 

Van  Buren,  Martin 46 

Washington,  George 18 

Wilcox.Dr.  E.  A 190 

Wood,  John 154 

Yates,  Richard 158 

Zeller,  J.  G 250 


Baringer,  Jacob 295 

Belsly,  Joseph 1 221 

Bigger,  Pleasant  H 405 

Buckingham,  Morgan 553 

Colburn,  R.  O 513 

Engel,  Christian .213 

Engel,  E.C 221 

Goodwin,  E 582 

Haas,  Joseph 493 


Hegelucht,  Wilke  C 451 

H-oyt,  James  L 587 

Krug,  Henry 587 

McClure,  Samuel  H 451 

Miller,  Christian 213 

Phillips,  John  M 333 

Rich,  Jacob 493 

Riehl,  Adam $23 

Robinson,  Henry  M 451 


Rogers,  Alfred 405 

Simpson,  H.  H 563 

Simpson,  James  A 369 

Snyder,  John  333 

Spires,  Richard 277 

Stephens,  Adam 277 

Stevenson,  Thomas 441 

Stitt,  Samuel 213 


Stumbaugh,  Levi 563 

Stumbaugh,  Mrs.  N.  J 395 

Swan,  Simon ..295 

Swartz,  Joseph  B 533 

Tanton,  Thomas  O 441 

Tyler,  John 587 

Van  Fossen,  John  F 473 

Ward,  Joh  n 523 

Woltzen,  Ede     433 


I 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM  OF  WOOOF 


